Workplace-related deaths in Hawai’i are surging at an alarming rate, outpacing the rest of the nation. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the state saw a nearly 67% increase in deadly accidents in 2022, with fatalities climbing to 25 from 15 the previous year. Nationwide, the number rose almost 6% over the same time. The massive increase raises red flags about how the state protects its workers and the need for more accountability when businesses fail to protect employees. As a result, the AFL-CIO is calling for stronger safety measures across all industries.
What Are Hawai’i’s Most Dangerous Industries?
Hawai’i’s transportation and warehouse industry led in the number of workplace deaths in 2022, with 10 — eight of them from transportation-related accidents. Construction also proved dangerous, with four workers lost.
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Men accounted for 84% of these incidents in Hawai’i, slightly below the national average. Nearly half of the state’s deaths involved White non-Hispanic workers, with older workers (ages 55-64) facing even higher risks.
AFL-CIO on Employer Responsibility
With these numbers in mind, the AFL-CIO reminds us that workplace safety is not a privilege, but a fundamental right.
A 2024 report on workplace safety states:
“Employers are obligated to provide workers with a workplace free from recognized hazards, including the ability to report injuries and illnesses without retaliation, raise unsafe working conditions, be able to fully utilize stop work authority, come home unharmed at the end of the workday and be fully compensated when the job has injured or made them ill. When employers fail to do so, they can be held liable for injuries that occur.”
In addition, the organization stresses that it’s not just an employer’s responsibility to keep workers safe from injury, illness, and death on the job — but the nation’s too.
“Preventing injury, illness, and death at work to restore dignity, save lives, improve livelihoods, and reduce burdens on families and communities must be a high priority. Employers must meet their responsibilities to protect workers and be held accountable if they put workers in danger. Only then can the promise of safe jobs for all of America’s workers be fulfilled.”
Billion-Dollar Costs, Minimal Penalties
The cost of workplace injuries is eye-opening. The 2023 Workplace Safety Index by Liberty Mutual Insurance estimates employers spend over $58 billion yearly on workplace-related injuries. While the numbers are staggering, they don’t reflect the personal toll these injuries take on families, communities, and livelihoods.
Additionally, most companies only face slap-on-the-wrist fines if a worker is killed. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) median penalty for workplace fatalities is just over $14,000, and since 1970, the agency has prosecuted only 137 worker death cases under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
A Step In the Right Direction
OSHA has identified the “Fatal Four” hazards that employers must address immediately:
- Falls (37% of construction deaths): Require fall protection at six feet or higher.
- Electrocutions (8%): Prevent with grounding and double-insulated equipment.
- Struck-by Incidents (8%): Minimize risks through equipment checks and site awareness.
- Caught-in Hazards (5%): Reduce through training, safeguards, and control measures.
About Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman
Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman is a nationally renowned personal injury law firm dedicated to advocating for Hawai‘i families in personal injury and wrongful death cases involving mesothelioma, birth defects, herbicide and pesticide exposure, sex abuse and defective products, as well as fraud on government contracts. We are Hawai‘i attorneys who have been working on your behalf for over 40 years. To learn more how we can help or for a free consultation, contact us.
