Working in These States Could Be Bad for Your Health

• North Dakota takes the top spot with 104.46 severe injuries per 100,000 residents from 2015 to 2023.
• Nebraska and Arkansas rank second and third, with 72.11 and 63.04 severe injuries per 100,000 residents, respectively.
• Indiana ranks as the safest state for workers, with less than one severe injury per 100,000 people.

A new study has revealed the states with the highest number of severe workplace injuries per 100,000 residents.

Personal injury law specialists John Foy & Associates analyzed Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) data from the beginning of 2015 to the end of 2023, looking at the number of severe injuries occurring at work in each state. The findings were then compared with state population data, ranking the states in terms of incidents per 100,000 people over the nine-year period.

In first place is North Dakota, which sees 104.46 severe injuries at work per 100,000 residents, a figure that’s a staggering 263% higher than the national average of 28.75 severe injuries per 100,000.

Arms and hands were the most at-risk body parts in the state accounting for 323 of the 814 total severe injuries statewide. Mining was found to be the most dangerous industry in North Dakota, accounting for 204 severe injuries within the state.

Coming in second, Nebraska recorded 72.11 severe injuries per 100,000 people, 150.79% higher than the national average. Over the nine-year period, the state saw 1,419 severe injuries.

Arms and hands were the body parts most likely to be injured in the state, accounting for 573 of the total 1,419 severe injuries—40.38% of all severe work-related injuries in Nebraska. This was followed by injuries to legs and feet, with 371 recorded severe injuries. Manufacturing was found to be the most dangerous industry in the state, accounting for 485—or just over one in three (34.17%) severe injuries over the time period.

Arkansas ranks third with 63.04 severe injuries per 100,000 people – a 119.26% increase over the national average of just 28.75 per 100,000 residents. From 2015 to 2023, 1,920 severe injuries were reported in the state, with arms and legs being the most frequently injured, accounting for 912, or just under half of the severe injuries in the state.

In Arkansas, manufacturing was found to be the most dangerous industry, accounting for 870 of the total severe injuries at work – with 463 of those resulting in amputation.

In fourth place is South Dakota, with 62.87 severe injuries per 100,000 residents, a 118.66% increase over the national average. The state recorded 572 severe injuries from 2015 through the end of 2023, with manufacturing roles accounting for 194 of those and arms and hands being injured a total of 217 times.

Wisconsin ranks fifth, with 61.69 severe injuries per 100,000 people—114.55% higher than the national average. From 2015 to 2023, 3,635 severe injuries occurred in the state, with arms and hands accounting for 1,772 of the total severe injuries.

Manufacturing was found to be by far the most dangerous industry within the state, accounting for 1,757 severe injuries, with over half (988) of those resulting in amputation.

Sixth place belongs to Kansas, which has 60.57 severe injuries per 100,000 residents, 110.66% higher than the national average. The state saw 1,779 severe injuries between 2015 and 2023.

In seventh place, Ohio recorded 58.50 severe injuries per 100,000 residents, 103.45% higher than the national average. Over eight years, the state reported 6,877 severe injuries.

Eighth place goes to Alabama, with a rate of 57.62 severe injuries per 100,000 residents, 100.42% above the national average. The number of incidents from 2015 to 2023 was 2,924.

Pennsylvania takes ninth spot on the list, with 54.16 severe injuries per 100,000 residents, 88.38% higher than the national average. The state experienced 7,026 severe injuries during this period.

Finally, Mississippi rounds out the top ten, with 52.86 severe injuries per 100,000 people, 83.83% higher than the national average. From 2015 to 2023, 1,554 severe injuries were recorded in the state.

Interestingly, of the total 87,933 severe injuries reported nationwide, almost a third (32.98%) of these were within the manufacturing industry, nearly double that of the second-most dangerous industry, construction, which recorded 15,607 severe injuries.

Management was found to be, by far, the safest role, with just 38 severe injuries recorded from 2015 to the end of 2023, followed by finance and insurance (273 severe injuries) and education services (427 severe injuries).

Indiana was found to be the state with the fewest severe work injuries, recording severe injuries over the time period. This equates to a rate of 0.56 per 100,000 residents, 98.08% lower than the national average.

The top ten states with the highest number of severe work injuries per 100,000 people:

John Foy of John Foy & Associates, commented on the findings, saying:

Certain areas are seeing a notably higher frequency of such incidents, underscoring the importance of ongoing efforts to improve workplace safety standards nationwide. These findings serve as a crucial reminder for employers to prioritize safety measures and enhance enforcement to protect workers’ well-being.

The data shows that workers in manufacturing are involved in a significant number of workplace injuries, accounting for nearly a third of all severe cases. This statistic underscores the critical need for proper training and safeguarding measures within the industry. Ensuring that workers are adequately trained and that safety protocols are rigorously implemented is vital in reducing these incidents.

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