Arkansas work-related fatalities rise almost 23% in 2023

New data shows there were 92 work-related fatalities in Arkansas during 2023, up 22.7% compared with the 75 fatalities in 2022. The 2023 fatality count was just below the record of 93 in 2011.

The data comes from the Arkansas Arkansas Department, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“In an effort to compile data that is as complete as possible, the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) uses diverse sources to identify, verify, and describe fatal work injuries,” noted a statement with the report. “Source documents, such as death certificates, workers’ compensation reports, and Federal and State agency administrative records are cross-referenced to gather key information about each workplace fatality, such as the particular occupation and industry in which the fatality occurred, worker demographics, equipment or machinery involved, and circumstances of the event.”

Report data showed 72 deaths in 2023 involving wage and salary workers in the private sector, up from 57 in 2022. Self-employed worker fatalities accounted for 14, up from 7 in 2022. Fatal injuries among local and state government workers accounted for 6 in 2023, down from 10 in 2022. 5 were local government workers, and 1 was a state government worker.

Also, there were 82 men and 10 women who died in a work-related incident in 2023, compared to 72 men and 3 women who died in 2022.

Nationally, a total of 5,283 workers died from a work-related injury in 2023, a 3.7% decrease from the total of 5,486 deaths in 2022. On average, a worker died every 99 minutes from a work-related injury in 2023.

Following are other details from the fatality report.
• There were 8 fatalities in the 20 to 24 years old age group; 17 were from 25 to 34 years of age; 14 were 35 to 44 years of age; 8 were 45 to 54 years of age; 31 were 55 to 64 years of age; and 13 that were 65 years and over.

• Fifty-two (52) or 56.5%, of the 92 work-related fatal injuries in 2023 were the result of transportation incidents. The work-related transportation fatality incidents doubled from 26 in 2022 and led all fatality events for the 30th year in a row. There were 8 workers killed in pedestrian vehicular incidents, up from 3 in 2022.

• A total of 11 workers (12%) were fatally injured due to contact with objects or equipment in 2023, down from 15 in 2022. This total includes 8 workers that were struck by propelled, falling, or suspended object.

• Falls, slips, and trips resulted in 11 work-related fatalities (12.0%) in 2023, down from 13 in 2022.

• By industry, there were 30 fatalities in the trade, transportation, and utilities sector; 18 in construction; 13 in professional and business services; 9 in natural resources and mining; 9 in manufacturing; and 4 in leisure and hospitality.