America's Never-Ending Struggle To Ensure Workplace Safety

Overall, the United States has made considerable strides in improving workplace safety over the last two decades. A report published by AFL-CIO, the largest U.S. federation of trade unions, shows that the number of fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 workers in the U.S. fell from 4.2 in 2006 to 3.6 in 2021. This rate was however as low as 3.4 in 2020.

A key element of upholding safety standards in the workplace involves federal and state inspections by OSHA (The Occupational Safety and Health Administration). Unfortunately, the agency's staffing and resources are insufficient for it to carry out its task effectively.

There were 1,871 OSHA inspectors in the U.S. in 2022, responsible for inspecting 10.8 million workplaces. That equates to just one inspector for every 77,334 employees. The sheer scale of the challenge facing OSHA in carrying out inspections at all job sites is highlighted in this infographic. As detailed in the report, the task could take hundreds of years in some states at current staffing levels. In South Carolina, it would take OSHA inspectors 442 years to guarantee safety at all work sites.