AFL-CIO President Responds to 2023 Workplace Fatality Statistics

New Data Highlights Ongoing Challenges in Workplace Safety

Fresh insights from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveal a concerning landscape in workplace safety for 2023. The report indicates a total of 5,283 job-related fatalities, marking a decline from the previous year. However, the data underscores persistent safety issues, particularly impacting Black and Latino workers.

AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler voiced her concerns, stating, “Every worker deserves to leave for work without fear for their safety and return home unharmed at the end of the day. These new data show that too many workers are still dying on the job and that Black and Latino workers are dying on the job at higher rates. The labor movement will not be satisfied until the number of worker deaths is zero.” She emphasized the necessity of federal support, pointing to the critical role of agencies like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), which have been criticized for being underfunded.

The recent statistics reveal that Black and Latino workers face disproportionate risks, with fatality rates of 3.6 and 4.4 per 100,000 workers, respectively. Alarmingly, of the Latino workers who lost their lives, 67% were born outside the United States. This highlights the vulnerabilities faced by immigrant worker populations.

Workplace violence remains a significant concern, with homicides constituting 9% of all occupational fatalities. Notably, women are overrepresented in these statistics, accounting for 18% of workplace homicides despite making up only 8% of all job-related deaths.

The data also shed light on age-related risks, with younger workers (ages 24 and below) comprising 8% of workplace fatalities, while workers over the age of 55 represent more than a third of all deaths. This calls for targeted safety measures across diverse age groups to ensure comprehensive protection for the workforce.

Shuler advocates for increased unionization as a pathway to safer working conditions: “With these data showing more workplace deaths in many industries that are largely nonunionized and affecting workers who may be too intimidated to speak out about unsafe conditions, it’s clear that a union contract is essential for a safe job site.” The AFL-CIO continues its efforts to support unionization, aiming to safeguard workers' rights to raise safety concerns without fear.

Contact: Prerna Jagadeesh, [email protected]