During 2019, a total of 5,333 fatal occupational injuries occurred, marking the largest annual number since 2007, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which reported an American died every 99 minutes from a work-related injury.

Overall, fatal work injuries increased by 2% nationwide during the year. Further, the fatal work-injury rate did not change from the year prior, reaching 3.5 deaths per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers in 2019.

In addition, fatalities among workers 55 years of age and older increased 8%, hitting a total of 2,500, which BLS noted is the largest number of work-related deaths ever recorded for the age group. Overall, workers age 55 and older accounted for 38% of all workplace fatalities during 2019.

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Steve Hallo

Steve Hallo is managing editor of PropertyCasualty360.com. He can be reached at [email protected]