OSHA and NSC Unite to Tackle America's Deadliest Workplace Threat

By Doug Parker and Lorraine M. Martin

The biggest killer at work is not climbing a ladder. It’s not using machinery, lifting heavy objects nor toiling in extreme weather, though all these things cause far too many preventable deaths in our nation’s workplaces.

The biggest killer at work is driving on, or working near, a roadway.

In 2023, 37% of deaths on the job were transportation related. That’s a huge portion of workplace fatalities, and over the past 30 years we’ve seen little improvement: In 1993, transportation incidents accounted for 39% of workplace deaths. 

It’s clear from the data that roadway safety is workplace safety, yet for decades the safety world has cleaved these two facets into distinct and parallel lanes. Organizations, agencies and experts often focus on one or the other, crossing over and collaborating far too rarely.  

In reality, roadway safety and workplace safety are not separate at all. They are two threads inextricably woven together.

It would be tempting to look at this weaving as a knot – something we must strive to untangle so we can work each thread separately. But the truth is that the braiding of workplace and roadway safety is an asset rather than an obstacle. 

By taking them together and recognizing how they intersect, we gain even more tools and partners in the fight to eliminate preventable deaths and injuries. We can encourage employers to implement safe driving policies and techniques for workers to use both on and off the job, as well as ensure that work requirements or expectations do not contribute to unsafe driving. Safer roads make for safer workplaces, and safer workplaces make for safer roads.

That is why we are proud to announce that OSHA has joined the Road to Zero Coalition, a National Safety Council-led alliance of over 2,000 stakeholders committed to the goal of ending roadway deaths in the United States by 2050. 

As a member of the Coalition’s steering group, OSHA will play an invaluable role in bringing employers into the fold on such topics as distracted driving, speeding, impairment, fatigue and more – dangerous behaviors that impact people when they drive for work or personally. 

Of course, encouraging employees to drive safer also makes safer roadways for all. This is especially vital when over 100 people in cars, on bikes or walking die each day. 

The National Safety Council, as well as the U.S. Department of Transportation, believe every single death on our roads is preventable. We know it will take everyone to make zero deaths a reality. OSHA’s announcement brings us one step closer toward ending this daily tragedy on our nation’s roads as well as in our workplaces.