Commonly Used Statistics

Federal OSHA coverage

Federal OSHA is a small agency; with our state partners we have approximately 1,850 inspectors responsible for the health and safety of 130 million workers, employed at more than 8 million worksites around the nation — which translates to about one compliance officer for every 70,000 workers.

Federal OSHA has 10 regional offices and 85 local area offices.

OSHA budget

FY 2023 Appropriations: $632,000,000
FY 2022 Appropriations: $612,000,000
FY 2021 Appropriations: $591,233,000

OSHA inspections

FY 2024 total federal inspections: 34,696

Worker fatalities

There were 5,283 fatal work injuries in 2023 (3.5 fatalities per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers). Learn about key findings.

Most frequently violated standards

The following are the top 10 most frequently cited standards by Federal OSHA in fiscal year 2024 (October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024):

  1. Fall Protection, general requirements (29 CFR 1926.501) [related safety resources]
  2. Hazard Communication, general industry (29 CFR 1910.1200) [related safety resources]
  3. Control of Hazardous Energy (lockout/tagout), general industry (29 CFR 1910.147) [related safety resources]
  4. Ladders, construction (29 CFR 1926.1053) [related safety resources]
  5. Respiratory Protection, general industry (29 CFR 1910.134) [related safety resources]
  6. Powered Industrial Trucks, general industry (29 CFR 1910.178) [related safety resources]
  7. Fall Protection Training, construction (29 CFR 1926.503) [related safety resources]
  8. Scaffolding, construction (29 CFR 1926.451) [related safety resources]
  9. Eye and Face Protection, construction (29 CFR 1926.102) [related safety resources]
  10. Machine Guarding, general industry (29 CFR 1910.212) [related safety resources]

OSHA is Making a Difference

  • In roughly half a century, OSHA and our state partners, coupled with the efforts of employers, safety and health professionals, unions and advocates, have had a dramatic effect on workplace safety.
  • Worker deaths in America are down—on average, from about 38 worker deaths a day in 1970 to 15 a day in 2023.
  • Worker injuries and illnesses are down—from 10.9 incidents per 100 workers in 1972 to 2.4 per 100 in 2023.