OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) recently reported an 11% decrease in fatality investigations for fiscal year 2024. The agency investigated 826 workplace fatalities, down from 928 in FY 2023, representing the lowest number of worker deaths investigated since 2017, excluding COVID-related incidents. This reduction highlights OSHA’s proactive measures and focused efforts to improve workplace safety.
Key to this decrease has been OSHA’s focus on two significant hazards in high-risk sectors: falls and trench collapses. As part of this effort, OSHA launched and updated existing National Emphasis Programs (NEPs) targeting these specific dangers, placing extra emphasis on education, outreach, and rigorous enforcement to drive safety improvements.
The program focused on fall protection addresses one of the most common and deadly hazards across industries, particularly in construction. In FY 2024, OSHA investigated 189 fatal falls, down 19% from 234 in FY 2023. Falls remain a leading cause of fatalities in the workplace, and OSHA’s NEP on fall protection has included stepped-up inspections, hazard assessments, and safety training sessions to help employers implement comprehensive fall prevention measures.
Trenching and excavation safety has been another priority, with OSHA enforcing a “zero tolerance” policy for unprotected trenches. This initiative, also part of a dedicated NEP, has led to immediate inspections and criminal referrals where warranted. So far in 2024, OSHA has investigated just 12 trenching fatalities, a significant reduction from 15 in 2023 and 39 in 2022. Through intensified education and outreach, OSHA and its industry partners have worked to inform construction crews and supervisors about proper trench protection practices to prevent cave-ins and reduce trenching-related deaths.
Doug Parker, head of OSHA, expressed satisfaction with the progress but emphasized the need for ongoing vigilance. “While fewer workers have died from the hazards OSHA investigates, we still lose more than 5,000 workers each year in largely preventable incidents,” Parker noted. He emphasized the importance of fostering a culture where worker safety is a core value, adding, “Only then can we fully address all the causes and factors that lead to workers dying needlessly on the job.”
The results seen in FY 2024 reflect the impact of OSHA’s targeted NEPs, with fatality investigations for falls and trench collapses showing promising reductions. However, Parker’s call to action reminds us that the ultimate goal remains a zero-fatality workplace culture where safety is prioritized across every industry.
Read the original OSHA National News Release HERE.
