Sources: National Safety Council, 2026 National Safety Month fact sheet, top work injury causes from Injury Facts (ranking of days-away cases), based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023–2024 (released Jan. 22, 2026): news release Table 2 and the biennial case and demographic Tables R31 (detailed event) and R4 (industry). Counts are two-year totals for private industry, not one year. BLS now publishes detailed case characteristics every two years. Events use the BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) version 3. * Rows marked with an asterisk are EHS Concepts calculations from the published figures.
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Struck by falling, swinging, or propelled objects
- 148,340 days-away cases from being struck by falling, swinging, or propelled objects, 2023–2024
- 100,240 of those were struck by a falling object
- 26,350 struck by a swinging or slipping object, such as a load on a hoist or a part on a machine
Start here: Walk every rack and shelf this week. Pull down anything heavy stored above shoulder height, and anything leaning or overhanging.
Rules and guidance: 29 CFR 1910.176(b), 1926.250(a), 1910.135, 1910.136, 1910.212(a)(1) [GI/CON]
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Caught in or struck by running machinery
- 53,760 days-away cases from contact with running powered equipment, 2023–2024
- 1,900 days-away amputations from running equipment, 46% of all days-away amputations*
- 10,390 struck by running equipment during maintenance, cleaning, or testing
Start here: Pick the machine that jams most. Write its one-page lockout procedure with photos of each energy source, and post it on the machine this week.
Rules and guidance: 29 CFR 1910.212, 1910.147, 1910.178(l) [GI]; OSH Act 5(a)(1) [BOTH]
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Objects handled and struck against
- 248,560 days-away cases from contact with non-running objects and equipment, 2023–2024
- 114,610 injured by an object being handled, such as a dropped part, a knife, or a sheet edge
- 75,010 struck against a stationary object, such as a rack, a door, or a table corner
Start here: Swap every open fixed-blade knife for a self-retracting cutter this month, and put fitted cut gloves next to each cutting station.
Rules and guidance: 29 CFR 1910.132(d), 1910.138, 1910.176(a), 1910.22(a) [GI]
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Lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling loads
- 358,920 days-away cases from overexertion moving objects, 2023–2024
- 255,390 from lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling materials by hand
- 55,490 from medical and custodial care, mostly moving patients and residents
Start here: Find the heaviest item lifted from the floor most often. Put it on a pallet stand or shelf at waist height this week.
Rules and guidance: OSH Act 5(a)(1) [BOTH]; NIOSH Lifting Equation, OSHA Safe Patient Handling [GUIDANCE]; 29 CFR 1910.178 [GI]
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Awkward motion and repetitive tasks
- 124,680* days-away cases from bodily motion and repetitive motion, 2023–2024
- 37,200 from twisting, reaching, and bending (part of bodily position and motion)
- 32,110 from repetitive motion with microtasks, such as typing, gripping, or assembly
Start here: Ask workers which task hurts most at the end of a shift. Change that station's height or layout this month.
Rules and guidance: OSH Act 5(a)(1) [BOTH]; OSHA Ergonomics, NIOSH [GUIDANCE]; 29 CFR 1904 [BOTH]
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Same-level slips, trips, and falls
- 310,690 days-away cases from falls, slips, and trips on the same level, 2023–2024
- 264,920 of those were falls on the same level
- 81,820 fall, slip, and trip cases in health care and social assistance, the most of any sector
Start here: Map every spot where someone slipped in the last two years. Put a spill kit and a matting fix at the top three this week.
Rules and guidance: 29 CFR 1910.22(a), (d), 1910.136, 1910.176(a) [GI]; 1926.25 [CON]
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Stairs, steps, and falls to a lower level
- 165,860* days-away cases from stepping between levels and falls to a lower level, 2023–2024
- 77,980 from slips, trips, and stumbles while stepping between levels, such as on stairs, curbs, and vehicle steps
- 87,880 from falls to a lower level, such as from ladders, docks, and equipment
Start here: Walk every stairway this week. Mark short or missing handrails and uneven or damaged treads, and add high-contrast nosing tape.
Rules and guidance: 29 CFR 1910.23, 1910.25, 1910.28(b), 1910.30 [GI]; 1926.501(b)(1), 1926.1052, 1926.1053 [CON]
The full PDF adds, for each item, why it really happens, the rules in plain words, controls in hierarchy order, a 30-minute self-audit, who owns it and a toolbox talk starter.