- Utah has the highest fatal fall rate in America, with 16.24 deaths per million workers.
- Rhode Island (15.98) and Wyoming (14.27) rank second and third for fatal fall rates, respectively.
- California reported an average fatal fall rate of 84.6 per million workers, the highest in the U.S.
A new study reveals that Utah has the highest rate of fatal fall, slip, and trip injuries in American workplaces.
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The research by the Las Vegas-based personal injury law firm Shook & Stone analyzed workplace fatality data from 2019 to 2023 via the Bureau of Labor Statistics and National Safety Council reports. Average fatal fall rates per million workers were calculated to identify the states where American workers are most at risk of experiencing fatal fall injuries.
Utah leads the nation in workplace fall fatalities, with 16.24 deaths per million workers, 196% higher than the national average of 5.49 deaths per million workers. From 2019 to 2023, the state averaged 30 fatal fall cases per year among its workforce of approximately 1.85 million. 2023 was the worst, with 92 cases, while 2021 recorded the fewest (six).
Rhode Island ranks second with 15.98 deaths per million workers, 191% higher than the national average of 5.49. From 2019 to 2023, the state, home to over 588,000 workers, experienced an average of 9.4 fatal fall cases annually. It recorded the highest number of cases (43) in 2023 and the lowest (zero) in 2020 and 2021.
Wyoming ranks third with 14.27 deaths per million workers. That’s about 160% higher than the national average of 5.49. With a workforce of over 294,000, the state saw an average of 4.2 fatal fall cases yearly. 2023 documented 17 cases, while 2019 and 2020 recorded zero each.
Looking at the study, a spokesperson at Shook & Stone commented:
“The study highlights that states such as Utah, Rhode Island, and Wyoming reported some of America’s highest fatal fall rates.
“These high rates of workplace fall fatalities put both workers and employers at significant risk. Such incidents often cause devastating consequences for families and strain workplace safety resources. Given the prevalence of these incidents, addressing fall prevention requires targeted interventions.
“To reduce these incidents, state leaders and policymakers can implement enhanced workplace safety education programs, improved safety infrastructure, and better access to safety training. Addressing underlying issues such as construction site safety and industrial workplace hazards could also help mitigate fatal fall rates across these states.”
South Dakota ranks fourth with 11.75 fatal falls per million workers, surpassing the national average of 5.49 by about 114%. With a workforce of approximately 494,000, the state reported an annual average of 5.8 fatal fall incidents during 2019-2023. The highest number of cases (18) was recorded in 2023, while 2019 experienced zero instances.
North Dakota ranks fifth with 8.37 deaths per million workers. That’s 52% more than the national average of 5.49. The state’s 430,000 workers experienced an average of 3.6 fatal fall incidents yearly. 2021 was the worst year with 5 cases, while 2019 had zero cases.
Louisiana (6th) documented 7.73 fatal falls per million workers, followed by Oklahoma (7th) at 7.71 deaths per million workers, Vermont (8th) at 7.31 deaths per million workers, Arkansas (9th) at 6.75 deaths per million workers, and Montana (10th) at 6.60 deaths per million workers.
Table for Extended Results:
| Top 10 States With the Highest Rate of Fall Fatalities at Work | |||
| State | Average Fatal Fall, Slips, or Trips Injury Count 2019-2023 | Fatal Fall, Slips, or Trips Injury per Million Workers | Rank |
| Utah | 30 | 16.24 | 1 |
| Rhode Island | 9.4 | 15.98 | 2 |
| Wyoming | 4.2 | 14.27 | 3 |
| South Dakota | 5.8 | 11.75 | 4 |
| North Dakota | 3.6 | 8.37 | 5 |
| Louisiana | 16 | 7.73 | 6 |
| Oklahoma | 15.4 | 7.71 | 7 |
| Vermont | 2.6 | 7.31 | 8 |
| Arkansas | 9.6 | 6.75 | 9 |
| Montana | 3.8 | 6.60 | 10 |
The study was conducted by Shook & Stone, a law firm dedicated to fighting for the rights of injured and disabled individuals, ensuring they receive the justice and compensation they deserve while providing compassionate, personalized legal representation.
ENDS
P.S. If using this story, please credit and link to www.shookandstone.com/
Methodology
The research analyzed workplace fatality data from 2019 to 2023 via the Bureau of Labor Statistics and National Safety Council reports. Average fatal fall rates per million workers were calculated to identify the states where American workers are most at risk of experiencing fatal fall, slip, and trip injuries in workplace environments.
Data Sources
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/laus.t01.htm
- National Safety Council: https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/state-data/at-work/work-deaths-by-state/
- Occupational Deaths by Events: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQxTbK3RKtephYsdyqHd3xyLQe2wcV9EEaT445rewgWQkBkhfM7a8E4EBRxZqF3KwRfj2PasZzUImkK/pubhtml
Research Dataset: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_Nt0FtQhfqzF32xFcPux5ym9FPUnSboDZ4vz6Xhojdc/edit?gid=0#gid=0
Research by: www.shookandstone.com/
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