When you review Pennsylvania workplace injury statistics, the results are alarming. In 2024, Pennsylvania workers filed 165,985 reports of injury and illness, according to the Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers’ Compensation’s 2024 Annual Report. The Keystone State consistently ranks above national averages for nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses.
Whether a workplace accident results in physical injury or exposure to harmful substances, injured workers need to know their rights when pursuing workers’ compensation benefits.
Types of Workplace Injuries in Pennsylvania
According to the Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers’ Compensation’s 2024 Workers’ Compensation and Workplace Safety Annual Report, Pennsylvania workers filed 165,985 injury and illness reports in 2024, a 2 percent increase from 162,694 in 2023. The workers’ compensation system paid more than $2.8 billion in wage and medical benefits to injured workers statewide. Workplace fatalities declined from 84 in 2023 to 75 in 2024. More than half of all cases came from two sectors: Education and Health Services (45,685 cases) and Trade and Transportation (44,111 cases).
While these numbers represent real workers and families, the compensation you receive ultimately depends on the severity of your injury and whether your employer carries adequate coverage.
Strains and sprains are the most common type of workplace injury in Pennsylvania, making up more than one in three reported cases. According to the 2024 Annual Report, strain and sprain injuries accounted for 35.1 percent of all 165,985 cases, totaling 58,295 incidents. The next most common types were contusions, crushing, and bruising injuries (22.1 percent, 36,684 cases), cuts, lacerations, and punctures (16.0 percent, 26,546 cases), and fractures (3.5 percent, 5,839 cases).
Upper extremities were the most frequently injured body part, accounting for 37.7 percent of all cases (62,653 total). Back injuries alone represented 11.3 percent of all workplace injuries (18,718 cases).
Leading Causes of Workplace Injuries in Pennsylvania
Overexertion is the leading cause of workplace injuries in Pennsylvania, responsible for roughly one in four reported cases. According to the Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers’ Compensation’s 2024 Annual Report, overexertion — lifting, pushing, pulling, carrying, or holding — caused 24.5 percent of all workplace injuries (40,666 cases). Being struck by a falling, flying, or moving object was the second leading cause at 22.2 percent (36,792 cases). Falls on the same level accounted for 10.4 percent of cases (17,262 cases).
Together, overexertion, being struck by objects, and same-level falls account for more than half of all reported workplace injuries in Pennsylvania. Many of these incidents are preventable when employers follow proper safety protocols and training requirements. When an injury results from an employer’s failure to maintain safe working conditions, workers may have options beyond a standard workers’ compensation claim.
Workplace Injuries by Industry in Pennsylvania
Certain industries generate far more workplace injury claims than others, both in total volume and relative to the number of workers employed. According to the Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers’ Compensation’s 2024 Annual Report, the statewide workplace injury rate was 27.0 per 1,000 workers. Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting had the highest injury rate at 41.3 per 1,000 workers, followed by Manufacturing at 38.0 per 1,000 and Trade and Transportation at 37.7 per 1,000. By total case volume, Education and Health Services reported the most injuries statewide (45,685 cases), followed by Trade and Transportation (44,111 cases) and Manufacturing (21,453 cases).
Fatal Workplace Injuries in Pennsylvania
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the most commonly reported fatal workplace injuries and accidents in Pennsylvania in 2023 included:
- Transportation incidents: 30 percent
- Falls, slips, trips: 25 percent
- Contact incidents: 17 percent
- Violent acts: 14 percent
- All others: 14 percent
Fatal Work Injuries by Industry
With a robust job market, Pennsylvania workers are at risk of occupational injury and illness. Among the above incidents, certain sectors experienced higher rates of injury and fatality. Industries with the highest level of workplace fatality include:
- Trade, transportation, and utilities: 29 percent
- Construction: 18 percent
- Manufacturing: 17 percent
- Transportation and warehousing: 17 percent
Highest Fatalities by Demographic Characteristics
Certain groups of people are more likely to suffer fatal workplace injuries. In 2023, the following groups had the highest reports of fatal work injuries.
- Sex: Men (89 percent)
- Age: 55 to 64 years (25 percent) and 35 to 44 years (20 percent)
- Race or ethnic origin: White, non-Hispanic (71 percent) and Hispanic or Latino (15 percent)
Most Common Occupational Illnesses by Industry
As noted, certain industries see more illness and injury than others. Workers’ injury statistics also show that some occupations are more susceptible to certain illnesses.
- Medical professionals, including nurses and blood processors: Tuberculosis and hepatitis
- Firefighters: Heart and lung disease
- Mining workers: Pneumoconiosis and silicosis
- Healthcare professionals, industrial/manufacturing workers, agricultural workers: Chemical poisoning (lead, arsenic, mercury)
In addition, occupational hearing loss is one of the most commonly reported conditions with a high incidence rate that leads to lost wages, long-term medical expenses, heart problems, cognitive decline, and diminished mental health. The CDC estimates that 22 million workers are exposed to hazardous noise yearly.
OSHA Violations Leading Causes of Unsafe Conditions, Work Injuries in Pennsylvania
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reported the top 10 most frequently cited violations in 2023 for workplace safety included:
- Fall protection: General Industry
- Hazard communication: General Industry
- Control of hazardous energy: General Industry
- Ladders: Construction Industry
- Respiratory protection: General Industry
- Powered industrial trucks: General Industry
- Fall protection training: Construction Industry
- Scaffolding: Construction Industry
- Eye and face protection: Construction Industry
- Machine guarding: General Industry
As OSHA makes strides to keep employees’ well-being at the forefront, national averages on workplace injuries and deaths have continued to decline. This includes decreased workplace fatalities from about 38 worker deaths a day in 1970 to 15 a day in 2023, and workplace injuries and illnesses decreasing from 10.9 incidents per 100 workers in 1972 to 2.4 per 100 in 2023.
You have legal options if your employer knowingly does not abide by Pennsylvania law in both the public and private sectors. Munley Law provides legal guidance to injured workers and their families seeking Pennsylvania workers’ compensation benefits for serious injuries.
Suffering from Work Injuries in Pennsylvania? Call Munley Law.
Work injury statistics are alarming, but when a work injury or occupational illness impacts your family, you may feel unable to move forward. At Munley Law, we help injured workers file workers’ compensation claims to secure the benefits they rightfully deserve.
Further, if a loved one died in a work-related fatality, we help the dependents collect death benefits.
Caroline Munley is a certified workers’ compensation specialist through the Pennsylvania Bar Association. J. Christopher Munley has been recognized by Best Lawyers as Lawyer of the Year for Workers’ Compensation Law.
Whether you suffered a physical injury lifting heavy objects at work or had pre-existing conditions exacerbated by your work conditions, we can help. To speak with a workers’ compensation lawyer today, call Munley Law.
Caroline Munley
Caroline Munley is an experienced and award-winning personal injury lawyer and is a board-certified workers’ compensation specialist. Since 2018, she’s been listed in Best Lawyers in America (Personal Injury Plaintiffs; Workers’ Compensation Claimants, Northeastern PA), Lawdragon, and has been a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer since 2022. A member of the International Society of Barristers, Caroline has won millions of dollars for car accident, commercial truck crash, and workplace injury victims.
Call us at (844) 686-5397 
