NC 2024 Fatal Workplace Injury Data: Key Trends, Risks, and Available Resources

Every day, workers across North Carolina face deadly hazards on construction sites, highways, warehouses, farms, factories, and more. And while many workplace accidents result in injuries requiring intensive medical care, some end in tragedy. Fatal workplace accidents impact workers and families throughout the state each year, leaving surviving loved ones with emotional and financial burdens that can last a lifetime.

Understanding the causes of fatal workplace injuries, which industries carry the highest risks, and what legal options may be available after a workplace death can help workers and families protect their rights and prevent the unthinkable.

An Overview of Fatal Workplace Injuries in North Carolina

According to a 2024 report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, North Carolina has seen an increase in workplace fatalities spanning multiple years across industries such as construction, transportation, agriculture, manufacturing, and warehousing. Many of these accidents occur during routine job duties. Others result from unsafe working conditions, inadequate training, defective equipment, or violations of workplace safety standards. In some cases, a fatal accident may also involve a third party whose negligence contributed to the incident.

Fatal workplace injuries aren’t limited to traditionally dangerous occupations, though. Workers in offices, retail environments, healthcare facilities, and delivery services may also suffer catastrophic or fatal injuries under certain circumstances.

Leading Causes of Fatal Work Injuries in NC

Several types of workplace accidents have led to fatalities in North Carolina and across the United States. Here are the leading causes.

Transportation Accidents

Transportation-related accidents are one of the most common causes of workplace fatalities. These incidents can involve:

• Commercial truck crashes
• Delivery vehicle accidents
• Forklift collisions
• Workers struck by vehicles
• Highway construction zone accidents
• Heavy equipment rollovers

Workers who spend a lot of time driving as part of their jobs often face elevated risks, especially in industries such as trucking, construction, and logistics.

Falls, Slips, and Trips

Falls from heights remain a major cause of fatal injuries, particularly in construction and roofing work. Fatal falls may involve:

• Scaffolding accidents
• Ladder falls
• Roof collapses
• Falls from elevated platforms
• Unsafe fall protection systems

Contact With Machinery, Equipment, or Objects

Workers may suffer fatal injuries after becoming caught in machinery, struck by falling objects, or crushed by equipment. Some examples include:

• Industrial machinery accidents
• Falling construction materials
• Warehouse equipment incidents
• Crane accidents
• Electrocution from power tools or exposed wiring

Exposure to Harmful Substances or Environments

Some workplace fatalities stem from exposure to toxic chemicals, fires, explosions, or extreme temperatures. Workers in manufacturing, agriculture, and industrial settings may face particularly serious risks.

Most High-Risk Industries in North Carolina

Recent fatal workplace injury data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that several North Carolina industries continue to experience especially high numbers of fatal work accidents. In 2024, North Carolina recorded 196 fatal occupational injuries, up from 177 in 2023, with transportation incidents accounting for 39% of all worker deaths statewide.

Trade, Transportation, and Utilities

The trade, transportation, and utilities sector reported the highest number of workplace fatalities in North Carolina in 2024, with 56 deaths accounting for 29% of all fatal workplace injuries statewide.

Within that category, transportation and warehousing alone accounted for 35 fatalities. Truck transportation was particularly dangerous, resulting in 22 worker deaths and reflecting the ongoing risks faced by freight truckers throughout the state.

Construction

Construction remained one of the deadliest industries in North Carolina, with 36 fatal workplace injuries in 2024. Although the number decreased from 43 fatalities in 2023, the industry still accounted for 18% of all fatal work injuries statewide.

Specialty trade contractors experienced the largest share of fatalities within the construction industry, accounting for 22 deaths. Site preparation contractors, roofing contractors, and highway construction workers also faced substantial risks.

Administrative Support, Waste Management, and Remediation Services

Administrative and support and waste management services reported 27 fatal workplace injuries in 2024. These jobs often involve hazardous physical labor, waste collection, roadside work, landscaping, and security services.

Waste collection workers, landscaping crews, and security personnel may face increased exposure to traffic accidents, violent acts, heavy equipment, and environmental hazards.

Manufacturing

North Carolina’s manufacturing sector recorded 16 fatal workplace injuries in 2024. Workers in manufacturing environments may encounter dangerous machinery, powered equipment, forklifts, falling objects, electrical hazards, and exposure to harmful substances. Wood product manufacturing, chemical manufacturing, machinery manufacturing, and concrete production were among the manufacturing subsectors reporting fatalities.

Agriculture, Forestry, and Logging

Although the total number of fatalities (8) was smaller compared to larger industries, agriculture, forestry, fishing, and logging continue to have some of the highest fatality rates per worker due to the dangerous nature of the work.

Logging operations, farm labor contracting, fishing, and forestry support activities all reported worker fatalities in 2024. These occupations often involve heavy machinery, remote work locations, extreme weather conditions, and high-risk equipment.

Government and Public Sector Work

Government employees also experienced fatal workplace injuries in 2024, with 19 deaths reported among federal, state, and local government workers.

Demographics With the Highest Reports of Fatal Work Injuries

In North Carolina, there is a high rate of work injuries reported among Hispanic and Latino workers, with an average of 1 in 4 workers killed on the job. Hispanic workers have experienced disproportionately high rates of fatal workplace injuries nationwide and in North Carolina.

According to a US Bureau of Labor Statistics report in 2024, 30 of the 196 total fatal work injuries in NC were among Latinos, following a 10.7% increase in overall state workplace deaths from 2023. Language barriers, inadequate safety training, dangerous job assignments, and fear of reporting unsafe conditions may all contribute to these risks.

Male workers are also disproportionately affected by fatal workplace accidents in North Carolina, making up over 90% of fatalities, mostly in transportation, construction, and agricultural sectors.

Trends Over Time in Workplace Fatalities

North Carolina workplace fatality data reveal several important trends over the past decade. While workplace safety improvements once helped reduce fatal injury rates, recent years have shown increases in several high-risk industries and occupations.

North Carolina recorded:

• 177 workplace fatalities in 2023
• 196 workplace fatalities in 2024

The state’s fatal workplace injury rate also increased from 3.7 to 4.1 deaths per 100,000 workers.

Fatal workplace violence has also risen sharply in recent years. Violent acts caused 35 worker deaths in North Carolina in 2024, compared to 17 the previous year. Many of these fatalities involved shootings, assaults, and homicides in customer-facing or public-facing occupations.

Common Preventable Causes of Fatal Workplace Accidents

Many workplace deaths could potentially be avoided with proper safety measures. Common preventable factors include:

• Lack of safety training
• Failure to provide protective equipment
• Unsafe machinery
• Inadequate fall protection
• Fatigue from excessive work hours
• Poor maintenance practices
• Failure to follow OSHA regulations
• Distracted or impaired driving
• Inadequate supervision

Employers have a responsibility to maintain reasonably safe working environments for employees.

Who Is Entitled to Workers’ Compensation Benefits?

​Most employees who suffer a work-related injury or occupational illness may be entitled to North Carolina workers’ compensation benefits. Surviving family members may also qualify for certain benefits after a fatal workplace accident.

In general, workers’ compensation may cover:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Disability benefits
• Vocational rehabilitation
• Death benefits for eligible dependents

What Happens After a Fatal Workplace Accident?

After a fatal workplace accident occurs, several legal and administrative steps typically follow, including:

Conduct an investigation. The employer, insurance company, and potentially OSHA may investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

File a workers’ compensation claim. Eligible surviving family members may file a workers’ compensation death benefits claim.

Obtain a death certificate and documentation. Medical records, employment records, witness statements, and accident reports often become important pieces of evidence.

Evaluate potential third-party claims. In some situations, another company or individual may have contributed to the accident. Examples include:

• Negligent drivers
• Equipment manufacturers
• Contractors or subcontractors
• Property owners

A third-party claim may provide compensation beyond standard workers’ compensation benefits.

Applying for Workers’ Compensation Death Benefits in North Carolina

When a worker dies as a result of a compensable workplace injury or occupational disease, certain surviving family members may be entitled to workers’ compensation death benefits under North Carolina law.

Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-38, eligible dependents may receive weekly compensation payments equal to two-thirds (66 2/3%) of the worker’s average weekly wages, subject to the state’s maximum compensation rate. The law also provides up to $10,000 in burial expenses.

In most cases, death benefits are paid to individuals who were wholly dependent on the deceased worker’s income at the time of the accident, such as:

• A surviving spouse
• Minor children
• Other qualifying dependents

If no one was wholly dependent on the worker, partially dependent family members may still qualify for partial benefits based on the level of financial support they received from the deceased employee.

Generally, death benefits may continue for up to 500 weeks from the date of the worker’s death. However, benefits for a surviving spouse may continue longer if the spouse is physically or mentally disabled and unable to support themselves. Benefits for dependent children may continue until the child reaches age 18.

Because determining dependency, calculating benefits, and resolving disputes with insurance companies can become complicated, surviving families often benefit from speaking with a workers’ compensation attorney about their rights after a fatal workplace accident.

How a Workers’ Compensation Attorney Can Help After a Fatal Work Injury

After losing a loved one in a workplace accident, families may face insurance disputes, denied claims, financial uncertainty, and complicated legal procedures that can compound their grief.

A North Carolina workers’ compensation attorney may help by:

• Investigating the fatal accident
• Gathering crucial evidence
• Handling communication with insurance companies
• Identifying third-party liability
• Filing workers’ compensation claims
• Pursuing additional compensation if available
• Protecting families from unfair settlement tactics

A fatal workplace accident can leave families facing overwhelming emotional and financial challenges. While workers’ compensation benefits may provide important support, insurance companies do not always make the process easy for surviving family members. At Henson Fuerst, our lawyers are here to walk you through how the workers’ compensation system works after a fatal workplace accident.

Our North Carolina Workers’ Comp Attorneys Put Your Family First

Understanding your legal options, deadlines, and available benefits can make a significant difference during an already difficult time. Whether a fatal accident involved unsafe working conditions, transportation incidents, machinery failures, or another preventable hazard, experienced legal guidance may help families pursue the compensation and answers they need.

At Henson Fuerst, we know how sensitive and complex workers’ compensation claims are when an accident takes a worker’s life. That’s why our experienced attorneys are ready to protect your rights and fight for the future stability and security you deserve. If you have recently lost a loved one to a workplace accident, speak with a compassionate workers’ compensation lawyer on our team for free.

Contact us today by submitting an online form or calling our office at (919) 781-1107 for a free legal consultation.