U.S. Employers Lost $59B to Workplace Injuries

Key Findings:

• $59B in employer losses from workplace injuries in 2023

• Delivery drivers: 984 deaths, nearly 1 in 5 workplace fatalities nationwide

• Agriculture workers: Risk-Wage Index of 95.2, highest death-per-dollar risk

• Construction: 986 deaths in 2023; falls still the top cause

• Manufacturing: 420 deaths, $7.1B in losses

• Retail/Warehousing: $5.8B losses, injuries spiking among temp workers

Industry-by-Industry: Cost of Workplace Injuries (2023)

Industry	Fatal Deaths	Direct Cost	Median Wage	Fatality Rate (Per 100K)	Risk‑Wage Index
Transportation & Delivery	984	$11.2B	$42,330	26.8	63.7
Construction	986	$9.4B	$55,580	59.0	42.5
Manufacturing	420	$7.1B	$53,540	18.2	34.0
Retail & Warehousing	401	$5.8B	$31,920	14.1	44.2
Agriculture & Fishing	111	$3.9B	$40,934	86.9	95.2

*Risk-Wage Index = Fatality Rate ÷ (Median Wage ÷ 1,000)  Sources: BLS CFOI 2023, NSC Injury Facts 2023, IRS Wage Data

Transportation & Delivery:

Delivery drivers recorded 984 deaths in 2023, driven by vehicle crashes, exhaustion, and algorithmic pressure to meet quotas. Many are classified as independent contractors, excluding them from OSHA protections or corporate insurance coverage. With $11.2B in direct injury costs, this industry tops the chart for economic damage.

Construction: Despite being a heavily regulated industry, construction recorded 986 fatalities, largely from falls and struck-by injuries. Subcontracting practices often reduce oversight, and small contractors struggle with compliance. The sector cost U.S. employers $9.4B in injury expenses last year alone.

Manufacturing: This sector experienced 420 deaths and $7.1B in injury-related losses, driven by machine entanglement, ergonomic strain, and outdated safety systems. While the median wage is higher, the Risk-Wage Index still signals economic inefficiency, with too many deaths per dollar paid.

Retail & Warehousing: Often perceived as “low risk,” retail workplaces saw 401 deaths, mostly from slips, strains, forklift injuries, and overcrowded warehouse environments. Costs reached $5.8B, disproportionately affecting temporary staff and gig workers hired during seasonal demand spikes.

Agriculture & Fishing:: With only 111 deaths, this industry might appear safer, but its fatality rate of 86.9 and median wage of just $40K result in a Risk-Wage Index of 95.2, by far the highest. Risks include equipment entanglement, heatstroke, and the boat capsizing, often with little regulatory enforcement.

Quote From Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine: “Companies that overlook safety culture are gambling with human lives and shareholder value. In today’s legal landscape, failing to protect both full-time and gig workers can trigger massive liabilities, regulatory action, and long-term brand damage. The economic risk is no longer hypothetical; we’re already litigating the fallout."

You can explore the full Study here.

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Methodology & Sources:

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (CFOI 2023)

• National Safety Council Injury Facts 2023 Report

• IRS Median Wage Reports

• OSHA Industry Hazard Reports (2023)

• Academic Papers on Economic Cost of Workplace Injury (via Google Scholar)Competitor analysis via recent PR campaigns (NSC, Safety+Health Magazine, EHS Today)

Analysis Formulas:

• Direct Cost = NSC avg. injury cost × industry death/injury data

• Risk-Wage Index = Fatality Rate ÷ (Median Wage ÷ 1,000)

• Fatality Rate = Deaths per 100,000 FTE workers (BLS CFOI 2023)

• Sector Cost Rankings = Modeled using NSC, IRS, and OSHA data (2023)