Thousands Die at Work Every Year in The U.S., But Which Roles Are Riskiest, and What Can Be Done to Lower Fatality Numbers?
With 5,283 people dead due to danger at work, according to 2023 study data, some jobs are deadlier than others. Loggers and fishermen endure the harshest workplace risks, but many other roles feature considerable inherent danger.
This study will uncover the roles in which workers face the most mortal danger, and look at the compounded risks faced by gig workers, plus offer potential means of improving workplace safety. For some workers, their jobs feature enormous risk, particularly those right at the top of the danger list.
The Workers Most At Risk While At Work
The aforementioned 5,283 employees who died while at work in the U.S. equate to 3.5 people dead for every 100,000 full-time workers. But many jobs feature much higher fatality rates, as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) study data illustrates.
The Most Dangerous Jobs in the U.S.
Logging Workers – 98.9 (fatalities per 100,000 workers)
Loggers typically endure very dangerous and arduous conditions, harvesting thousands of acres of forests every year. The work is often isolated and undertaken in poor weather, and involves heavy-duty specialized logging machines and equipment.
Safety training is usually carried out on-the-job, yet doesn’t prevent logging work from being the most dangerous role in the country, with the main causes of death falling or flying objects such as trees, logs, or limbs, plus falls, and being struck by heavy equipment.
Fishing and Hunting Workers – 86.9
Fishers and hunters, working at sea and in isolated, remote forests, face myriad dangers. They use hazardous specialized equipment like traps, nets, and guns, all of which may require on-the-job familiarity.
Traveling to work locations is the biggest danger factor, with transportation-related incidents the main cause of both injuries and fatalities.
Roofers – 51.8
Roofing work is inherently dangerous, regularly carried out at great heights in frequently poor weather conditions. Additionally, fall protection equipment is often not properly maintained, leading to many avoidable accidents, with safety skills usually learned by novices as part of a long (dangerous) induction.
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors – 41.4
For refuse and recyclables collectors, the majority of their working hours are spent on the road, exacerbating the risk of vehicle crashes.
They’re also routinely exposed to hazardous waste and suffer injuries from moving vehicles, sharp objects, and heavy-duty, dangerous machinery. And, they disproportionately develop musculoskeletal disorders. On-the-job, informal safety training is usually par for the course.
Driver/Sales Workers and Truck Drivers – 26.8
Most driving-centric roles mean extensive work hours on the road, which means significant amounts of stress and fatigue, causing accidents as weary drivers and high speeds increase accident risks, as well as ergonomic injuries.
Delivery truck drivers face a staggering occupational injury and illness rate of 262.1 cases per 10,000 full-time workers. Light truck and delivery service drivers aren’t far behind, with a rate of 233 cases per 10,000. Pizza delivery drivers, in particular, face some of the highest risks, with the U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting their likelihood of injury or death exceeds that of both construction workers and police officers.
The Most Dangerous Industry Sectors
Agriculture – 20.3 (fatalities per 100,000 workers)
Agriculture plays a vital role in feeding the nation, but it comes at a steep cost for those working in the industry. Often dubbed America’s silent killer, agriculture has one of the highest workplace fatality rates, roughly 21 times the national average.
The dangers are many: heavy machinery like tractors is frequently operated with minimal training; job sites are remote, increasing both isolation and response times in emergencies; and workers face regular exposure to harmful chemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers, carbon monoxide, and extreme weather conditions.
Together, these factors make farming one of the deadliest jobs in America.
Transportation and Warehousing – 12.9
Several factors lead to the high number of transportation fatalities in the U.S., including distracted, drunken, and reckless driving, as well as speeding, often in precarious weather conditions.
Additionally, vehicle design, industry infrastructure, and non-adherence to regulations are also key factors. Warehousing jobs present several risks to workers, such as slips, trips, and falls.
There’s also plenty of heavy lifting involved, as well as exposure to chemicals and electrical hazards. And, forklift injuries are routine, often because staff members driving them have not been provided with the right training or a vehicle fit for the job.
Construction – 9.6
The construction industry features many risks. There’s the regular use of heavy equipment, working at heights, and falling or volatile objects to contend with, often in bad weather.
Falls, being struck by objects, being stuck in or between objects, and electrocution are known by those in the industry as the ‘fatal four’.
Transportation Accidents: The Cause of Over 1 in 3 Workplace Deaths
In 2023, transportation incidents were responsible for 36.8% of all work-related fatalities. That makes them the leading cause of deaths occurring at work, exceeding falls from height or being struck by moving objects.
This highlights the need to focus on road safety and transportation protocols in and around the workplace, and to more carefully consider what causes things like distracted driving, impaired driving, and driver fatigue.
Gig Workers: Under More Threat Than Other Employees
Gig workers, often short-term, non-contract employees working irregular shift patterns, must contend with variable, often indefinite income, and the constant pressure of trying to find work.
Plus, gig workers are often defined as self-employed, which means they can’t claim employee benefits such as workers’ compensation, $1 billion of which is paid out every week to traditional workers. Ultimately, such circumstances can quickly lead to emotional burnout for gig workers.
Gig workers face rising injury risks due to limited training, minimal supervision, and high-pressure workloads. Unlike permanent staff, they’re often quickly onboarded without traditional prep, leaving them unaware of hazards until it’s too late. The lack of contractual protections only heightens their vulnerability.
The result of these factors is no surprise. Study data confirms that gig workers suffer a three times greater risk of minor work-related injury and an eight times higher likelihood of picking up a serious injury compared to regular employees.
Future Steps
While workplace safety has come a long way in recent decades, there’s still significant ground to cover. Thanks in large part to OSHA’s efforts, worker fatalities have dropped from 38 per day in 1970 to 15 per day in 2023.
Injury rates have also fallen, from 10.9 to 2.4 incidents per 100 workers. Despite this progress, the risks remain high. Transportation incidents still account for over one-third of all workplace deaths, pointing to an urgent need for stronger driver safety regulations and less grueling work schedules.
Gig workers, who often lack basic protections, are especially vulnerable and require more robust safeguards. And across all high-risk industries, better training is key to preventing avoidable accidents.
Improving worker safety isn’t just a moral imperative, it’s a financial one. Employers lose an estimated $59 billion annually due to workplace injuries. With clearer enforcement and smarter policies informed by OSHA and BLS data, businesses and lawmakers alike have a real opportunity to protect both lives and livelihoods.
Enjoy the Anidjar and Levine difference today by getting in touch with us if you need help with a work-related injury. And remember: we only get paid if you do!
