WASHINGTON, DC – The US Division of Labor’s Assistant Secretary for Occupational Security and Well being Doug Parker issued a press release relating to the December nineteenth launch by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of its 2022 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries: 

“At the moment’s announcement by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of a 5.7 % enhance in deadly occupational accidents is a sobering reminder of the vital work we should do, particularly for Black and Hispanic staff who noticed the biggest enhance in office fatalities.

“In 2022, 5,486 staff within the US misplaced their lives. This equates to 1 employee demise each 96 minutes, with deaths the very best amongst transportation and development staff. We additionally noticed development in disparities for staff of coloration, together with Black staff, whose fatality price elevated 12.4 %, and Hispanic staff, whose price grew by 10.4 %.

“No employee ought to ever be deprived due to their pores and skin coloration or ethnicity; and that’s by no means more true than in terms of their lives and well being. Because of this the Division of Labor has expanded its efforts to guard these disproportionately prone to accidents and sicknesses on the job. 

“The BLS census additionally finds work-related overdoses and suicides proceed to be causes of nice concern, and they’re one other name to motion for the Occupational Security and Well being Administration, employers and different stakeholders to deal with these very critical points. Psychological well being have to be a part of general employee security and well being. We’re committed to supporting the mental health of all workers, simply as we’re dedicated to defending them from bodily hazards on the job.  

“Each employee demise has profound impacts on household, mates, co-workers and communities. That’s the reason investing in employee security and well being have to be a core worth in each office throughout the nation. All staff have a proper to do their job with out worry of being injured or sickened.”