AFL-CIO Unveils 2024 Job Death Report Before Workers Memorial Day
Editorial StaffThe Facts -
- Workers of color, particularly Black and Latino workers, are increasingly dying on the job.
- The AFL-CIO annual report highlights workplace safety issues and proposes strategies to address them.
- Around 344 workers died daily from hazardous conditions and 5,486 were killed on the job in 2022.
Fatalities Among Workers of Color at an All-Time High, New Report Reveals
The latest annual report from the AFL-CIO, released ahead of Workers Memorial Day, reveals a worrying trend: the job fatality rate among Black and Latino workers is at a record high. The report, Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect, highlights the need for immediate reforms to improve worker safety measures.
The survey provides a national picture of worker safety, emphasizing the need for better regulations and enforcement to prevent work-related deaths, injuries, and illnesses. The data suggests that Latino and Black workers face a greater risk of workplace fatalities, with Black workers having the highest job fatality rate in 15 years.
The study brings to light the enormous societal cost of job injuries and illness, ranging from $174 to $348 billion annually. It highlights the inadequacy of funding for job safety agencies and proposes strategies to combat this crisis, including enhanced regulatory oversight and stronger deterrents against employer retaliation.
"Despite hard-won safety rights, the fight is far from over,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. “The alarming disparities in workplace fatalities among workers of color are symptomatic of deeply ingrained racial inequity, necessitating increased attention to dangerous industries that treat workers as disposable. As we honor fallen workers this Workers Memorial Day, we remain committed to holding corporations accountable to ensure all jobs are safe."
Moreover, the report details that in 2022, hazardous conditions killed 344 workers daily, while occupational diseases claimed an estimated 120,000 lives. Worryingly, the job fatality rate increased to 3.7 per 100,000 workers, and nearly 3.5 million work-related injuries and illnesses were reported, marking an increase from the previous year.
The study stresses the urgent need for action to prioritize worker safety amid escalating challenges facing workplace protections. The report also underscores the stark difference between the worker safety and health records of the Biden and Trump administrations, highlighting the importance of this election year for those needing safe working conditions.
Despite these obstacles, the AFL-CIO remains committed to prevention measures and advocating for better standards, while supporting leaders like President Biden who champion workers’ rights to a safe job. Collaboration with lawmakers and activists will continue to advance workplace safety initiatives, ensuring every worker can thrive in a safe environment.
Read the full report here.
Contact: Riley Lopez, 202-637-5018
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