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United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212 Technical information: (202) 691-6175 Media information: (202) 691-5902 Internet address: http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm USDL 04-1830 FOR RELEASE: 10 a.m. EDT Wednesday, September 22, 2004 NATIONAL CENSUS OF FATAL OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES IN 2003 A total of 5,559 fatal work injuries were recorded in the U.S. in 2003, a small increase from the revised total of 5,534 fatal work injuries reported for 2002, according to the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Despite the increase, fatal work injuries for both 2003 and 2002 were the lowest ever recorded by the fatality census, which has been conducted each year since 1992. The rate at which fatal work injuries occurred in 2003 was 4.0 fatalities per 100,000 workers, unchanged from the rate reported for 2002. Profile of 2003 fatal work injuries by type of incident Fatal work injuries resulting from highway incidents, falls, and electrocutions were all lower in 2003 than in 2002, while fatal injuries involving homicides, fires and explosions, and being struck by objects increased. Fatal highway incidents were down in 2003 for the second consecutive year, but continued to account for the highest number of fatal work injuries. The 1,350 fatal highway incidents recorded in 2003 accounted for about one out of every four fatal work injuries. Incidents involving workers struck by vehicles or mobile equipment also were down in 2003, but the number of fatal work injuries involving nonhighway transportation incidents (such as those that might occur on a farm or industrial premises) and aircraftrelated incidents were both higher. Note on industry and occupation classifications: Beginning with the 2003 reference year, CFOI began using the 2002 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) for industries and the Standard Occupational Classification system (SOC) for occupations. Prior to 2003, the program used the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system and the Bureau of the Census occupational classification system. Because of the substantial differences between the current and previous systems, the results by industry and occupation in 2003 constitute a break in series, and users are advised against making comparisons between the 2003 industry and occupation categories and the results for previous years. 1 The number of workplace homicides was higher in 2003—the first increase since 2000. Despite the higher total, the 631 workplace homicides recorded in 2003 represented a 42 percent decline from the high of 1,080 workplace homicides recorded in 1994. Workplace suicides also were higher in 2003. Fatal work injuries involving falls declined in 2003. The 691 fatal falls recorded in 2003 was the lowest total since 1996. The number of electrocutions also was lower. The 246 electrocutions in 2003 represented a decline of 15 percent from the 2002 total and reflected a series low. The 198 fatal work injuries resulting from fires and explosions in 2003 was 20 percent higher than the total recorded in 2002. Fatalities from being struck by objects also were higher in 2003, led by increases in worker deaths due to being struck by a falling or flying object. The three most frequent work-related fatal events, 1992-2003 Number of fatalities 1,600 1,343 1,400 1,158 1,080 1,044 1,346 1,393 1,036 1,365 1,409 1,373 1,350 719 691 927 1,074 860 714 800 716 600 600 1,442 1,496 1,242 1,200 1,000 1,346 618 665 651 721 734 810 706 691 651 677 643 609 631 400 200 0 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Highway incidents Homicides Falls NOTE: Data from 2001 exclude fatalities resulting from September 11 terrorist attacks. SOURCE: US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 2003. Profile of fatal work injuries by private industry The largest number of fatal work injuries in 2003 was in the construction sector (NAICS 23). The 1,126 fatal work injuries in private construction accounted for more than one out of every five fatalities in 2003. Specialty trade contractors (NAICS 238) recorded 626 fatalities or about 56 percent of the construction total. Another 226 construction workers were fatally injured while working in building construction (NAICS 236) including 128 fatalities in residential building construction (NAICS 2361). Heavy 2 and civil engineering construction (NAICS 237) reported 247 fatal work injuries or about 22 percent of the construction total. The transportation and warehousing sector (NAICS 48-49) accounted for 805 fatal work injuries or about 16 percent of the private industry total in 2003. Truck transportation (NAICS 484) recorded 517 fatal work injuries or nearly two-thirds of the transportation and warehousing total. Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting (NAICS 11) recorded 707 fatal work injuries, the third highest among NAICS sectors. Nearly half (47 percent) of the agriculture fatalities were in crop production (NAICS 111). While private construction had the highest number of fatalities of any sector, the highest fatality rate was in agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting (31.2 fatalities per 100,000 workers). The second highest rate was in the mining sector (26.9 per 100,000), followed by transportation and warehousing (17.5 per 100,000) and construction (11.7 per 100,000). Number and rate of fatal occupational injuries by industry sector, 2003 Construction 1,126 11.7 805 Transportation and warehousing Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting Government Professional and business services 17.5 31.2 707 532 2.5 452 Manufacturing 3.3 416 2.5 Retail trade 343 Leisure and hospitality 2.1 274 2.4 Other services (exc. public admin.) 194 Wholesale trade 191 Educational and health services 2.8 4.2 Mining 141 Financial activities 26.9 1.4 130 Information 64 Utilities 1250 0.8 143 1.8 3.7 32 1000 750 500 Number of fatalities 250 0 10 20 30 Rate = (Fatal work injuries/Employment) x 100,000 employed. Employment data extracted from the 2003 Current Population Survey (CPS). The fatality rates were calculated using employment as the denominator; employment-based rates measure the risk for those employed during a given period of time, regardless of exposure hours. SOURCE: US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 2003. 3 40 Fatality rate (per 100,000 employed) Profile of fatal work injuries by occupation Transportation and material moving occupations (SOC 53) recorded 1,388 fatalities in 2003, the most of any major occupational group. Over half of the fatalities in this group involved drivers of heavy trucks or tractor trailers (SOC 53-3032). Construction and extraction occupations (SOC 47) had the second largest number of fatal work injuries among major occupational groups. Construction trade workers (SOC 47-2000) accounted for 784 of the 1,033 fatal work injuries in this major group, with construction laborers (SOC 47-2061) recording the most fatalities (289) of any individual occupation in the group. Other major occupational groups with high numbers of fatalities in 2003 included: management occupations (SOC 11) with 630 fatal work injuries, installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (SOC 49) with 395 fatalities, and sales and related occupations (SOC 41) with 349 fatalities. Among the major occupational groups with the highest fatal work injury rates were farming, fishing, and forestry occupations (27.9 fatalities per 100,000 workers), transportation and material moving occupations (16.9 per 100,000), construction and extraction occupations (12.7 per 100,000), and protective service occupations (11.4 per 100,000). Individual occupations with particularly high rates in 2003 included logging workers (131.6 fatalities per 100,000 workers), fishers and related fishing occupations (115 per 100,000), and aircraft pilots and flight engineers (97.4 per 100,000). Number and rate of fatal occupational injuries for selected occupations, 2003 Driver/sales workers and truck drivers 861 26.7 Farmers and ranchers 329 Construction laborers 39.3 289 Grounds maintenance workers 25.1 156 Miscellaneous agricultural workers 131 Police and sheriff’s patrol officers First-line supervisors /managers of retail Aircraft pilots and flight engineers 16.5 128 20.9 124 3.7 113 Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand 97.4 106 Logging workers 1000 13.6 6.1 104 750 500 250 Number of fatalities 131.6 0 50 100 Rate = (Fatal work injuries/Employment) x 100,000 workers. Employment data extracted from the 2003 Current Population Survey (CPS). The fatality rates were calculated using employment as the denominator; employment-based rates measure the risk for those employed during a given period of time, regardless of exposure hours. SOURCE: US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 2003. 4 150 Fatality rate (per 100,000 employed) Profile of fatal work injuries by demographic characteristics The number of fatal work injuries involving black workers was higher in 2003 after declining for the previous three years. The number of fatally injured black workers rose from 491 in 2002 to 542 in 2003, an increase of 10 percent. Fatalities among white, nonHispanic workers, and Asian, native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander workers also increased in 2003. Fatal work injuries among Hispanic or Latino workers were lower for the second consecutive year, although Hispanic workers continued to record the highest rate of fatal injuries among the racial/ethnic groups reported (4.5 fatal work injuries per 100,000 Hispanic workers). Fatal work injuries among foreign-born Hispanic workers declined for the first time ever in the fatality census, although fatalities among native-born Hispanic workers rose slightly in 2003. The number of fatal injuries rose for workers under 25 years of age and for workers 45 years of age and older in 2003, although workers from 25 through 44 years of age recorded fewer fatalities. Workers 65 years of age and older continued to record the highest fatality rate of any age group. The rate of 11.3 fatal work injuries per 100,000 workers for workers 65 and older was more than three times the rate of 3.3 fatalities per 100,000 workers for those 25 to 34 years of age. The total of 1,167 self-employed workers who were fatally injured in 2003 represented an increase of 11 percent over the number reported in 2002. Fatality rates for self-employed workers rose from 10.5 per 100,000 in 2002 to 11.1 per 100,000 in 2003. Fatal work injuries involving wage and salary workers were down in 2003. Profile of fatal work injuries by state Twenty-five states had fewer fatal work injuries in 2003 than in 2002, 24 states and the District of Columbia reported higher numbers in 2003, and one state was unchanged. Numbers were higher in the Northeast and South, but lower in the West and Midwest in 2003. For more detailed state results, contact the individual state agency responsible for the collection of CFOI data in that state. Participating agencies and their telephone numbers are listed in table 6. Background of the program The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, part of the BLS occupational safety and health statistics program, provides a complete count of fatal work injuries available. The program uses diverse state and federal data sources to identify, verify, and profile fatal work injuries. Information about each workplace fatality (occupation and other worker characteristics, equipment being used, and circumstances of the event) is obtained by cross-referencing source documents, such as death certificates, workers’ compensation 5 records, and reports to federal and state agencies. This method assures counts are as complete and accurate as possible. For the 2003 data, over 20,000 unique source documents were reviewed. This is the 12th year that the fatality census has been conducted in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The BLS fatality census is a federal/state cooperative venture in which costs are shared equally. Additional state-specific data are available from the participating agencies listed in table 6. Another BLS program, the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, presents frequency counts and incidence rates by industry and profiles worker and case characteristics of nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses that result in lost work time. Copies of the news release on nonfatal injuries and illnesses in 2002 are available from BLS by calling (202) 691-6179 or by accessing the website listed below. Incidence rates for 2003 by industry will be published in December 2004, and information on 2003 worker and case characteristics will be available in the spring of 2005. For additional data, access the BLS Internet site: http://www.bls.gov/iif/. To request a copy of BLS Report 977 which highlights 2002 fatality results and includes a number of analytical articles, e-mail your address to CFOIStaff@bls.gov or write to Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., Room 3180, Washington, DC 20212. 6 Table 1. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, 1998-2003 Fatalities Event or exposure1 1998-2002 average 20022 2003 Number Number Percent Total ................................................................................................. 5,896 5,534 5,559 100 Transportation incidents .................................................................. Highway ........................................................................................... Collision between vehicles, mobile equipment ............................ Moving in same direction ......................................................... Moving in opposite directions, oncoming ................................. Moving in intersection .............................................................. Vehicle struck stationary object or equipment in roadway ........... Vehicle struck stationary object, equipment on side of road ....... Noncollision ................................................................................. Jack-knifed or overturned-no collision ..................................... Nonhighway (farm, industrial premises) .......................................... Overturned ............................................................................... Worker struck by a vehicle .............................................................. Rail vehicle ...................................................................................... Water vehicle ................................................................................... Aircraft ............................................................................................. 2,549 1,417 696 136 249 148 27 281 367 303 358 192 380 63 92 235 2,385 1,373 636 155 202 146 33 293 373 312 323 164 356 64 71 194 2,357 1,350 648 135 269 123 17 324 321 252 347 186 336 43 68 208 42 24 12 2 5 2 3 ( ) 6 6 5 6 3 6 1 1 4 Assaults and violent acts ................................................................. Homicides ........................................................................................ Shooting ...................................................................................... Stabbing ...................................................................................... Self-inflicted injuries ......................................................................... 910 659 519 61 218 840 609 469 58 199 901 631 487 58 218 16 11 9 1 4 Contact with objects and equipment ............................................... Struck by object ............................................................................... Struck by falling object ................................................................. Struck by flying object .................................................................. Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects ......................... Caught in running equipment or machinery ................................. Caught in or crushed in collapsing materials ................................... 963 547 336 55 272 141 126 872 505 302 38 231 110 116 911 530 322 58 237 121 126 16 10 6 1 4 2 2 Falls .................................................................................................... Fall to lower level ............................................................................. Fall from ladder ............................................................................ Fall from roof ............................................................................... Fall from scaffold, staging ............................................................ Fall on same level ............................................................................ 738 651 113 152 91 65 719 638 126 143 88 64 691 601 113 127 85 69 12 11 2 2 2 1 Exposure to harmful substances or environments ........................ Contact with electric current ............................................................ Contact with overhead power lines .............................................. Contact with temperature extremes ................................................. Exposure to caustic, noxious, or allergenic substances .................. Inhalation of substance ................................................................ Oxygen deficiency ........................................................................... Drowning, submersion ................................................................. 526 289 130 45 102 50 89 69 539 289 122 60 99 49 90 60 485 246 107 42 121 65 73 52 9 4 2 1 2 1 1 1 Fires and explosions ......................................................................... 190 165 198 4 1 Based on the 1992 BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification Manual. Includes other events and exposures, such as bodily reaction, in addition to those shown separately. 2 The BLS news release issued September 17, 2003, reported a total of 5,524 fatal work injuries for calendar year 2003. Since then, an additional 10 job-related fatalities were identified, bringing the total job-related fatality count for 2002 to 5,534. 3 Less than or equal to 0.5 percent. NOTE: Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. The average count excludes fatalities from the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, in cooperation with state, New York City, District of Columbia, and federal agencies, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. 7 Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by industry and selected event or exposure, 2003 Selected event or exposure2 (percent of total for industry) Fatalities Industry1 Number Percent Highway3 Homicides Falls Struck by object Total ............................................................................................. 5,559 100 24 11 12 10 Private industry ............................................................................... 5,027 90 23 11 13 10 Goods producing ........................................................................... 2,390 43 14 3 18 14 Natural resources and mining .................................................... Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting ..................................... Crop production ....................................................................... Animal production .................................................................... Forestry and logging ................................................................ Fishing, hunting and trapping .................................................. Agriculture and forestry support activities ................................ Mining4 ........................................................................................ Oil and gas extraction .............................................................. Mining, except oil and gas ....................................................... Support activities for mining .................................................... 848 707 333 158 120 49 44 141 17 55 69 15 13 6 3 2 1 1 3 5 ( ) 1 1 15 14 15 11 10 – 32 20 24 5 30 2 2 3 3 5 5 5 8 2 7 – 11 6 20 20 14 11 64 – – 23 – 20 28 Construction ................................................................................ Construction ................................................................................ Construction of buildings ......................................................... Heavy and civil engineering construction ................................ Specialty trade contractors ...................................................... 1,126 1,126 226 247 626 20 20 4 4 11 13 13 11 12 13 32 32 42 10 37 10 10 6 17 9 Manufacturing .............................................................................. Manufacturing .............................................................................. Food manufacturing ................................................................. Wood product manufacturing .................................................. Paper manufacturing ............................................................... Chemical manufacturing .......................................................... Plastics and rubber products manufacturing ........................... Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing ............................ Primary metal manufacturing ................................................... Fabricated metal product manufacturing ................................. Machinery manufacturing ........................................................ Computer and electronic product manufacturing ..................... Transportation equipment manufacturing ................................ 416 416 58 37 16 28 26 46 33 43 26 11 44 7 7 1 1 (5) 1 (5) 1 1 1 (5) (5) 1 15 15 14 16 – 11 15 26 – – 15 – 7 – – – – – – – – – 25 9 9 10 8 – – – – – 12 – – 14 12 12 9 19 – – – 15 21 30 19 – 7 Service producing ......................................................................... 2,637 47 32 19 8 7 Trade, transportation, and utilities ............................................ Wholesale trade ........................................................................... Merchant wholesalers, durable goods ..................................... Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods ............................... Retail trade .................................................................................. Motor vehicle and parts dealers .............................................. Building material and garden supply stores ............................. Food and beverage stores ....................................................... Gasoline stations ..................................................................... Clothing and clothing accessories stores ................................ General merchandise stores ................................................... Miscellaneous store retailers ................................................... Nonstore retailers .................................................................... Transportation and warehousing ................................................. Air transportation ..................................................................... Rail transportation ................................................................... Water transportation ................................................................ Truck transportation ................................................................. Transit and ground passenger transportation .......................... Support activities for transportation ......................................... Couriers and messengers ....................................................... Warehousing and storage ....................................................... Utilities ......................................................................................... 1,371 191 103 81 343 66 34 99 42 16 11 25 22 805 52 18 24 517 74 63 22 23 32 25 3 2 1 6 1 1 2 1 (5) (5) (5) (5) 14 1 (5) 5 ( ) 9 1 1 (5) 5 ( ) 1 42 41 32 51 17 30 26 3 10 – – 16 59 54 – – – 73 28 21 73 – 22 18 8 10 4 50 26 12 82 71 69 55 44 18 7 – – – 2 62 5 – – – 5 8 4 14 7 8 15 6 – – – 12 – 3 – – – 3 – – – 17 – 6 12 20 – 4 9 – – – – – 12 – 5 – – – 5 – 6 – 22 – Information ................................................................................... Information ................................................................................... Publishing industries, except Internet ...................................... 64 64 31 1 1 1 47 47 65 11 11 – 11 11 – – – – See footnotes at end of table. 8 – – – – – – – – – 2 2 3 – 1 6 6 7 Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by industry and selected event or exposure, 2003 — Continued Selected event or exposure2 (percent of total for industry) Fatalities Industry1 Number Percent Highway3 Homicides Falls Struck by object Telecommunications ................................................................ 21 (5) 33 14 14 Financial activities ....................................................................... Finance and insurance ................................................................ Credit intermediation and related activities .............................. Insurance carriers and related activities .................................. Real estate and rental and leasing .............................................. Real estate .............................................................................. Rental and leasing services ..................................................... 130 46 28 11 84 52 31 2 1 1 5 ( ) 2 1 1 26 37 29 55 20 12 32 28 28 46 – 27 35 16 11 7 – – 13 19 – Professional and business services .......................................... Professional and technical services ............................................ Administrative and waste services .............................................. Administrative and support services ........................................ Waste management and remediation services ....................... 452 97 355 264 91 8 2 6 5 2 23 25 22 17 35 7 8 6 8 – 15 8 17 22 4 Educational and health services ................................................ Educational services .................................................................... Health care and social assistance ............................................... Ambulatory health care services ............................................. Hospitals .................................................................................. Nursing and residential care facilities ...................................... Social assistance ..................................................................... 143 41 102 36 24 20 20 3 1 2 1 (5) (5) (5) 24 7 30 39 21 15 35 10 – 13 8 – 35 – 13 10 15 11 21 30 – Leisure and hospitality ............................................................... Arts, entertainment, and recreation ............................................. Performing arts and spectator sports ...................................... Amusements, gambling, and recreation ................................. Accommodation and food services .............................................. Accommodation ....................................................................... Food services and drinking places .......................................... 274 88 42 40 186 40 145 5 2 1 1 3 1 3 9 7 12 – 11 12 10 40 3 – 8 58 35 64 9 11 7 18 8 15 6 Other services, except public administration ........................... Other services, except public administration ............................... Repair and maintenance ......................................................... Personal and laundry services ................................................ Membership associations and organizations ........................... 194 194 121 42 30 3 3 2 1 1 17 17 9 26 37 28 28 25 45 17 9 9 7 7 17 11 11 18 – – Government6 ................................................................................... 532 10 35 13 6 4 Federal government ........................................................................ State government ............................................................................ Local government ............................................................................ 98 102 326 2 2 6 19 37 39 3 13 17 6 10 6 – 4 – – – 5 – 13 13 – 16 18 10 – – – – – – – 2 6 – 8 – – – 6 – 4 1 Classified according to the North American Industry Classification System, 2002. 2 The figure shown is the percent of the total fatalities for that industry group. 3 "Highway" includes deaths to vehicle occupants resulting from traffic incidents that occur on the public roadway, shoulder, or surrounding area. It excludes incidents occurring entirely off the roadway, such as in parking lots and on farms; incidents involving trains; and deaths to pedestrians or other non-passengers. 4 Includes fatalities at all establishments categorized as Mining (Sector 21) in the 2002 North American Industy Classification System including establishments not governed by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) rules and reporting, such as those in Oil and Gas Extraction. 5 Less than or equal to 0.5 percent. 6 Includes fatalities to workers employed by governmental organizations regardless of industry. NOTE: Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria. There were 9 fatalities for which there was insufficient information to determine a specific industry classification, though a distinction between private and government was made for each. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, in cooperation with state, New York City, District of Columbia, and federal agencies, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. 9 Table 3. Fatal occupational injuries by occupation and selected event or exposure, 2003 Selected event or exposure2 (percent of total for occupation) Fatalities Occupation1 Number Total ................................................................................................. Management occupations ................................................................ Top executives ................................................................................ Advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations, and sales managers ....................................................................................... Operations specialties managers .................................................... Other management occupations ..................................................... Business and financial operations occupations ............................ Business operations specialists ....................................................... Financial specialists ......................................................................... Computer and mathematical occupations ...................................... Computer specialists ....................................................................... Architecture and engineering occupations .................................... Architects, surveyors, and cartographers ........................................ Engineers ........................................................................................ Drafters, engineering, and mapping technicians ............................. Life, physical, and social science occupations .............................. Life scientists ................................................................................... Physical scientists ........................................................................... Life, physical, and social science technicians ................................. Community and social services occupations ................................. Counselors, social workers, and other community and social service specialists .......................................................................... Religious workers ............................................................................ Legal occupations ............................................................................. Lawyers, judges, and related workers ............................................. Legal support workers ..................................................................... Education, training, and library occupations ................................. Postsecondary teachers .................................................................. Primary, secondary, and special education school teachers ........... Other teachers and instructors ........................................................ Librarians, curators, and archivists .................................................. Other education, training, and library occupations .......................... Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations ....... Art and design workers .................................................................... Entertainers and performers, sports and related workers ............... Media and communication workers ................................................. Media and communication equipment workers ............................... Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations ..................... Health diagnosing and treating practitioners ................................... Health technologists and technicians .............................................. Other healthcare practitioners and technical occupations ............... Healthcare support occupations ...................................................... Nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides ................................... Other healthcare support occupations ............................................. Protective service occupations ........................................................ First-line supervisors managers, protective service workers ........... Fire fighting and prevention workers ............................................... Law enforcement workers ............................................................... Other protective service workers ..................................................... Food preparation and serving related occupations ....................... Supervisors, food preparation and serving workers ........................ Cooks and food preparation workers ............................................... Food and beverage serving workers ............................................... Other food preparation and serving related workers ....................... Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations ... Supervisors, building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers .......................................................................................... Building cleaning and pest control workers ..................................... Grounds maintenance workers ........................................................ Personal care and service occupations .......................................... Animal care and service workers ..................................................... Entertainment attendants and related workers ................................ Personal appearance workers ......................................................... Transportation, tourism, and lodging attendants ............................. Other personal care and service workers ........................................ Sales and related occupations ......................................................... Percent Highway3 Homicides Falls 5,559 630 40 100 11 1 24 16 25 11 10 15 14 34 542 32 11 21 8 7 54 7 28 19 20 8 4 7 29 (4) 1 10 1 (4) 4 ( ) (4) (4) 1 (4) 1 (4) 4 ( ) (4) (4) (4) 1 64 26 13 31 – 38 50 57 28 – 32 32 20 – – – 55 – 18 9 12 – 14 – – – – – – – – – – 10 9 8 12 27 – – – 11 – – – – – – – – 16 13 15 11 4 30 10 10 3 4 3 58 10 30 12 6 49 30 16 3 20 14 5 312 24 45 153 90 71 20 18 27 6 246 (4) (4) (4) (4) (4) 1 (4) (4) (4) (4) (4) 1 (4) 1 (4) (4) 1 1 (4) (4) (4) (4) (4) 6 (4) 1 3 2 1 (4) (4) (4) (4) 4 62 46 – – – 53 40 50 – – 100 21 – 17 50 – 35 17 69 – 25 21 – 34 38 47 43 10 8 20 – – – 13 – 23 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 12 17 – – 30 29 – 30 29 – 33 41 58 70 50 59 – 4 – – – – – 17 – – – – – 9 – – – – 6 – – – 30 43 – 4 – – 2 7 14 – – 15 67 25 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 41 49 156 53 18 10 7 5 10 349 1 1 3 1 4 ( ) 4 ( ) (4) (4) (4) 6 12 6 15 11 – – – – – 21 – 14 2 21 – – 71 – 40 52 20 39 22 6 – – – – – 5 27 – 25 – – – – – – 2 See footnotes at end of table. 10 12 8 10 Struck by object – 10 11 8 – – 12 – – – – – 6 – – – – – – – – 1 – – – – – – – – – 21 Table 3. Fatal occupational injuries by occupation and selected event or exposure, 2003 — Continued Selected event or exposure2 (percent of total for occupation) Fatalities Occupation1 Number Supervisors, sales workers .............................................................. Retail sales workers ........................................................................ Sales representatives, services ....................................................... Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing ..................... Other sales and related workers ...................................................... Office and administrative support occupations ............................. Supervisors, office and administrative support workers .................. Financial clerks ................................................................................ Information and record clerks .......................................................... Material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing workers .......................................................................................... Secretaries and administrative assistants ....................................... Other office and administrative support workers ............................. Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations .................................... Supervisors, farming, fishing, and forestry workers ......................... Agricultural workers ......................................................................... Fishing and hunting workers ............................................................ Forest, conservation, and logging workers ...................................... Construction and extraction occupations ...................................... Supervisors, construction and extraction workers ........................... Construction trades workers ............................................................ Helpers, construction trades ............................................................ Other construction and related workers ........................................... Extraction workers ........................................................................... Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ........................ Supervisors of installation, maintenance, and repair workers ......... Electrical and electronic equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers ........................................................................................ Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers ........................................................................................ Other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................. Production occupations ................................................................... Assemblers and fabricators ............................................................. Food processing workers ................................................................ Metal workers and plastic workers .................................................. Textile, apparel, and furnishings workers ........................................ Woodworkers ................................................................................... Plant and system operators ............................................................. Other production occupations .......................................................... Transportation and material moving occupations ......................... Supervisors, transportation and material moving workers ............... Air transportation workers ................................................................ Motor vehicle operators ................................................................... Rail transportation workers .............................................................. Water transportation workers .......................................................... Other transportation workers ........................................................... Material moving workers .................................................................. Military occupations .......................................................................... Percent Highway3 Homicides 161 107 14 27 40 112 7 11 11 3 2 4 ( ) 4 ( ) 1 2 4 ( ) (4) (4) 16 7 50 74 35 30 – – – 53 73 – – 40 33 – 45 55 56 10 17 305 11 137 50 107 1,033 111 784 26 44 68 395 34 1 (4) 4 ( ) 5 (4) 2 1 2 19 2 14 (4) 1 1 7 1 45 – 18 11 – 18 – 7 12 12 11 – 18 13 10 12 25 50 29 3 – 6 – – 2 3 2 – – – 7 18 (4) 25 2 4 5 1 (4) 1 (4) (4) (4) 2 25 (4) 2 17 (4) (4) (4) 4 1 9 9 6 20 122 219 282 34 14 83 7 7 15 84 1,388 16 113 955 16 26 12 250 62 – – 4 – – – 6 49 19 – 66 – – – 15 13 – 14 1 10 15 29 4 43 – – 6 6 19 – 7 – – 25 4 – Falls 5 6 – – – 10 43 – – 5 Struck by object 2 – – – – 3 – – – 4 32 26 35 27 30 6 17 24 5 – – 29 55 7 – 69 11 12 10 12 – 26 14 18 30 – – – 4 – 5 – 6 21 7 – – 10 – – – 5 5 19 – 3 – – – 11 – 22 10 13 18 – 20 – 57 – 6 6 19 – 5 – 12 – 14 8 1 Based on the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification System. 2 The figure shown is the percent of the total fatalities for that occupation group. 3 "Highway" includes deaths to vehicle occupants resulting from traffic incidents that occur on the public roadway, shoulder, or surrounding area. It excludes incidents occurring entirely off the roadway, such as in parking lots and on farms; incidents involving trains; and deaths to pedestrians or other non-passengers. 4 Less than or equal to 0.5 percent. NOTE: Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria. There were 7 fatalities for which there was insufficient information to determine a specific occupation classification. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, in cooperation with state, New York City, District of Columbia, and federal agencies, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. 11 Table 4. Fatal occupational injuries by selected worker characteristics and selected event or exposure, 2003 Selected event or exposure1 (percent of total for characteristic category) Fatalities Characteristic Number Total ..................................................................................................... Percent Highway2 Homicides Falls Struck by object 5,559 100 24 11 12 10 4,392 1,167 79 21 27 13 10 16 13 12 9 11 5,115 444 92 8 24 31 10 27 13 9 10 1 25 28 84 461 1,016 1,324 1,298 801 519 (6) 1 2 8 18 24 23 14 9 24 25 24 23 26 24 27 23 20 – – 12 14 14 12 11 8 9 – – 11 9 10 11 14 15 17 – 11 14 8 8 10 10 9 11 3,976 542 791 42 147 11 3 47 72 10 14 1 3 (6) (6) 1 26 28 17 21 10 – – 23 8 22 13 12 50 – – 34 12 9 16 14 7 27 – 6 9 7 13 19 4 – – 6 Employee status Wage and salary3 ................................................................................ Self-employed4 .................................................................................... Sex Men ...................................................................................................... Women ................................................................................................ Age5 Under 16 years .................................................................................... 16-17 years .......................................................................................... 18-19 years .......................................................................................... 20-24 years .......................................................................................... 25-34 years .......................................................................................... 35-44 years .......................................................................................... 45-54 years .......................................................................................... 55-64 years .......................................................................................... 65 years and older ............................................................................... Race or ethnic origin7 White ................................................................................................... Black .................................................................................................... Hispanic ............................................................................................... American Indian, Aleut, Eskimo ........................................................... Asian .................................................................................................... Pacific Islander .................................................................................... Multiple races ...................................................................................... Other or not reported ........................................................................... 1 The figure shown is the percent of the total fatalities for that demographic group. 2 "Highway" includes deaths to vehicle occupants resulting from traffic incidents that occur on the public roadway, shoulder, or surrounding area. It excludes incidents occurring entirely off the roadway, such as in parking lots and on farms; incidents involving trains; and deaths to pedestrians or other non-passengers. 3 May include volunteers and other workers receiving compensation. 4 Includes paid and unpaid family workers, and may include owners of incorporated businesses, or members of partnerships. 5 There were 3 fatalities for which there was insufficient information to determine the age of the decedent. 6 Less than or equal to 0.5 percent. 7 Persons identified as Hispanic may be of any race. The individual racial categories shown exclude data for Hispanics. NOTE: Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, in cooperation with state, New York City, District of Columbia, and federal agencies, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. 12 Table 5. Fatal occupational injuries by state and event or exposure, 2003 Event or exposure4 2003 Total fatalities1 State of injury Total .............................................................................. Alabama ............................................................................ Alaska ............................................................................... Arizona .............................................................................. Arkansas ........................................................................... California ........................................................................... Colorado ........................................................................... Connecticut ....................................................................... Delaware ........................................................................... District of Columbia ........................................................... Florida ............................................................................... Georgia ............................................................................. Hawaii ............................................................................... Idaho ................................................................................. Illinois ................................................................................ Indiana .............................................................................. Iowa .................................................................................. Kansas .............................................................................. Kentucky ........................................................................... Louisiana ........................................................................... Maine ................................................................................ Maryland ........................................................................... Massachusetts .................................................................. Michigan ............................................................................ Minnesota ......................................................................... Mississippi ......................................................................... Missouri ............................................................................. Montana ............................................................................ Nebraska ........................................................................... Nevada .............................................................................. New Hampshire ................................................................ New Jersey ....................................................................... New Mexico ...................................................................... New York (including N.Y.C.) ............................................. New York City ............................................................... North Carolina ................................................................... North Dakota ..................................................................... Ohio .................................................................................. Oklahoma .......................................................................... Oregon .............................................................................. Pennsylvania ..................................................................... Rhode Island ..................................................................... South Carolina .................................................................. South Dakota .................................................................... Tennessee ........................................................................ Texas ................................................................................ Utah .................................................................................. Vermont ............................................................................ Virginia .............................................................................. Washington ....................................................................... West Virginia ..................................................................... Wisconsin .......................................................................... Wyoming ........................................................................... 20022 (revised) 20033 5,534 102 42 101 80 478 123 39 11 8 354 197 24 39 190 136 57 89 146 103 30 102 46 152 81 94 175 51 83 47 19 129 63 240 100 169 25 202 92 63 188 8 107 36 140 417 52 11 142 86 40 91 33 5,559 121 28 80 87 456 102 36 6 19 347 199 21 43 200 132 76 78 145 95 23 92 77 151 72 100 154 39 51 52 19 104 46 227 94 182 26 206 100 75 208 18 114 28 136 491 54 14 155 82 51 103 37 Transpor- Assaults tation and violent incidents5 acts6 2,357 62 13 37 48 174 39 17 – – 153 87 7 24 65 61 42 41 77 39 9 35 27 57 30 42 86 25 28 21 7 41 19 77 12 69 16 86 50 43 82 – 38 12 55 201 34 9 57 29 24 33 26 901 16 7 9 6 83 23 9 – 7 62 45 3 5 43 24 3 12 12 9 – 17 8 22 9 20 16 6 6 8 3 16 13 66 43 29 – 28 16 4 34 – 27 – 27 90 5 – 24 9 – 14 – Contact with objects and equipment 911 25 3 12 16 76 14 4 – – 42 27 4 6 32 19 14 11 25 28 7 9 12 30 18 14 20 3 11 11 4 18 6 25 9 29 6 32 17 13 34 3 20 12 32 70 9 4 27 15 8 26 4 Falls 691 10 – 10 10 71 19 4 – 6 36 23 3 5 36 16 5 9 11 5 3 15 24 17 11 7 17 3 – 8 3 19 3 35 14 24 3 23 5 5 32 – 13 – 13 52 3 – 24 16 6 20 3 Exposure to harmful subFires and stances or explosions environments 485 7 3 5 4 35 4 – 3 3 43 12 3 – 21 8 8 4 10 12 4 12 – 21 – 13 12 – 3 4 – 7 – 15 9 19 – 28 5 6 22 – 13 – 5 51 3 – 16 7 6 8 3 198 – – 5 3 13 – – – – 10 5 – – 3 4 4 – 9 – – 4 3 3 – 3 3 – – – – 3 3 9 7 12 – 9 6 3 4 8 – – 4 27 – – 7 6 5 – – 1 State totals include other events and exposures, such as bodily reaction, in addition to those shown separately. 2 The BLS news release issued September 17, 2003, reported a total of 5,524 fatal work injuries for calendar year 2002. Since then, an additional 10 job-related fatalities were identified, bringing the total job-related fatality count for 2002 to 5,534. 3 Includes 1 fatality that occurred within the territorial boundaries of the United States, but a State of incident could not be determined. 4 Based on the 1992 BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification Manual. 5 Includes highway, nonhighway, air, water, and rail fatalities, and fatalities resulting from being struck by vehicles. 6 Includes violence by persons, self-inflicted injuries, and attacks by animals. NOTE: Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, in cooperation with state, New York City, District of Columbia, and federal agencies, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. 13 Table 6. CFOI participating agencies and telephone numbers State Agency Telephone number Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Department of Labor Department of Labor and Workforce Development Industrial Commission of Arizona Department of Labor Department of Industrial Relations Department of Public Health Labor Department Department of Labor Center for Health Statistics Department of Financial Services (334) 242-3460 (907) 465-4539 (602) 542-3739 (501) 682-4542 (415) 703-4776 (303) 692-2173 (860) 566-4380 (302) 761-8221 (202) 442-5920 (850) 413-1611 Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Department of Labor Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Industrial Commission Department of Public Health Department of Labor Division of Labor Services Department of Health and Environment Department of Labor Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Standards (404) 679-0687 (808) 586-9001 (208) 334-6090 (217) 558-1540 (317) 232-2668 (515) 281-5151 (785) 296-1058 (502) 564-3070 ext. 281 (225) 342-3126 (207) 624-6440 Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire Division of Labor and Industry Department of Public Health Department of Labor and Economic Growth Department of Labor and Industry Department of Health Department of Labor Department of Labor and Industry Workers’ Compensation Court Division of Industrial Relations Department of Public Health (410) 767-2356 (617) 988-3329 (517) 322-1851 (651) 284-5568 (601) 576-7930 (573) 751-2454 (406) 444-3297 (402) 471-3547 (775) 684-7081 (603) 271-4647 New Jersey New Mexico New York State New York City North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Department of Health and Senior Services Occupational Health and Safety Bureau Department of Health Department of Health Department of Labor U.S. Department of Labor Department of Health Department of Labor Department of Consumer and Business Services Department of Health (609) 984-1863 (505) 827-4230 (518) 402-7900 (212) 788-4585 (919) 733-0337 (312) 353-7253 (614) 466-4183 (405) 528-1500 (503) 947-7367 (717) 783-2548 Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Department of Health Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation U.S. Department of Labor Department of Labor and Workforce Development Workers’ Compensation Commission Labor Commission Department of Labor and Industry Department of Labor and Industry Department of Labor and Industries Department of Labor Department of Workforce Development Department of Employment, Research and Planning (401) 222-2812 (803) 896-7673 (312) 353-7253 (615) 741-1749 (512) 804-4637 (801) 530-6823 (802) 828-5076 (804) 786-1035 (360) 902-5512 (304) 558-7890 (608) 266-7850 (307) 473-3819 14 TECHNICAL NOTES Definitions For a fatality to be included in the census, the decedent must have been employed (that is working for pay, compensation, or profit) at the time of the event, engaged in a legal work activity, or present at the site of the incident as a requirement of his or her job. These criteria are generally broader than those used by federal and state agencies administering specific laws and regulations. (Fatalities that occur during a person’s commute to or from work are excluded from the census counts.) Data presented in this release include deaths occurring in 2003 that resulted from traumatic occupational injuries. An injury is defined as any intentional or unintentional wound or damage to the body resulting from acute exposure to energy, such as heat, electricity, or kinetic energy from a crash, or from the absence of such essentials as heat or oxygen caused by a specific event, incident, or series of events within a single workday or shift. Included are open wounds, intracranial and internal injuries, heatstroke, hypothermia, asphyxiation, acute poisonings resulting from short-term exposures limited to the worker’s shift, suicides and homicides, and work injuries listed as underlying or contributory causes of death. Information on work-related fatal illnesses is not reported in the BLS census and is excluded from the attached tables because the latency period of many occupational illnesses and the difficulty of linking illnesses to work exposures make identification of a universe problematic. Measurement techniques and limitations Data for the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries are compiled from various federal, state, and local administrative sources--including death certificates, workers’ compensation reports and claims, reports to various regulatory agencies, medical examiner reports, and police reports--as well as news and other non-governmental reports. Diverse sources are used because studies have shown that no single source captures all job-related fatalities. Source documents are matched so that each fatality is counted only once. To ensure that a fatality occurred while the decedent was at work, information is verified from two or more independent source documents or from a source document and a follow-up questionnaire. Approximately 30 data elements are collected, coded, and tabulated, including information about the worker, the fatal incident, and the machinery or equipment involved. Identification and verification of work-related fatalities In 2003, there were 79 cases included for which work relationship could not be independently verified; however, the information on the initiating source document for these cases was sufficient to determine that the incident was likely to be job-related. 15 Data for these fatalities, which primarily affected self-employed workers, are included in the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries counts. An additional 17 fatalities submitted by states were not included because the source documents had insufficient information to determine work relationship and could not be verified by either an independent source document or a follow-up questionnaire. States may identify additional fatal work injuries after data collection closeout for a reference year. In addition, other fatalities excluded from the published count because of insufficient information to determine work relationship may subsequently be verified as work related. States have up to one year to update their initial published state counts. This procedure ensures that fatality data are disseminated as quickly as possible and that no legitimate case is excluded from the counts. Thus, each year’s report should be considered preliminary until final data are issued. Over the last 5 years, increases in the published counts based on additional information have averaged less than 20 fatalities per year or less than 0.3 percent of the revised total. The BLS news release issued September 17, 2003, reported a total of 5,524 fatal work injuries for 2002. Since then, an additional 10 fatal work injuries were identified, bringing the total for 2002 to 5,534. Revised counts for 2003 will be available in May 2005. Beginning in 2004, BLS released final updated numbers earlier than in past years. Previously, updated numbers were released along with the following year’s data in the annual news release. Updated 2002 numbers were released on the BLS internet in the late spring of 2004, or about 3 or 4 months earlier than in past years. Federal/state agency coverage The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries includes data for all fatal work injuries, whether the decedent was working in a job covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) or other federal or state agencies or was outside the scope of regulatory coverage. Thus, any comparison between the BLS fatality census counts and those released by other agencies should take into account the different coverage requirements and definitions being used by each agency. Several federal and state agencies have jurisdiction over workplace safety and health. OSHA and affiliated agencies in states with approved safety programs cover the largest portion of the nation's workers. However, injuries and illnesses occurring in certain industries or activities, such as coal, metal, and nonmetal mining and highway, water, rail, and air transportation, are excluded from OSHA coverage because they are covered by other federal agencies, such as the Mine Safety and Health Administration and various agencies within the Department of Transportation. Fatalities occurring among several other groups of workers are generally not covered by any federal or state agencies. These groups include self-employed and unpaid family workers, which accounted for about 21 percent of the fatalities; laborers on small farms, accounting for about 1 percent of the fatalities; and state and local government employees in states without OSHA-approved safety programs, which accounted for about 4 percent. 16 (Approximately one-half of the states have approved OSHA safety programs, which cover state and local government employees.) Acknowledgements BLS thanks the participating states, New York City, and the District of Columbia for their efforts in collecting accurate, comprehensive, and useful data on fatal work injuries. BLS also appreciates the efforts of all federal, state, local, and private sector agencies that submitted source documents used to identify fatal work injuries. Among these agencies are the Occupational Safety and Health Administration; the National Transportation Safety Board; the U.S. Coast Guard; the Mine Safety and Health Administration; the Employment Standards Administration (Federal Employees’ Compensation and Longshore and Harbor Workers’ divisions); the Department of Energy; state vital statistics registrars, coroners, and medical examiners; state departments of health, labor and industries, and workers’ compensation agencies; state and local police departments; and state farm bureaus. 17