05-03-2025
Hawaiʻi's most dangerous professions: U.S. Board of Labor Statistics
HONOLULU (KHON2) — In 2023, United States Board of Labor Statistics (BLS) recorded Hawaiʻi's fatal work injuries and found a decrease from the previous year.
This marks a change in the number of fatalities and continues a trend in which the state's fatal work injuries have varied from a high of 41 in 2001 to a low of 11 in 2013.
Some interesting facts came to light. Information regarding sex, age and race when it comes to fatalities and injuries on the job.
The BLS released its findings for workforce safety. This is what found in the total fatalities:
There were 16 work-related fatalities hat occurred in Hawaiʻi in 2023. This number is down from the previous year (2022).
Hawaiʻi's historical trends:
Fatal work injuries in Hawaiʻi range from a high of 41 incidents in 2001 to a low of 11 in 2013.
National comparison:
Across the U.S., there were 5,283 fatal work injuries in 2023. This is a 3.7% decrease from 2022.
Leading cause of fatalities in Hawaiʻi:
'Contact incidents' were the most reported. For example, when a worker is struck by objects or equipment. These incidents accounted for 19% of total worker related deaths in Hawaiʻi in 2023, which was three cases.
Nationally, contact incidents made up 15% of workplace fatalities for the same year.
Industry breakdown:
The construction industry reported three fatalities (19%). These deaths made it one of the most hazardous sectors to work in for Hawaiʻi.
Occupational risk:
The construction and extraction occupational group also reported 3 fatal workplace injuries (19%).
Sex disparity:
100% of the workplace fatalities in Hawaiʻi involved biological male workers.
Nationally, 91% of workplace deaths involved men.
Age groups most affected:
Four cases, or 25%, of workplace fatalities involved workers aged 35 to 44.
Another 25%, four other cases, involved workers aged 55 to 64.
Racial demographics:
Seven cases, or 44%, of the fatalities involved individuals of multiple races.
Three cases, or 19%, involved non-Hispanic white workers.
Data classification update:
The 2023 data used revised classification systems (NAICS & OIICS). This means direct year-to-year comparisons were made with caution.
You can click to read more from the report.
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The report discovered that there were no violent acts, transportation incidents, explosions/fires, slips/trips/falls or exposure to harmful substances/environments in Hawaiʻi.
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