New Study Uncovers The States With The Most Dangerous Workplace Conditions: Wyoming, North Dakota and Alaska the Worst, Rhode Island the Safest

September 14, 2024

New Study Uncovers The States With The Most Dangerous Workplace Conditions: Wyoming, North Dakota and Alaska the Worst, Rhode Island the Safest

Wyoming experienced the most workplace fatalities between 2020-2022, according to new research
North Dakota witnessed the second highest number of fatal injuries at work
Rhode Island had the least fatalities at work out of all states

A new study has revealed the U.S. states with the highest number of fatal injuries at work, and Wyoming takes the top spot.

Employment law experts at Duddy, Goodwin & Pollard analyzed data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to discover which states have experienced the most workplace fatalities. They gathered the total number of fatal occupational injuries from 2020-2022 in each state, weighing this against the population to generate a fair ranking per 100,000 people.

Wyoming is in first place in the ranking, with a staggering 16.64 fatal injuries at work per 100,000 people in 2020-2022. Wyoming experienced 96 workplace fatalities during this period.

North Dakota reported 97 fatal injuries at work, equating to 12.45 fatalities at work per 100,000 residents, putting the state in second place.

Third place in the ranking is Alaska, which saw approximately 9.68 fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 people or 71 fatalities across 2020-2022.

South Dakota experienced 8.91 workplace fatalities per 100,000 people, placing the state in the fourth position. South Dakota saw 79 fatal workplace injuries in the period 2020-2022.

Montana is in fifth place, reporting 8.67 fatalities at work per 100,000 residents, which is equal to 94 workplace fatalities in 2020-2022.

Louisiana reported 7.81 fatal injuries at work per 100,000 people, equal to 364 occupational fatalities in 2020-2022, resulting in the state’s sixth position.

Nebraska had 144 workplace fatalities from 2020 to 2022, which is the same as 7.34 fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 people, putting it seventh in the ranking.

West Virginia is next in eighth place, reporting 7.3 fatal injuries at work per 100,000 residents in 2020-2022. West Virginia had 131 fatal occupational injuries in this time period.

Arkansas is in ninth place, as the state experienced 7.07 occupational fatalities per 100,000 residents, or 213 fatal injuries at work in 2020-2022.

Lastly is New Mexico in tenth place, just making the ranking for the states with the most dangerous workplaces. New Mexico reported 6.94 fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 people in 2020-2022, which is equivalent to 147 injuries in total.

Rhode Island reported the lowest number of fatal occupational injuries, with only 17 fatalities at work across 2020-2022. This means Rhode Island saw just 1.55 workplace fatalities per 100,000 people in this period.

Rank	State	Total fatal occupational injuries, 2020-2022	Per 100k
1	Wyoming	96	16.64
2	North Dakota	97	12.45
3	Alaska	71	9.68
4	South Dakota	79	8.91
5	Montana	94	8.67
6	Louisiana	364	7.81
7	Nebraska	144	7.34
8	West Virginia	131	7.30
9	Arkansas	213	7.07
10	New Mexico	147	6.94

Jamie Goodwin, attorney for Duddy, Goodwin & Pollard commented on the findings: “The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets standards and regulations to ensure the health and safety of workers across various industries. Unfortunately, some employers ignore these rules, leading to hazardous work conditions and employee injuries – some even fatal.

“When employers fail to adhere to OSHA safety standards, they risk the health and well-being of employees, leading to accidents that can often threaten workers’ lives, as this study’s findings show. Injuries at work, especially fatalities, should be taken very seriously, and speaking to an attorney can help you understand your options if you have been severely injured at work.”

Story credit https://www.dgpfirm.com/

Methodology

The total number of fatal occupational injuries in each state for 2020, 2021, and 2022 was collected from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and added together to give an overall total for the 2020-2022 period.

Duddy, Goodwin & Pollard compared the total injuries against each state’s population to calculate a total per 100,000 residents to create a fair ranking for the states with the most fatal injuries at work.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (2011 forward).

Table: Complete ranking of states with the most fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 residents, 2020-2022, from highest to lowest.

Rank	State	Total fatal occupational injuries, 2020-2022	Per 100k
1	Wyoming	96	16.64
2	North Dakota	97	12.45
3	Alaska	71	9.68
4	South Dakota	79	8.91
5	Montana	94	8.67
6	Louisiana	364	7.81
7	Nebraska	144	7.34
8	West Virginia	131	7.30
9	Arkansas	213	7.07
10	New Mexico	147	6.94
11	Indiana	471	6.94
12	South Carolina	341	6.66
13	Tennessee	447	6.47
14	Missouri	373	6.06
15	Oklahoma	231	5.83
16	Kansas	170	5.79
17	Kentucky	260	5.77
18	Wisconsin	338	5.73
19	North Carolina	585	5.60
20	Mississippi	163	5.50
21	Georgia	589	5.50
22	Idaho	101	5.49
23	Texas	1580	5.42
24	Alabama	270	5.37
25	Iowa	163	5.11
26	Utah	157	4.80
27	Colorado	263	4.56
28	Maine	62	4.55
29	Vermont	29	4.51
30	Nevada	140	4.51
31	Virginia	387	4.48
32	Oregon	181	4.27
33	Florida	897	4.16
34	Michigan	410	4.07
35	Minnesota	228	4.00
36	New Hampshire	54	3.92
37	Hawaii	56	3.85
38	Illinois	488	3.81
39	Pennsylvania	493	3.79
40	Delaware	37	3.74
41	Ohio	441	3.74
42	Arizona	267	3.73
43	California	1429	3.61
44	New York	721	3.57
45	Maryland	219	3.55
46	Massachusetts	247	3.51
47	Washington	260	3.37
48	New Jersey	308	3.32
49	Connecticut	86	2.38
50	Rhode Island	17	1.55

****************************************************************

2024-25 OnFocus Central Wisconsin Area Conferences: Conference and Team Links, Schedules

Know some top athletic performances? Seeing some great teams in action?

We can use your help, and it’s simple. Witness some great performances? Hear about top athletes and top teams in our area?

Athlete of the Week and Team of the Week:

Nominate an athlete or team: HERE

**********************************************

Pancakes or Waffles! We feature top area athletes with our world-renowned feature. Send us your nominations for who you’d like us to interview HERE

College Athlete Roundup! We want to recognize student-athletes from the area who are competing at the college level. Send us information on college athletes from the area with our simple form HERE

Where are they Now? We feature athletes and difference makers from the past, standouts in sports who excelled over the years and have moved on. Know of a former athlete, coach, or difference maker who we should feature? Know of a former standout competitor whose journey beyond central Wisconsin sports is one we should share? Send us information on athletes and difference makers of the past with our simple form HERE

Baked or Fried! We also feature difference makers throughout central Wisconsin: coaches, booster club leaders, administration, volunteers, you name it. Send us your nominations for who you’d like us to interview HERE

We welcome your stories! Contact us at [email protected]!