From staff reports WASHINGTON – Fewer workers are dying from hazards where the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has focused its enforcement resources, Labor officials said in a Nov. 4 news release.
Preliminary agency data show a decrease in the fatalities the agency is required to investigate, including significant reductions in fatal injuries from trench collapses and falls, two of the leading causes of death among construction industry workers.
“These numbers are promising evidence that stronger enforcement and collaboration with labor and management, driven by the Biden-Harris administration’s worker-centered approach, is saving lives,” said Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Douglas Parker. “Most striking is the improvement in areas we have focused on with employers and unions. Our state program partners have also seen improvements.”
In fiscal year 2024, the federal OSHA investigated 826 worker deaths, an 11% reduction from 928 in the previous year. Excluding COVID-related deaths, this is the lowest number of worker fatalities OSHA has been required to investigate since FY 2017.
OSHA’s National Emphasis Program on Falls, the leading cause of serious work-related injuries and fatalities in the construction industry, saw fatal falls investigated by federal OSHA drop from 234 to 189, a decrease of almost 20%, according to the news release. Preliminary data from state OSHA programs, pending validation by federal OSHA, indicates more than 15% fewer fatalities in state jurisdictions.