SOURCE: Safety+Health | May 1, 2026
Washington — More than 380 workers died each day in 2024 because of hazardous conditions on the job, according to the latest “Death on the Job” report from the AFL-CIO.
The 35th annual report was released April 27, on the eve of Workers Memorial Day. It’s based on the most recent data available from several sources: government on-the-job fatality, injury and illness data from 2024; government enforcement data from fiscal year 2025; and peer-reviewed research, reports, union experience and other evidence.
Overall, 5,070 workers died of traumatic injuries in 2024. That’s on top of the estimated 135,000 worker deaths caused by job-related illnesses each year.
“Workplace safety is not solely a worker issue – it impacts all of us from the public, consumers and our families,” the report states. “When workers are protected, patients are safer; children are safer; food is safer as it is grown, harvested and processed; families are protected from illness and economic instability; and communities are safer near industrial facilities and construction sites and on planes, trains, buses and roads.
“America can innovate best when strong worker protections are prioritized and the public is protected.”
Among the report’s other findings:
- The cost of job-related injuries and illnesses is between $177 billion to $354 billion each year.
- The fatality rates for Latino (4.3 per 100,000 workers) and Black workers (3.4) exceeded the fatality rate of all workers (3.3) in 2024.
- Employers reported nearly 3.1 million work-related injuries and illnesses.
- Musculoskeletal disorders from repetitive motion accounted for around 32% of all serious work-related injuries and illnesses in the private sector.
“Underreporting of all workplace injuries and illnesses is widespread – the true toll of work-related injuries and illnesses is estimated to be 5 million to 7.5 million each year in private industry,” the report states.
As an example, an estimated 530 workers died on the job from heat-related injuries or illnesses in 2024, “but both fatal and nonfatal data are an undercount of the real problem.”
HA honors fallen workers
OSHA hosted multiple Workers Memorial Day events between April 20 and 24, including a wreath-laying ceremony and a candlelight vigil on April 23.
OSHA leader David Keeling and Mine Safety and Health Administration leader Wayne Palmer spoke at a Workers Memorial Day ceremony, which also took place on April 23.
“Our hearts go out to every family member, every friend, every colleague and every community member directly impacted by a tragic, unexpected work incident,” Keeling said. “We know that behind each of your losses is a person deeply loved, an empty space that can never be truly filled.
“While we cannot fully understand your pain or heal the wounds that remain, please know that you’re not alone. We grieve with you. We’ll continue to honor your loved ones by carrying our memorial forward and working hard every day to prevent tragedies.”
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