Top 10 Industries with the Highest OSHA-Reported Injuries
Workplace injuries not only affect employee well-being but also carry massive financial and operational costs for employers. According to the National Safety Council, the average workplace injury costs over $40,000 in direct expenses, not counting lost productivity and reputational damage. This is why OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) closely track and publish annual data on workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities.
These statistics provide valuable insights into where risks are concentrated and which industries need stronger safety measures. In this blog, we examine OSHA’s latest data through two key lenses: industries with the highest total number of injuries and industries with the highest injury and fatality rates per worker. Together, these perspectives reveal both the broadest and most dangerous sectors for worker safety in 2024–2025. Read on the top 10 industries with the highest workplace injury rates and OSHA violations:
Industries with the Highest Total Number of Injuries (2024–2025 Data)
When looking at OSHA and BLS records, the total number of injuries highlights industries where the overall burden of workplace incidents is the greatest. These sectors may not always have the highest risk per worker, but because of their large workforce size and demanding job conditions, they account for the largest share of reported injuries nationwide.
Healthcare, transportation, manufacturing, and retail top the list, followed closely by construction and other labor-intensive industries. Understanding these totals helps employers see where injuries are most common, which in turn guides prevention strategies, training priorities, and resource allocation.
Healthcare and Social Assistance
Healthcare and social assistance lead all sectors with 308,000 total workplace injuries, making it the industry with the highest absolute number of cases in 2024–2025. With an injury rate of 3.6 per 100 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers, this sector faces persistent risks tied to the physical and emotional demands of care.
Musculoskeletal disorders from heavy lifting and patient handling, along with workplace violence in hospitals and long-term care facilities, remain primary hazards. Nursing homes, hospitals, and outpatient centers consistently rank among the most injury-prone environments, underscoring the urgent need for better ergonomics, staffing, and safety training in healthcare settings.
Transportation and Warehousing
With 232,000 reported injuries, transportation and warehousing ranks among the most hazardous industries. The sector posts an injury rate of 4.5 per 100 FTE workers, well above the national average.
In New York, warehouses are particularly concerning, with 8.8 injuries per 100 workers, a staggering 54% higher than the national benchmark. Long shifts, heavy loading and unloading, and vehicle-related accidents are major contributors. The fast growth of e-commerce continues to pressure workers, often increasing injury risk.
Manufacturing
Manufacturing recorded 220,000 workplace injuries, highlighting the risks in industrial production environments. While the injury rate is 2.8 per 100 FTE workers, hazards are often severe. Machine-related accidents, exposure to chemicals, and repetitive motion injuries remain the leading causes.
Automation and robotics are reducing some risks, but they also introduce new safety challenges around maintenance and human-machine interaction. Continuous safety audits and protective equipment use are crucial in this sector.
Retail Trade
Retail trade saw 195,000 injuries in 2024, with a rate of 3.1 per 100 FTE workers. Food and beverage stores were especially vulnerable, reporting 78,200 injuries, up 6.5% from the prior year. Workers face hazards such as slips, trips, and falls, along with lifting-related strains and injuries during stocking or checkout operations.
Customer-related incidents, including workplace violence in late-night shifts, are also a rising concern. Despite being overlooked compared to construction or manufacturing, retail injuries carry significant costs for employers.
Construction
The construction industry reported 65,000 injuries in 2024, but far more concerning is its staggering 1,075 fatalities, the highest of any industry sector. Despite a relatively moderate injury rate of 2.3 per 100 FTE workers, construction remains the most lethal field, earning its reputation as OSHA’s “Fatal Four” sector.
The leading causes of death include falls (39.2%), transportation incidents (22.3%), and accidents involving objects or electrocution. From scaffolding collapses to crane mishaps, construction workers face constant high-risk scenarios. These statistics underscore why OSHA prioritizes fall protection, site inspections, and stricter enforcement in this industry.
Administrative & Support Services
The Accommodation and Food Services sector experiences some of the highest workplace injury rates globally, with UK data reporting 2,818 injuries per 100,000 workers—the highest in that region. U.S. statistics reveal similar trends, with frequent cases of burns, cuts, slips, and falls among kitchen staff, servers, and hotel workers.
The industry’s high employee turnover and younger workforce add to the risks, as many workers lack adequate safety training or long-term experience. From crowded kitchens to late-night shifts, the fast-paced environment makes this sector particularly vulnerable to preventable accidents.
Accommodation & Food Services
At first glance, Administrative and Support Services may seem like a low-risk sector, but the data tells a different story. With an injury rate of 1.8 per 100 FTE workers and a startling 484 fatalities in 2023, this category is more hazardous than many realize.
The danger comes largely from high-risk subsectors such as landscaping, tree trimming, and janitorial services, where workers are exposed to falls, electrical hazards, and heavy equipment. Many of these tasks are performed outdoors or at heights, often with limited safety oversight, making them disproportionately dangerous despite the overall sector’s modest injury rate.
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting
While this sector records fewer total injuries compared to others, it consistently ranks among the most dangerous due to the severity of outcomes. With a fatality rate of 4.6 per 100 workers, Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting tops the charts in worker deaths. In the UK alone, 23 fatalities were recorded in 2024–25, highlighting its global dangers.
Workers face risks from heavy equipment, animal handling, exposure to harsh weather, and long working hours. These conditions combine to create one of the most hazardous sectors, where even minor mistakes can result in life-threatening incidents.
Professional and Business Services
The Professional and Business Services sector has varied injury rates depending on the subcategory. While many roles are office-based with relatively low physical risks, administrative support functions show elevated injury levels, often linked to ergonomic issues, repetitive strain, and slip-and-fall incidents.
Employees who travel for client work or engage in field inspections also face hazards such as transportation accidents or site-related injuries. The sector highlights how even “white-collar” industries need proactive safety measures that address both physical and mental health risks.
Utilities
The Utilities industry records an injury rate of 1.8 per 100 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers, putting it on the lower end of overall frequency. However, the severity of incidents is disproportionately high, with risks including electrical burns, arc flashes, explosions, and high-voltage contact.
These are considered “low frequency, high severity” events, rare but potentially catastrophic when they happen. With many facilities operating on aging infrastructure and involving high-pressure systems, maintaining rigorous OSHA compliance, inspections, and specialized training is critical to protecting utility workers.
Industries with the Highest Injury/Fatality Rates (Per Worker Risk)
When it comes to the workforce size, the picture of workplace danger shifts dramatically. Industries with the highest per-worker risk reveal sectors where employees face the greatest likelihood of serious injury or death, regardless of total workforce size.
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing top the list, with 8.01 fatalities per 100,000 workers, reflecting hazards like heavy machinery, animal handling, and extreme weather.
Waste and recycling, transportation, and warehousing also show elevated risk due to heavy equipment and vehicle-related incidents. Even sectors with high total injuries, like healthcare and social assistance, remain risky on a per-worker basis, with 3.6 injuries per 100 FTEs. Understanding per-worker rates helps employers focus resources where safety improvements matter most.
Key Takeaways Across Industries
Analyzing OSHA and BLS data reveals clear trends across U.S. industries. Healthcare leads in total injuries, reflecting high patient-handling risks and workplace violence. Agriculture, forestry, and fishing remain the deadliest sectors on a per-worker basis, while construction continues to register the highest overall fatalities. Transportation, warehousing, and retail are seeing rising injury rates driven by e-commerce demand and workforce shortages. Certain sectors, like utilities and waste management, experience lower incident frequency but much higher severity when accidents occur. Understanding these patterns can help employers target safety initiatives more effectively.
- Healthcare: the highest total injuries.
- Agriculture/Forestry/Fishing: deadliest per worker
- Construction: highest fatalities overall
- Warehousing & Retail: rising injury trends
- Utilities & Waste Management: low frequency, high severity incidents
Why These Numbers Matter for Employers
Understanding OSHA injury statistics helps employers identify high-risk areas and prioritize safety investments. These numbers highlight both financial and operational risks associated with workplace incidents.
Financial Impact:
Workplace injuries carry a hefty price tag, with the National Safety Council estimating an average cost of around $40,000 per incident. Beyond medical expenses, indirect costs like lost productivity, overtime pay for replacements, and potential litigation can quickly add up, affecting the company’s bottom line.
Regulatory Risk:
OSHA violations are not just a compliance headache—they’re costly. Serious infractions can lead to fines exceeding $15,000 per incident in 2025, and repeated violations increase scrutiny, inspections, and potential legal action.
Workforce Impact:
High injury rates can erode morale, increase turnover, and disrupt operations. Employees may feel unsafe, which can impact engagement, productivity, and the company’s reputation as a desirable employer.
Best Practices to Reduce OSHA-Reportable Injuries
To reduce OSHA-reportable injuries, employers should invest in comprehensive employee training and ensure proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Implementing ergonomic programs is especially critical in high-risk sectors like healthcare, retail, and office environments.
Fostering a strong safety culture with open reporting and effective hazard communication helps catch risks early. Leveraging technology and automation can minimize employee exposure to dangerous tasks, while regular OSHA compliance audits ensure that potential hazards are identified and addressed proactively.
Wrap Up
Understanding OSHA-reported injury data helps employers identify high-risk industries and focus their safety efforts where they matter most. While healthcare leads in total injuries, sectors like agriculture and construction carry the highest fatality risks per worker. By investing in training, PPE, ergonomic programs, and a strong safety culture, along with leveraging technology and conducting regular audits, organizations can significantly reduce workplace injuries, protect employees, and mitigate financial and regulatory risks. Prioritizing safety not only saves lives but also enhances productivity and long-term organizational resilience.
