OSHA Reports Fewer Worker Fatalities Investigated in 2024

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigated 826 worker fatalities in fiscal year 2024, an 11% drop compared to 928 in the previous year. Excluding COVID-related incidents, this marks the lowest tally of worker deaths investigated by OSHA since 2017. OSHA attributes the improvement to stronger enforcement and enhanced collaboration with labor and management under the Biden-Harris administration.

Significant strides were made in reducing fatalities caused by trench collapses and falls, two of the construction industry’s deadliest hazards. Fatal falls investigated by federal OSHA decreased by nearly 20%, while preliminary data from state-run OSHA programs showed a 15% reduction in fatalities overall. Reporting also revealed a nearly 70% decline in trench-collapse deaths since 2022.

Despite this progress, over 5,000 workers still lose their lives annually in largely preventable incidents. OSHA emphasizes the need for continued commitment to making workplace safety a core value. The agency’s efforts aim to address all underlying causes of preventable worker fatalities to further reduce these tragic losses.