Probability of Dying in a Workplace Accident (Annual)

The Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries recorded 5,486 fatal workplace injuries in 2022, a rate of approximately 3.6 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers. This translates to an annual probability of about 1 in 27,778 for the average worker, though risk varies enormously by occupation.

The most dangerous occupations by fatality rate include fishing (75.2 per 100K), logging (64.8), aircraft pilots (44.1), roofers (43.6), and structural iron/steel workers (37.0). The "Fatal Four" causes of construction deaths are falls, struck by object, electrocution, and caught in/between. Transportation incidents are the leading cause of workplace death overall.

OSHA regulations have dramatically reduced workplace fatalities over the past 50 years: the workplace death rate was about 38 per 100,000 workers in 1970, more than 10 times the current rate. Workers have the right to a safe workplace and can report hazards to OSHA without retaliation. Employers must provide safety training, personal protective equipment, and comply with industry-specific safety standards.