Florida workplace deaths fell in 2024, but construction and transportation still lead risks

Van Dingenen Law’s new analysis says Florida recorded 284 fatal work injuries in 2024, down from 306 a year earlier, even as transportation incidents, falls and construction remained the state’s biggest workplace threats. The report also breaks down who is most affected and what employers and injured workers can do next.

Why it matters: - Florida’s workplace fatality count fell in 2024, but the state still lost 284 workers on the job. - The data points to persistent risks in transportation, construction and outdoor work across the state. - The findings matter for workers, employers and claims systems because many severe injuries lead to lost wages, medical treatment and compensation disputes.

What happened: - Van Dingenen Law released a data analysis, “The Most Common Workplace Injuries in Florida: A Data Breakdown,” using U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and other public sources. - Florida recorded 284 fatal work injuries in 2024, down from 306 in 2023. - U.S. private industry employers reported 2.5 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2024, down 3.1% from 2023. - National fatal workplace injuries declined to 5,070 in 2024 from 5,283 in 2023.

The details: - Transportation incidents caused 109 fatal workplace injuries in Florida in 2024, the highest total of any cause. - Falls, slips and trips caused 66 deaths. - Exposure to harmful substances or environments caused 35 deaths. - Contact with objects or equipment caused 34 deaths. - Violent acts caused 33 deaths. - Construction was Florida’s deadliest industry, with 88 fatal workplace injuries. - Professional and business services had 49 deaths. - Transportation and warehousing had 37 deaths. - Landscaping services had 26 deaths. - Leisure and hospitality had 16 deaths. - Retail trade had 15 deaths. - Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting had 15 deaths. - Manufacturing had 10 deaths. - Wage and salary workers accounted for 249 fatal workplace injuries, compared with 35 fatalities among self-employed workers. - Workers ages 55 to 64 had the highest fatality total, with 64 deaths. - Men accounted for 268 workplace fatalities, while women accounted for 16. - Hispanic or Latino workers experienced 119 workplace fatalities in Florida. - The report says common nonfatal injuries include overexertion, repetitive motion injuries, falls, transportation-related injuries, struck-by accidents, caught-in or caught-between injuries, exposure-related injuries and workplace violence. - The study says these injuries can lead to emergency care, surgery, physical therapy, work restrictions, missed wages and disputes with employers or insurers. - The report recommends injured workers report accidents promptly, seek authorized medical care, document the incident, keep records and contact a workers’ compensation attorney if benefits are delayed, denied, reduced or disputed. - The report recommends employers improve safety training, fall protection, heat illness prevention, machine guarding, lockout/tagout, safe lifting, vehicle safety training, staffing, reporting procedures and hazard correction.

Between the lines: - The decline in fatal injuries suggests modest improvement, but the state’s risk profile still skews toward transportation, construction and physically demanding jobs. - Florida’s economy and environment appear to shape the pattern, including heavy road traffic, construction growth, storm cleanup work, tourism-related jobs and high heat exposure. - The analysis also points to possible reporting and access barriers for some Hispanic or Latino workers, including language issues, immigration concerns, temporary work arrangements and fear of retaliation. - A spokesperson for Van Dingenen Law said: “Workplace injury statistics are not just numbers. Behind every case is a worker whose health, income, and family stability may be affected. Even when overall injury rates decline, one serious accident can change a person’s life.” - The same spokesperson said: “Many workers assume an injury is minor at first, especially when symptoms develop gradually. Back injuries, repetitive stress injuries, head injuries, and soft tissue injuries can become much more serious if they are ignored or not properly documented.”

What's next: - Employers are likely to continue focusing on prevention steps that reduce transportation, fall and heat-related risks. - Injured workers may use the report’s guidance to document claims faster and challenge denied or delayed benefits. - Van Dingenen Law says it helps injured workers pursue medical treatment and wage benefits, appeal denied claims and deal with insurers after workplace accidents. - The firm says it works on a no-fee-unless-they-win basis and has represented injured workers since 2003.

The bottom line: - Florida’s workplace fatality trend improved in 2024, but the most dangerous jobs and injury causes remain largely unchanged.