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By Pandora Dewan
Senior Science Reporter
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Millions of workplace illnesses and injuries are recorded every year in the U.S., the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics reports, with thousands of fatalities. But some states are much more prone to work-related injuries than others.
A U.S. worker died every 96 minutes from work-related injuries in 2022, a 5.7 percent increase from the previous year. These include injuries resulting from violence, transportation, machinery and substance exposure.
In a study conducted by personal injury firm Suzuki Law Offices, each state was examined for fatal and nonfatal work-related injuries and illnesses per 100,000 full-time workers, across both public and private industries.
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After considering both fatal and nonfatal workplace injuries, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, each state was given a score out of 100, with 100 being the worst for workplace safety. The results can be seen in the map below.
The worst 10 states are as follows:
- Wyoming
- North Dakota
- West Virginia
- Maine
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Alaska
- South Dakota
- Nevada
Wyoming topped the list with 12.7 fatal workplace injuries per 100,000 full-time workers, which Suzuki Law Offices described as "alarming." North Dakota, in second place, was not far behind, with 9.8 fatalities per 100,000 workers.
While Maine, in fourth place, has a relatively low fatal accident rate of 3.8 per 100,000, it had by far the highest number of nonfatal work injuries and illnesses, at 5,000 per 100,000.
At the other end of the spectrum, the following states reported the lowest rates of workplace injuries:
- Rhode Island
- New Jersey
- Massachusetts
- Connecticut
- New York
- Maryland
- Ohio
- Virginia
- Texas
- New Hampshire
"Many states in this study had high rates of fatalities for injuries and illnesses across the board but lower rates of non-fatal injuries and illnesses," Richard Suzuki of Suzuki Law Offices, said in a statement in response to these results. "This finding proves the importance of always being alert to hazards in the workplace, even if people aren't frequently hurt."
He continued: "One less precaution could be the deciding factor of a fatality at work. Common workplace injuries like handling, lifting, or carrying may seem trivial but need to be taken seriously to avoid incidents occurring.
"It is an employer's responsibility to ensure their employees feel safe at work by eliminating potential hazards. This standard should be their utmost priority," he said.
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