Every year, the AFL-CIO releases its "Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect" report, a sobering account of workplace fatalities and injuries across the United States.

Jon L. Gelman

This report highlights the tragic human cost of unsafe working conditions and serves as a critical tool for understanding trends and advocating for stronger worker protections. For workers in New Jersey, understanding the findings of this report is crucial, as it can shed light on the challenges faced when pursuing workers' compensation claims.

The most recent AFL-CIO report for 2025, drawing on data from 2023, reveals that 5,283 workers were killed on the job in the U.S., which tragically translates to 14 deaths every day. Furthermore, the report estimates that a staggering 135,304 workers died from occupational diseases. While the national job fatality rate has decreased slightly to 3.5 per 100,000 workers, the report emphasizes that specific demographics, including Black and Latino workers, continue to face disproportionately higher risks.

While the most recent national report doesn't detail the specific figures for New Jersey in 2023, a previous report from the AFL-CIO highlighted that in 2019, 74 New Jersey workers were killed on the job, and 69,000 suffered reportable injuries. The fatality rate in N.J. that year was 1.8 per 100,000 workers, which was better than the national average at the time. However, preliminary data indicated a concerning rise in workplace-related deaths in New Jersey in 2020, with a significant number linked to COVID-19 infections.

What does this mean for New Jersey workers' compensation claims?

The AFL-CIO report underscores the persistent dangers faced by workers across various industries. When a worker in New Jersey is injured or killed on the job, the workers' compensation system is designed to provide benefits, including medical care and lost wages, without the need to prove employer negligence. However, the findings of the AFL-CIO report can have several implications for these claims:

• Raising awareness of workplace hazards. The report highlights the hazards that lead to fatalities and injuries. This information can empower New Jersey workers to be more aware of potential risks in their own workplaces and to advocate for safer working conditions.
• Supporting claims related to occupational diseases. The report's emphasis on the high number of deaths from occupational diseases is particularly relevant. These claims can sometimes be challenging to prove, as the link between exposure and illness may not be immediately apparent. The AFL-CIO's data reinforces the reality of these dangers and can support efforts to recognize and compensate workers suffering from work-related illnesses in New Jersey.
• Highlighting disparities. The report's findings on the disproportionate risks faced by workers of color can also shed light on potential systemic issues within certain industries or job roles in New Jersey. This can be important in advocating for equitable treatment in workers' compensation claims.
• Advocacy for stronger protections. The annual AFL-CIO report is a powerful tool for stronger workplace safety regulations and enforcement at both the federal and state levels. In New Jersey, this data can be used to push for legislation and policies that better protect workers and prevent future injuries and fatalities, potentially reducing the need for workers' compensation claims in the long run.

Navigating workers' compensation in New Jersey

If you are a worker in New Jersey who has been injured or become ill due to your job, understanding your rights under the workers' compensation system is crucial. While the AFL-CIO report highlights the overall landscape of workplace safety, navigating the specifics of a workers' compensation claim can be complex. It's advisable to seek guidance from experienced legal professionals who can help you understand your rights and ensure you receive the benefits you are entitled to.

The AFL-CIO's annual "Death on the Job" report serves as a vital reminder of the ongoing need to prioritize worker safety. By understanding its findings, New Jersey workers can be better informed, advocate for safer workplaces and navigate the workers' compensation system more effectively when the unthinkable happens.

Claimants' attorney Jon L. Gelman is the author of "New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Law" and co-author of the national treatise "Modern Workers’ Compensation Law." He is based in Wayne, New Jersey. This blog post is republished with permission.