Recent Summary of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses

March 23, 2025

Every year, millions of workers across the United States are injured on the job, sometimes resulting in serious and permanent consequences for these employees and their families.

With the newly collected Form 300 and 301 data, OSHA has been able to examine injuries and illnesses with considerably more information including incident and employee characteristics such as incident date, occupation, tenure, and demographics.

The most recent summary of occupational injuries and illnesses is posted for 2023. Over 385,000 submissions summarizing 2023 work-related injuries and illnesses were received as of May 31, 2024, an 11% increase in submissions from 2022.

In addition, the Bureau of Labor Statistics also collects and summarizes data on occupational injuries and illness every two years. The summaries are categorized by

occupation,
industry,
exposure,
worker demographics, and
musculoskeletal disorders.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) remain the leading cause of workplace injuries, accounting for a significant portion of workers’ compensation costs and lost workdays. (Prevent Ergonomic Issues)

It is relatively easy to navigate the BLS site. There are helpful tools available, including incidence rate calculators that we know many of you use.

But here’s the facts, many of the occupational hazards identified are well-understood and are avoidable, including MSDs.

Creating a safe and sound workplace not only prevents injuries but promotes well-being and a great place to work. There are recommended Core Elements that emphasize a proactive and dynamic approach to managing workplace safety and health. These elements align with creating a safe and sound workplace and include:

Leadership Involvement and Commitment, Including All Levels of Management
Employee Participation in all Aspects of the Program
Hazard Identification, Prevention, and Control
Education and Training for Executives, Managers, and Employees
Program Evaluation and Continuous Improvement

The concept of continuous improvement is central to a successful safety program and includes maintaining a continuous feedback loop for improvement.

It is beneficial to first assess your safety culture and conduct a comprehensive audit to learn what gaps need to be addressed.

Each core element is crucial for organizational and individual well-being. This is the foundation for our model to foster the three essential dimensions for fostering a safe and sound workplace.