In recent years, fatal workplace injuries have been on the rise in the United States, owing to an increase in employment and the expansion of the labor force and the economy. According to AdvisorSmith’s research, on average nationwide, there were 3.4 workplace deaths per 100,000 workers during 2018. In this analysis, AdvisorSmith examined the fatal occupational injury rate in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to determine the safest and most dangerous states for workers in America.
With a large and diversified economy, the United States is composed of many varied and diverse regional economies with very different characteristics. The national economy includes many professions with low or near-zero fatality rates including office workers. At the same time, many Americans are employed in more dangerous industries such as natural resources, construction, and delivery. The industry composition of the workforce makes a significant difference in worker safety among workers living in different states.
While the entire country is subject to workplace safety regulations from the national Occupational Safety and Health Administration, many states choose to add additional regulations to employers in their states. This variance in regulations also has an impact on worker safety in different states.
Each state also has its own regulations and system for workers’ compensation insurance. The rates paid by employers for workers’ compensation insurance can influence safety measures taken by companies and employees in states around the country.
AdvisorSmith found that workplace fatality rates around the country varied widely depending upon the state. The state with the lowest workplace fatality rate had only 1.5 fatalities per 100,000 workers, while the state with the highest workplace fatality rate had 11.1 fatalities per 100,000 workers.
Most Dangerous States for Workers
1. Wyoming
Workplace Fatalities (2018): 31
Fatality Rate per 100,000 Workers: 11.1
Wyoming is the country’s least populated state, and it also has the highest occupational fatality rate for workers. An important part of Wyoming’s economy is the extraction of natural resources, such as coal, oil, natural gas, and mining. Additionally, the state has an important agricultural sector as well. Jobs in these industries are among the most likely to have fatal occupational injuries.
2. Alaska
Workplace Fatalities (2018): 32
Fatality Rate per 100,000 Workers: 9.7
As one of only two states not a part of the contiguous United States, Alaska has a state economy that includes oil, natural gas, and fishing industries. These industries contribute to the state’s high rate of worker fatalities. Additionally, Alaska is the largest state by land area, which requires the use of small aircraft to navigate. With small aircraft pilots having one of the highest fatality rates for workers, this also contributes to Alaska being the second most dangerous state for workers.
3. North Dakota
Workplace Fatalities (2018): 35
Fatality Rate per 100,000 Workers: 8.9
North Dakota, located in the Midwest, is another state in which natural resources play a major role. In North Dakota, shale oil extraction from the Bakken formation is an important economic driver, along with agriculture. These industries contribute to the state’s relatively high workplace fatality rate, as these are some of the most dangerous jobs in America.
4. West Virginia
Workplace Fatalities (2018): 57
Fatality Rate per 100,000 Workers: 7.7
Located in the Appalachian region of the United States, West Virginia is a state that broke away from the state of Virginia during the Civil War. Two industries that are prominent in West Virginia include logging and coal mining. These natural resource industries are among those with the highest occupational fatality rate, which contribute to the state’s rank as the 4th most dangerous for workers.
5. South Dakota
Workplace Fatalities (2018): 32
Fatality Rate per 100,000 Workers: 7.2
South Dakota, another midwestern state, was the 5th most dangerous state for workers based on occupational fatality rates. Agricultural production in South Dakota is an important contributor to the state’s economy and one of the reasons for the high fatality rate among workers in the state. The state is an important producer of ethanol, along with other farming products.
| Rank | State | Fatalities | Fatalities per 100,000 workers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | 31 | 11.1 |
| 2 | Alaska | 32 | 9.7 |
| 3 | North Dakota | 35 | 8.9 |
| 4 | West Virginia | 57 | 7.7 |
| 5 | South Dakota | 32 | 7.2 |
| 6 | Mississippi | 78 | 6.5 |
| 7 | Arkansas | 76 | 5.8 |
| 8 | Montana | 28 | 5.5 |
| 9 | Idaho | 45 | 5.4 |
| 10 | Indiana | 173 | 5.3 |
| 11 | Oklahoma | 91 | 5.1 |
| 12 | Missouri | 145 | 4.9 |
| 13 | Louisiana | 98 | 4.9 |
| 14 | New Mexico | 43 | 4.8 |
| 15 | Iowa | 77 | 4.7 |
| 16 | Nebraska | 44 | 4.4 |
| 17 | South Carolina | 98 | 4.3 |
| 18 | Kansas | 61 | 4.3 |
| 19 | Kentucky | 83 | 4.2 |
| 20 | Alabama | 89 | 4.2 |
| 21 | Tennessee | 122 | 3.9 |
| 22 | Georgia | 186 | 3.8 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | 114 | 3.8 |
| 24 | Virginia | 157 | 3.7 |
| 25 | North Carolina | 178 | 3.7 |
| 26 | Texas | 488 | 3.7 |
| 27 | Florida | 332 | 3.4 |
| 28 | Hawaii | 22 | 3.3 |
| 29 | Michigan | 155 | 3.3 |
| 30 | Vermont | 11 | 3.3 |
| 31 | Utah | 49 | 3.2 |
| 32 | Maryland | 97 | 3.1 |
| 33 | Oregon | 62 | 3.1 |
| 34 | Illinois | 184 | 3 |
| 35 | New York | 271 | 3 |
| 36 | Pennsylvania | 177 | 2.9 |
| 37 | Ohio | 158 | 2.9 |
| 38 | Nevada | 39 | 2.7 |
| 39 | New Hampshire | 20 | 2.7 |
| 40 | Massachusetts | 97 | 2.7 |
| 41 | Connecticut | 48 | 2.6 |
| 42 | District of Columbia | 10 | 2.6 |
| 43 | Maine | 17 | 2.5 |
| 44 | Minnesota | 75 | 2.5 |
| 45 | Arizona | 82 | 2.5 |
| 46 | Colorado | 72 | 2.4 |
| 47 | Washington | 86 | 2.4 |
| 48 | California | 422 | 2.3 |
| 49 | New Jersey | 83 | 2 |
| 50 | Rhode Island | 9 | 1.7 |
| 51 | Delaware | 7 | 1.5 |
Safest States for Workers
1. Delaware
Workplace Fatalities (2018): 7
Fatality Rate per 100,000 Workers: 1.5
The second smallest state by area, Delaware is a mid-Atlantic state that is among the most densely populated in the country. Delaware was the first state to ratify the American constitution and one of its nicknames is “The First State.” Delaware is known for its strong corporate laws and legal system, leading more than half of publicly traded companies to be incorporated in the state. The state has more corporations registered in the state than people living in the state. Along with government services, Delaware has a diversified economy that includes education, banking, technology, chemicals, and healthcare. These industries have lower fatality rates than the average, leading to Delaware being the safest state for workers in the nation.
2. Rhode Island
Workplace Fatalities (2018): 9
Fatality Rate per 100,000 Workers: 1.7
Located in New England, Rhode Island is the smallest state by land area, but the second-most densely populated state in the country. Rhode Island’s economy is primarily urban and services-based, with healthcare and education being major sectors in the economy. The state also has a large tourism industry, along with some manufacturing. The composition of Rhode Island’s economy has led it to become the second safest state for American workers.
3. New Jersey
Workplace Fatalities (2018): 83
Fatality Rate per 100,000 Workers: 2
New Jersey, located in the Northeast along the Atlantic coast, is the nation’s most densely populated state and the second wealthiest in median household income. The state has a diversified economy, including industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, biotech, information technology and telecommunications, financial services, and agriculture. The service sector also has a significant share of employment, including retail, education, and real estate services. The state’s advanced economy, along with strong protections for worker safety, has led to low levels of occupational fatality in the state.
4. California
Workplace Fatalities (2018): 422
Fatality Rate per 100,000 Workers: 2.3
Also known as the Golden State, California has the largest economy in the United States, and were it a separate country, it would have the fifth-largest economy in the world. The economy in California is broadly diversified and includes trade, transportation, and utilities, government, professional services, education, healthcare, and manufacturing. Through its Cal/OSHA department, the state has some of the most stringent worker safety standards in the United States.
5. Washington
Workplace Fatalities (2018): 86
Fatality Rate per 100,000 Workers: 2.4
The state of Washington, located in the Pacific Northwest, is named after our nation’s first President, George Washington. Washington has a diversified economy, with lumber, agriculture, and fishing making contributions to the economy. Additionally, the state has major manufacturing industries, as well as strengths in software and telecom, retail, food and beverage, and real estate. Despite the presence of high fatality industries such as logging, fishing, and agriculture, the state’s services economy as well as protections for workers have helped Washington to be one of the safest states for workers.
| Rank | State | Fatalities | Fatalities per 100,000 workers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | 7 | 1.5 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | 9 | 1.7 |
| 3 | New Jersey | 83 | 2 |
| 4 | California | 422 | 2.3 |
| 5 | Washington | 86 | 2.4 |
| 6 | Colorado | 72 | 2.4 |
| 7 | Arizona | 82 | 2.5 |
| 8 | Minnesota | 75 | 2.5 |
| 9 | Maine | 17 | 2.5 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | 10 | 2.6 |
| 11 | Connecticut | 48 | 2.6 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | 97 | 2.7 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | 20 | 2.7 |
| 14 | Nevada | 39 | 2.7 |
| 15 | Ohio | 158 | 2.9 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | 177 | 2.9 |
| 17 | New York | 271 | 3 |
| 18 | Illinois | 184 | 3 |
| 19 | Oregon | 62 | 3.1 |
| 20 | Maryland | 97 | 3.1 |
| 21 | Utah | 49 | 3.2 |
| 22 | Vermont | 11 | 3.3 |
| 23 | Michigan | 155 | 3.3 |
| 24 | Hawaii | 22 | 3.3 |
| 25 | Florida | 332 | 3.4 |
| 26 | Texas | 488 | 3.7 |
| 27 | North Carolina | 178 | 3.7 |
| 28 | Virginia | 157 | 3.7 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | 114 | 3.8 |
| 30 | Georgia | 186 | 3.8 |
| 31 | Tennessee | 122 | 3.9 |
| 32 | Alabama | 89 | 4.2 |
| 33 | Kentucky | 83 | 4.2 |
| 34 | Kansas | 61 | 4.3 |
| 35 | South Carolina | 98 | 4.3 |
| 36 | Nebraska | 44 | 4.4 |
| 37 | Iowa | 77 | 4.7 |
| 38 | New Mexico | 43 | 4.8 |
| 39 | Louisiana | 98 | 4.9 |
| 40 | Missouri | 145 | 4.9 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | 91 | 5.1 |
| 42 | Indiana | 173 | 5.3 |
| 43 | Idaho | 45 | 5.4 |
| 44 | Montana | 28 | 5.5 |
| 45 | Arkansas | 76 | 5.8 |
| 46 | Mississippi | 78 | 6.5 |
| 47 | South Dakota | 32 | 7.2 |
| 48 | West Virginia | 57 | 7.7 |
| 49 | North Dakota | 35 | 8.9 |
| 50 | Alaska | 32 | 9.7 |
| 51 | Wyoming | 31 | 11.1 |
Methodology
To determine the most dangerous states for workers, AdvisorSmith examined data published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on fatal occupational injuries in all 50 states and the District of Columbia for the calendar year 2018. To compare states with varying labor force sizes, we used employment and labor force data to normalize the fatality rates.
To conduct this study, we took the number of fatal worker injuries in each state in 2018 and divided it by the average annual employed persons in each state. We then normalized the fatality rate by calculating the fatalities per 100,000 workers in each state. We then ranked the states and the District of Columbia by the workplace fatality rate in each state to determine the most dangerous states for workers.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries