The Department of Labor’s Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Doug Parker issued a statement Dec. 16 regarding the release of the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2021 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, which shows fatal work injuries recorded in the U.S. in 2021 increased 8.9% from 2020.

“Today’s announcement by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of a one-year increase of nearly 9 percent in fatal work injuries serves as a call to action for OSHA, employers and other stakeholders to redouble our collective efforts to make our nation’s workplaces safe,” Parker said. 

Parker addressed the numbers and emphasized the effects of these fatalities on workers’ families and communities.

“In 2021, 5,190 workers suffered fatal work injuries, equating to one worker death in the U.S. every 101 minutes, including 653 Black workers, whose fatality rate hit an all-time high. Black and Latino workers also had fatality rates disproportionately higher than their co-workers in 2021,” Parker said. “These are deeply troubling facts.

“Each of these deaths cruelly impacts these workers’ families, friends, co-workers and communities, “Parker continued. “They are clear reminders of the important work that must be done. OSHA and its thousands of professionals across the nation are determined to enforce the law while working with employers, workers, labor unions, trade associations and other stakeholders to ensure that every worker in the U.S. ends their workday safely.”

Original Information Resource:

https://www.nrca.net/RoofingNews/fatal-work-injuries-recorded-in-the-u-s--in-2021-increased-8-9-from-2020.12-21-2022.