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For Immediate Release

January 30, 2025

CONTACT: Floyd Johnson
Director, Utah Occupational Safety and Health Division
Office: (801) 580-3095
Email: fjohnson@utah.gov

Fatal Work Injuries In Utah Increased During 2023

Salt Lake City – The Utah Labor Commission’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health Bureau of Labor Statistics (UOSH BLS), in conjunction with the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), has released the 2023 fatal occupational injury data for Utah. The information was obtained through the annual Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) administered by UOSH BLS.

The CFOI produces comprehensive, accurate and timely counts of fatal work injuries. To compile counts that are as complete as possible, the census uses multiple sources to identify, verify, and profile fatal worker injuries. Information about each workplace fatal injury (occupation and other worker characteristics, equipment involved, and circumstances of the event) is obtained by crossreferencing the source records, such as death certificates, workers’ compensation reports, and Federal and State agency administrative reports. In order to be included in the UOSH BLS CFOI, the following criteria are required:
  • the fatality must have resulted from a traumatic injury or have been precipitated by an acute injury or exposure event;
  • the injury or exposure event must be related to work and must have occurred in Utah.

The scope of CFOI incidents includes accidents, homicides and suicides that occur at the workplace.

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2023 RESULTS

The number of work-related deaths in Utah increased from 57 in 2022 to 69 in 2023. The overall fatal injury rate for every 100,000 workers increased from 3.6 in 2022 to 4.1 in 2023. The reported national overall fatal injury rate for 2023 was 3.5.

The published fatal injury rates and counts by industry for 2023 are as follows:

Industry Fatal Injury (rate)
Transportation and utilities 12.2
Construction 9.9
Other Services, except Public Administration 7.1
Manufacturing 5.0
Professional and Business Services 3.2

 

Industry Fatal Injury (count)
Construction 15
Transportation and Warehousing 12
Manufacturing 9
Other Services (except Public Administration) 6
Administrative and Support and Waste
Management and Remediation Services		 5
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation 4
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting 4
Retail Trade 2
Health Care and Social Assistance 2
Information 1
Professional, Scientific, and Technical
Services		 1
Government 4
Other* 4

Fatalities by Worker Activity

Worker Activity 2019 2020 2021 2022
TOTAL COUNTS 51 48 52 57
Vehicular and transportation operations 14 13 27 17
Using or operating tools, machinery 2 1 * 4
Constructing, repairing, cleaning 11 12 11 15
Protective service activities 1 * * *
Material handling operations 3 7 * 5
Physical activities, not elsewhere classified 8 3 4 *
Other activities 4 * * 6
Other* 8 12 10 10

 

Worker Activity 2023
TOTAL COUNTS 69
Heavy and industrial construction, production, and
materials moving operations		 6
Other construction, production and maintenance
activities		 14
Miscellaneous activities (including 13 intentional
risk-taking activities)		 18
Transportation operations 27
Other* 4

**For 2023 data, please see https://www.bls.gov/iif/definitions/oiics-version-3-major-changes.htm
concerning changes to Worker Activity and Event. This change resulted in a break in series for 2023
case characteristic data.

Utah Fatalities by Event

Events 2019 2020 2021 2022
TOTAL COUNTS 51 48 52 57
Transportation 13 9 26 19
Contact with objects or equipment 4 7 9 5
Violence and other injuries by persons or animals 8 7 8 *
Falls, slips, trips 17 16 6 19
Exposure to harmful substances or environments 6 8 3 7
Fires and explosions 3 * 0 *
Other* 0 1 0 7

 

Events 2023
TOTAL COUNTS 69
Transportation incidents 31
Exposure to harmful substances or environments 15
Falls, slips, trips 8
Contact Incidents 8
Violent acts 6
Explosions and fires 1

**For 2023 data, please see https://www.bls.gov/iif/definitions/oiics-version-3-major-changes.htm
concerning changes to Worker Activity and Event. This change resulted in a break in series for 2023
case characteristic data.

Fatalities by Event in Industries

  • Transportation incidents (31 fatalities)
    • Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicles (18)
    • Pedestrian incidents involving motorized land vehicles (6)
    • Other* (7)
  • Falls, slips, trips (8 fatalities)
    • Falls to lower level (6)
    • Other* (2)
  • Exposure to harmful substances or environments (15 fatalities)
    • Exposure to electricity (4)
    • Exposure to harmful substances (9)
    • Exposure to oxygen deficiency (2)
  • Contact incidents (8)
    • Struck by propelled, falling, or suspended object (3)
    • Contact with animals (1)
    • Other* (4)

Fatalities by Worker Characteristic

  • Gender
    • 68 Men
    • 1 Women
  • Race or ethnic origin
    • 48 White (non-Hispanic)
    • 12 Hispanic or Latino
    • 3 Asian (non-Hispanic)
    • 6 Other*
For more information regarding national fatality statistics, visit the BLS website at https://www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm. For Utah specific fatality data, please refer to the accompanying tables and charts. There are additional tables and charts available upon request. For more information or to request a copy of the report from UOSH BLS, please contact:

Darin Hanson                                   Mechell Alder
(801) 530-6926                                (801) 530-6823
darinhanson@utah.gov                  mechellalder@utah.gov

*Other indicates no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria.