How Often Do People Get in Accidents on Work Sites?
Every worker deserves safe, fair conditions on the job. Unfortunately, work-related accidents remain far too common. The Commonwealth collects comprehensive data on workplace safety. The two most recent reports are:
- Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation and Workplace Safety Annual Report (2023)
- Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation and Workplace Safety Annual Report (2024)
How frequently are people actually hurt on the job? At DiLoreto, Cosentino & Bolinger P.C., we have dug into the data. Our Franklin County workers’ compensation lawyers can help if you were injured at work in Pennsylvania.
Work Site Accident Statistics for Pennsylvania for 2023 and 2024
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), private industry employers in Pennsylvania reported approximately 115,200 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2023. For reference, that number equates to a workplace accident incident rate of 2.6 cases per 100 full-time equivalent workers. To put that into perspective, Pennsylvania’s work injury rate is nearly ten percent higher than the national average. Of those cases, 64,300 involved days away from work, job transfer, or restriction. The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry’s 2024 Annual Report noted roughly 162,194 reports of injuries and illnesses statewide. The Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers’ Compensation reports that it managed more than $2.9 billion in wage and medical benefits paid to injured workers in 2024 alone.
Work Site Injury Rates Vary Considerably Across Industries
Pennsylvania’s most recent work-injury data show that accident frequency varies sharply by industry. Notably, construction remains one of the highest-risk sectors. In construction in Pennsylvania, workplace injury and illness rates are above 30 per 1,000 workers. That is far above the national average for all occupations. Heavy and civil engineering construction posts have even higher rates. That reflects the physical demands and hazardous conditions of the work.
These industry trends matter for injured workers because they demonstrate that workplace accidents are not isolated events. They occur with regularity across Pennsylvania worksites. If you work in a high-rate sector, your risk is inherently elevated, but injuries in lower-rate industries remain common. The data helps frame your claim and counter any suggestion that your injury is unusual or unlikely. Still, serious injuries can occur in any work site and in any industry. An injured worker in Franklin County has the right to file for no-fault workers’ compensation benefits.
Set Up a Free Case Review With a Top Chambersburg, PA Work Injury Lawyer
At DiLoreto, Cosentino & Bolinger P.C., our Chambersburg workers’ compensation attorneys put clients first. If you were hurt in an accident on a work site, we can help. Please do not hesitate to contact us today for a free case evaluation. Following a work site accident, you need the maximum available financial benefits. We fight for justice for injured workers throughout all of Franklin County, including in Chambersburg, Waynesboro, and Greencastle.