Suicides and Overdoses at Work: Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 2011-2022

The worsening life expectancy of middle-aged White Americans due to suicides and substance overdoses has been hypothesized to be caused by various societal conditions. Work is a social determinant of health, but its role in this demographic shift has not been examined. This article describes the characteristics and trends of suicides and overdose fatalities occurring in U.S. workplaces among all workers between 2011 and 2022.

Data originated from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injury database. Fatality rates were calculated using the Current Population Survey. Fatality rates were calculated and compared among demographic and occupational groups. Annual rates were modeled with a first-order auto-regressive linear regression to account for serial correlation. Analyses were conducted in 2023-2024.

Between 2011 and 2022, the rate of workplace overdose fatality rates increased from 0.05 per 100,000 workers to 0.33-an increase of 560%. Workplace suicide rates were relatively stable (0.19 per 100,000 to 0.17). Most industries and occupations experienced significant increases in workplace overdose rates and nonsignificant decreases in workplace suicide rates. The largest workplace overdose rates occurred in the transportation and warehousing industry (0.47, 95% CI=0.27, 0.67) and farming, fishing, and forestry occupations (0.68, 95% CI=0.27, 1.08).

Fatal workplace suicides and substance overdoses have different trends and impact industries, occupations, and demographic groups differently. The rise in workplace overdoses deserve immediate attention.