The "Dirty Dozen" Most Dangerous Companies of 2026

Every year, around the same time as the observance of National Workerw Memorial Day, the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (National COSH) announces its list of 12 companies that have put their workers’ lives at risk through unsafe practices, inadequate protections and systemic neglect. National COSH refers to these companies as the “Dirty Dozen,” and rather than just picking, say, the 12 companies that have racked up the most fines or citations over the past year, National COSH typically singles out large companies known for such things as aggressively opposing unionization efforts, or human trafficking, or consistently failing to provide workers with necessary PPE and safety equipment. There is no actual ranking of which company is the “dirtiest”; the list is alphabetical.

In a press conference to announce the Dirty Dozen, Jessica Martinez, executive director of National COSH, explained, “Every year, we honor workers who have lost their lives on the job, and every year, we see the same pattern: companies prioritizing profit over people. The Dirty Dozen 2026 makes clear that these tragedies are not accidents; they are the result of choices. Employers must be held accountable, and workers must be empowered to speak out without fear.”

Past recipients of the Dirty Dozen recognition include well-known companies such as Amazon, Chipotle, Dollar General, Hilton Hotels, Purdue Pharma, Starbucks, and XPO. You can check out the Dirty Dozens from previous years in the links below.