OSHA Releases Severe Occupational Injury Report Statistics for 2024

OSHA has published its annual report of work-related severe injuries and illnesses statistics for 2024 (PDF). This publication covers all non-fatal injuries resulting in hospitalization, amputation, or eye loss that were reported by U.S. employers subject to federal enforcement authority under OSHA’s standard for reporting severe work-related injuries and fatalities (29 Code of Federal Regulations 1904.39). According to the agency, 9,034 Severe Injury Reports, or roughly 25 SIRs per day, were submitted in 2024. This included 7,327 incidents leading to inpatient hospitalization, 2,426 amputations, and two cases of eye loss. The agency estimates that about half of all U.S. workers are covered under federal OSHA enforcement. 

The 2024 annual report also includes tables comparing the 2024 SIR data for each U.S. industry sector with the sector’s average over the previous nine years. While the construction and manufacturing sectors reported the highest numbers of hospitalizations and amputations in 2024, they reported fewer incidents for that year compared to their nine-year averages. Likewise, most industry sectors reported lower rates of serious illnesses and injuries in 2024, with the construction sector’s 2024 SIR rate dropping 18 percent compared to its nine-year average. 

The report highlights injuries involving falls and forklifts, as OSHA states that the standards for fall protection and powered industrial trucks are among the 10 most frequently cited in federal OSHA inspections. From 2015 to 2024, OSHA received 29,816 reports of severe injuries resulting from falls and 5,186 reports of severe injuries involving forklifts. 

The 2024 annual report on SIRs may be downloaded as a PDF from OSHA’s Severe Injury Reports webpage. Additional SIR data may be accessed through the agency’s Severe Injury Dashboard.