Navigating work after a workplace fatality: Coworkers’ experiences and organizational responses

Workplace fatalities are traumatic experiences that can have lasting psychological effects on coworkers. This study explored the experiences of coworkers as they navigate work following a traumatic fatality. A qualitative descriptive study with semi-structured interviews was undertaken with participants who had experienced the death of a coworker. Applied thematic analysis, guided by role theory, was used to frame the data. Four themes were identified: (1) social and cultural role expectations shape workers’ responses to workplace fatalities; (2) expectations compound workers’ distress; (3) peer support plays an important role in helping workers cope; (4) workers expect employers to actively support their well-being after a workplace fatality. Together, these themes reveal how role expectations, organizational pressures, and the quality of peer and employer support influence the experiences of coworkers following workplace fatalities. This study identified that workplace norms related to masculinity, stoicism, and pride in work shaped how coworkers experienced and responded to workplace fatalities. Organizational pressures to return to work and limited support were found to compound trauma and contribute to retraumatisation, whereas peer support was valuable in providing connection and understanding. The findings highlight the need for proactive, trauma-informed approaches that enable workplaces to respond effectively should a fatal incident occur.