Bloomberg — The rate of fatal work injuries rose to the highest level in five years in the US in 2021, while deaths among Black and Hispanic workers reached an all-time high, according to new data published on Friday.
The US registered 3.6 work-related deaths for every 100,000 workers in 2021, the Labor Department said. About 5,200 Americans died on the job last year, an 8.9% increase from 2020.
Black and Hispanic workers were especially susceptible to fatal injuries. Deaths among African Americans rose by more than one-fifth to an all-time high, and there was also a sharp increase among Latino workers. Together, those groups accounted for more than one-third of all workplace deaths in 2021.
Incidents involving transportation and material-moving accounted for the biggest share of fatal injuries, roughly 40% of the total. The rate of workplace deaths in that category climbed by almost one-fifth to a record high.
Fatal incidents also increased from the previous year among roofers, aircraft pilots and flight engineers, and iron and steel workers.
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