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Technical information: (202) 691-6170 USDL 05-1598
Media information: (202) 691-5902 FOR RELEASE: 10 a.m. EDT
Internet address: http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm Thursday, August 25, 2005
NATIONAL CENSUS OF FATAL OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES IN 2004
A total of 5,703 fatal work injuries were recorded in the United States in 2004, an
increase of 2 percent from the revised total of 5,575 fatal work injuries reported for 2003.
Despite the increase, the total for 2004 was the third lowest annual total recorded by the
fatality census, which has been conducted each year since 1992. The rate at which fatal work
injuries occurred in 2004 was 4.1 per 100,000 workers, up slightly from a rate of 4.0 per
100,000 workers in 2002 and 2003. The increase in the fatality rate in 2004 was the first
since 1994 when the rate was 5.3 fatalities per 100,000 workers.
Key findings of the 2004 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries:
* Fatal work injuries among Hispanic workers were up 11 percent in 2004 after declining the
previous two years.
* The number of fatal work injuries among older workers (55 years of age and older) rose
10 percent in 2004, but fatalities among younger workers (16 to 24 years of age) declined.
* Workplace homicides were down sharply in 2004 to the lowest level ever recorded by the
fatality census.
* Fatal work injuries resulting from being struck by an object rose 12 percent in 2004, and
overtook workplace homicide as the third most frequent type of fatal event.
* Fatal falls increased by 17 percent to a new series high, led by increases in the number of
fatal falls from ladders and from roofs.
* The number of fatal work injuries in the construction sector rose 8 percent in 2004, but
because of employment increases in this sector, the fatality rate for construction was not
significantly higher than the rate reported in 2003.
* Twenty-seven states reported higher numbers of fatalities in 2004 than in 2003.
Profile of 2004 fatal work injuries by type of incident
Fatal work injuries involving falls were up 17 percent in 2004. The 815 fatal falls
recorded in 2004 represented the highest annual total ever reported by the fatality census for
this event and followed two years of declines. The increase in fatal falls was led by a 39
percent increase in the number of workers who were fatally injured after a fall from a roof
(from 128 fatalities in 2003 to 178 in 2004) and a 17 percent increase in the number of fatal
falls from ladders (from 114 fatalities in 2003 to 133 in 2004). The totals for falls from
roofs and for falls from ladders represented new series highs for these events. About 88
percent of the fatal falls from roofs involved construction workers, compared with about 54
percent for fatal falls overall.
Fatal highway incidents were up slightly in 2004 after declining the two previous years.
The 1,374 fatal highway incidents recorded in 2004 represented about one out of every four
fatal work injuries in 2004. Although nonhighway incidents (such as those that might occur on
a farm or industrial premises) dropped slightly in 2004, other kinds of transportation
incidents increased, led by incidents involving workers struck by vehicles or mobile equipment.
The number of workers who were fatally injured after being struck by objects rose 12
percent in 2004 (from 531 in 2003 to 596 in 2004), led by increases in the number of workers
who were fatally injured after contact with falling, rolling, or sliding objects. The number
of electrocutions also rose slightly, though the overall category of exposure to harmful
substances and environments was lower due to declines in the numbers of fatalities resulting
from contact with temperature extremes, exposure to caustic, noxious, or allergenic
substances, and oxygen deficiency.
The number of workplace homicides recorded in 2004 was down sharply from the number
reported in 2003. The 551 workplace homicides in 2004 represented a 13 percent decline from
2003 and was the lowest annual total yet recorded by the fatality census. Overall, workplace
homicides are down 49 percent from the high of 1,080 workplace homicides recorded in 1994
(excluding the 2,886 work-related homicides resulting from terrorist attacks of September 11).
Profile of fatal work injuries by industry
Overall, 91 percent of the fatal work injuries involved workers in private industry.
Service-providing industries in the private sector recorded 47 percent of all fatal work
injuries in 2004, while goods-producing industries recorded 44 percent. Another 9 percent of
the fatal work injury cases in 2004 involved federal, state, or local government workers. The
number of fatal work injuries in the private sector increased by 3 percent in 2004, while
fatalities among government workers were down slightly.
The construction industry sector recorded 1,224 fatal work injuries, the most of any
industry sector, an increase of 8 percent over the number reported in 2003. The increase was
led by a jump in fatalities among specialty trade contractors from 629 in 2003 to 752 in 2004.
The transportation and warehousing sector recorded 829 fatal work injuries, the second
highest total among industry sectors. As in 2003, the majority of fatal injuries in this
sector occurred in truck transportation (508 fatalities). Sharp increases in water
transportation fatalities and in industries involved in support activities for transportation
contributed to an overall increase of 3 percent in this sector in 2004.
The number of fatal work injuries in the manufacturing sector rose 9 percent from 420 in
2003 to 459 in 2004. Retail trade and wholesale trade also recorded higher numbers of
fatalities.
Fatal work injuries in agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting were down 7 percent
in 2004.
Profile of fatal work injuries by occupation
Fatal work injuries were higher in transportation and material moving occupations (up 7
percent) and construction and extraction occupations (up 9 percent). These two occupational
groups combined accounted for nearly half (46 percent) of all the fatal work injuries in 2004.
Transportation and material moving occupations accounted for the largest number of fatal
work injuries of any major occupational group (1,490 fatalities, up from 1,393 in 2003). The
fatality rate for this occupational group rose from 16.7 fatalities per 100,000 in 2003 to
17.5 in 2004. Motor vehicle operators recorded two thirds of the fatal work injuries in this
occupational group (1,005 fatal work injuries, up 5 percent from 2003). Material moving
occupations, such as forklift operators and refuse collectors, recorded the second highest
total in this group (271 fatalities). Fatal work injuries among material moving occupations
were up 8 percent in 2004.
Construction and extraction occupations accounted for the second highest number of fatal
work injuries among major occupational groups in 2004 (1,129 fatalities, up from 1,038
in 2003). Fatal work injuries among construction trade workers rose from 788 in 2003 to 870
in 2004 and accounted for most of the increase for this occupational group. The 94 fatal work
injuries involving roofers was a sharp increase from the 55 fatal work injuries recorded in
2003 and accounted for nearly half of the increase among construction trade workers.
Among the individual occupations with high rates of fatal injury were logging workers
(92.4 per 100,000 workers), aircraft pilots and flight engineers (92.4 per 100,000), fishers
and related fishing workers (86.4 per 100,000), and structural iron and steel workers
(47.0 per 100,000).
Profile of fatal work injuries by demographic characteristics
The number of fatal work injuries involving Hispanic or Latino workers was sharply higher
in 2004 after declining for the two previous years. The number of fatally injured Hispanic or
Latino workers rose from 794 in 2003 to 883 in 2004, an increase of 11 percent. The rate of
fatal work injuries among Hispanic or Latino workers rose from 4.5 per 100,000 workers in 2003
to 4.9 per 100,000 in 2004. Although homicides to Hispanic or Latino workers were down 27
percent from 2003, increases in the number of fatal work injuries resulting from falls (up 27
percent), transportation incidents (up 27 percent), and contact with objects or equipment (up
14 percent) led to the higher number of fatal work injuries among this population. Fatal work
injuries among workers of Asian, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander descent rose from 158 in
2003 to 177 in 2004, an increase of 12 percent. The increase was due in part to two
multiple-fatality incidents which took the lives of 24 Asian workers.
Fatal work injuries among older workers (55 years of age and older) rose by 10 percent in
2004. The fatality rate for older workers increased from 6.2 fatal work injuries per 100,000
in 2003 to 6.6 per 100,000 in 2004. For younger workers (16 to 24 years of age), the number
of fatal injuries was down by 6 percent. Fatal work injuries among workers 15 years of age
and younger fell by half, from 25 in 2003 to 12 in 2004. Fatalities among male workers rose
in 2004, but fatalities among female workers were down 8 percent from 2003 levels.
Fatalities among self-employed workers remained about the same in 2004 and accounted for
about one of every five fatal work injuries in 2004. The number of fatal work injuries among
wage and salary workers was higher by 3 percent (from 4,405 in 2003 to 4,537 in 2004). The
rate of fatal injury among wage and salary workers edged up from 3.4 per 100,000 workers in
2003 to 3.5 per 100,000 in 2004.
Profile of fatal work injuries by State
Twenty-seven States reported higher numbers of fatal work injuries in 2004 than in 2003,
22 States and the District of Columbia reported lower numbers, and one State was unchanged. Of
those States reporting 25 or more fatal work injuries in 2004, six States reported increases
of at least 20 percent (Alaska, Connecticut, Florida, Louisiana, New Jersey, and New Mexico),
while two States reported declines of 20 percent (Arkansas and Oregon).
For more detailed State results, contact the individual State agency responsible for the
collection of CFOI data in that State. Participating State 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, compiles a count of all fatal work injuries occurring in the U.S. in each
calendar year. The program uses diverse state and federal data sources to identify, verify,
and profile fatal work injuries. Information about each workplace fatality (industry,
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 records, and reports to federal and state agencies. This method assures counts
are as complete and accurate as possible. For the 2004 data, over 20,000 unique source
documents were reviewed as part of the data collection process.
This is the 13th 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 program in which
costs are shared equally. Additional state-specific data are available from the participating
state agencies listed in table 6.
Another BLS program, the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, presents frequency
counts and incidence rates by industry and also profiles worker and case characteristics of
nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses that result in lost work time. Copies of the news
releases on nonfatal injuries and illnesses in 2003 are available from BLS by calling
(202) 691-6170 or by accessing the website listed below. Incidence rates for 2004 by industry
will be published in November 2005, and information on 2004 worker and case characteristics
will be available December 2005. For additional data, access the BLS Internet site:
http://www.bls.gov/iif/.
To request a copy of BLS Report 988, which highlights 2003 fatality results and includes a
number of analytical articles, e-mail your address to IIFstaff@bls.gov or write to U.S.
Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., Room 3180,
Washington, DC 20212.
The following three charts are available in the .pdf version of this news release:
- The four most frequent work-related fatal events, 1992-2004
- Number and rate of fatal occupational injuries by industry sector, 2004
- Selected occupations with high fatality rates, 2004
Table 1. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, 1999-2004
______________________________________________________________________
|
| Fatalities
_______________________________________
|
| | |
Event or exposure(1) | | 2003(2) | 2004
_____________________________
|1999-2003| |
| average | | |
| | Number | Number | Percent
______________________________________________________________________
| | | |
| | | |
Total.......................| 5,800 | 5,575 | 5,703 | 100
| | | |
Transportation incidents......| 2,493 | 2,364 | 2,460 | 43
Highway.....................| 1,399 | 1,353 | 1,374 | 24
Collision between | | | |
vehicles, mobile | | | |
equipment................| 684 | 648 | 687 | 12
Moving in same | | | |
direction..............| 139 | 135 | 145 | 3
Moving in opposite | | | |
directions, oncoming...| 248 | 269 | 270 | 5
Moving in | | | |
intersection...........| 145 | 124 | 144 | 3
Vehicle struck stationary | | | |
object or equipment in | | | |
roadway..................| 27 | 17 | 27 | (3)
Vehicle struck stationary | | | |
object, equipment on side| | | |
of road..................| 289 | 327 | 314 | 6
Noncollision..............| 356 | 321 | 316 | 6
Jack-knifed or | | | |
overturned-no | | | |
collision..............| 293 | 252 | 257 | 5
Nonhighway (farm, industrial| | | |
premises)..................| 349 | 347 | 335 | 6
Overturned..............| 185 | 186 | 181 | 3
Worker struck by a | | | |
vehicle....................| 365 | 337 | 377 | 7
Rail vehicle................| 59 | 43 | 50 | 1
Water vehicle...............| 83 | 69 | 90 | 2
Aircraft....................| 232 | 211 | 230 | 4
| | | |
Assaults and violent acts.....| 898 | 902 | 795 | 14
Homicides...................| 642 | 632 | 551 | 10
Shooting..................| 501 | 487 | 416 | 7
Stabbing..................| 60 | 58 | 66 | 1
Self-inflicted injuries.....| 217 | 218 | 200 | 4
| | | |
Contact with objects and | | | |
equipment....................| 957 | 913 | 1,004 | 18
Struck by object............| 549 | 531 | 596 | 10
Struck by falling | | | |
object...................| 337 | 324 | 370 | 6
Struck by flying object...| 54 | 57 | 42 | 1
Caught in or compressed by | | | |
equipment or objects.......| 266 | 238 | 270 | 5
Caught in running | | | |
equipment or machinery...| 139 | 123 | 142 | 2
Caught in or crushed in | | | |
collapsing materials.......| 123 | 126 | 117 | 2
| | | |
Falls.........................| 736 | 696 | 815 | 14
Fall to lower level.........| 647 | 604 | 732 | 13
Fall from ladder..........| 114 | 114 | 133 | 2
Fall from roof............| 147 | 128 | 178 | 3
Fall from scaffold, | | | |
staging..................| 88 | 85 | 89 | 2
Fall on same level..........| 69 | 71 | 61 | 1
| | | |
Exposure to harmful substances| | | |
or environments..............| 508 | 486 | 459 | 8
Contact with electric | | | |
current....................| 271 | 246 | 253 | 4
Contact with overhead | | | |
power lines..............| 121 | 107 | 123 | 2
Contact with temperature | | | |
extremes...................| 43 | 42 | 27 | (3)
Exposure to caustic, | | | |
noxious, or allergenic | | | |
substances.................| 105 | 122 | 114 | 2
Inhalation of substance...| 53 | 65 | 52 | 1
Oxygen deficiency...........| 86 | 73 | 63 | 1
Drowning, submersion......| 64 | 52 | 49 | 1
| | | |
Fires and explosions..........| 189 | 198 | 159 | 3
______________________________________________________________________
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 22, 2004, reported a total
of 5,559 fatal work injuries for calendar year 2003. Since then, an
additional 16 job-related fatalities were identified, bringing the
total job-related fatality count for 2003 to 5,575.
3 Less than or equal to 0.5 percent.
NOTE: Totals for 2004 are preliminary. 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
Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by industry and selected event or exposure, 2004
__________________________________________________________________________________________
| |
| Fatalities | Selected event or exposure(2)
| | (percent of total for industry)
___________________________________________________________
Industry(1) | |
| | | | | |
| Number | Percent | Highway |Homicides| Falls |Struck by
| | | (3) | | | object
__________________________________________________________________________________________
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Total.....................| 5,703 | 100 | 24 | 10 | 14 | 10
| | | | | |
Private industry.............| 5,177 | 91 | 23 | 9 | 15 | 11
| | | | | |
Goods producing.............| 2,494 | 44 | 14 | 2 | 21 | 15
| | | | | |
Natural resources and | | | | | |
mining....................| 811 | 14 | 16 | 1 | 5 | 20
Agriculture, forestry, | | | | | |
fishing and hunting......| 659 | 12 | 15 | 1 | 5 | 21
Crop production.........| 317 | 6 | 15 | 1 | 4 | 17
Animal production.......| 141 | 2 | 15 | - | 11 | 10
Forestry and logging....| 106 | 2 | 17 | - | 3 | 60
Fishing, hunting and | | | | | |
trapping...............| 37 | 1 | - | - | - | -
Agriculture and forestry| | | | | |
support activities.....| 45 | 1 | 16 | - | - | 11
Mining(4).................| 152 | 3 | 24 | - | 9 | 16
Oil and gas | | | | | |
extraction.............| 29 | 1 | 34 | - | - | 21
Mining, except oil and | | | | | |
gas....................| 51 | 1 | 10 | - | 10 | 14
Support activities for | | | | | |
mining.................| 71 | 1 | 30 | - | 10 | 15
Construction...............| 1,224 | 21 | 12 | 2 | 36 | 12
Construction..............| 1,224 | 21 | 12 | 2 | 36 | 12
Construction of | | | | | |
buildings..............| 224 | 4 | 11 | 2 | 46 | 13
Heavy and civil | | | | | |
engineering | | | | | |
construction...........| 219 | 4 | 17 | - | 8 | 21
Specialty trade | | | | | |
contractors............| 752 | 13 | 10 | 2 | 42 | 9
Manufacturing..............| 459 | 8 | 17 | 3 | 10 | 14
Manufacturing.............| 459 | 8 | 17 | 3 | 10 | 14
Food manufacturing......| 65 | 1 | 22 | 12 | 11 | -
Wood product | | | | | |
manufacturing..........| 49 | 1 | 8 | - | 8 | 14
Paper manufacturing.....| 19 | (5) | - | - | - | -
Chemical | | | | | |
manufacturing..........| 31 | 1 | 13 | - | - | -
Plastics and rubber | | | | | |
products | | | | | |
manufacturing..........| 25 | (5) | - | - | - | 12
Nonmetallic mineral | | | | | |
product | | | | | |
manufacturing..........| 54 | 1 | 35 | - | 9 | 9
Primary metal | | | | | |
manufacturing..........| 28 | (5) | - | - | 14 | 32
Fabricated metal product| | | | | |
manufacturing..........| 57 | 1 | 14 | 5 | 11 | 25
Machinery | | | | | |
manufacturing..........| 25 | (5) | 24 | - | 12 | 28
Transportation equipment| | | | | |
manufacturing..........| 33 | 1 | 12 | - | 15 | 21
| | | | | |
Service providing...........| 2,683 | 47 | 32 | 16 | 9 | 7
| | | | | |
Trade, transportation, and | | | | | |
utilities.................| 1,455 | 26 | 41 | 15 | 6 | 7
Wholesale trade...........| 203 | 4 | 42 | 5 | 6 | 9
Merchant wholesalers, | | | | | |
durable goods..........| 99 | 2 | 29 | 6 | 6 | 16
Merchant wholesalers, | | | | | |
nondurable goods.......| 95 | 2 | 54 | 4 | 6 | -
Retail trade..............| 372 | 7 | 19 | 43 | 10 | 4
Motor vehicle and parts | | | | | |
dealers................| 75 | 1 | 40 | 20 | 5 | 8
Building material and | | | | | |
garden supply stores...| 39 | 1 | 26 | - | 15 | -
Food and beverage | | | | | |
stores.................| 83 | 1 | 5 | 69 | 7 | -
Health and personal care| | | | | |
stores.................| 17 | (5) | 24 | 47 | 18 | -
Gasoline stations.......| 44 | 1 | 7 | 84 | - | -
Sporting goods, hobby, | | | | | |
book and music | | | | | |
stores.................| 15 | (5) | - | 53 | - | -
General merchandise | | | | | |
stores.................| 26 | (5) | - | 19 | 46 | -
Miscellaneous store | | | | | |
retailers..............| 28 | (5) | 25 | 43 | - | -
Nonstore retailers......| 15 | (5) | 47 | - | - | -
Transportation and | | | | | |
warehousing..............| 829 | 15 | 52 | 6 | 4 | 7
Air transportation......| 47 | 1 | - | - | - | -
Rail transportation.....| 19 | (5) | - | - | - | -
Water transportation....| 43 | 1 | - | - | - | -
Truck transportation....| 508 | 9 | 72 | 1 | 3 | 9
Transit and ground | | | | | |
passenger | | | | | |
transportation.........| 75 | 1 | 37 | 49 | - | -
Support activities for | | | | | |
transportation.........| 80 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 18
Couriers and | | | | | |
messengers.............| 25 | (5) | 76 | - | - | -
Warehousing and | | | | | |
storage................| 21 | (5) | - | - | 38 | -
Utilities.................| 51 | 1 | 16 | - | 18 | 8
Information................| 54 | 1 | 48 | 9 | 6 | -
Information...............| 54 | 1 | 48 | 9 | 6 | -
Publishing industries, | | | | | |
except Internet........| 33 | 1 | 64 | 9 | - | -
Financial activities.......| 115 | 2 | 25 | 31 | 13 | 3
Finance and insurance.....| 46 | 1 | 33 | 39 | 9 | -
Credit intermediation | | | | | |
and related | | | | | |
activities.............| 26 | (5) | 27 | 50 | - | -
Real estate and rental and| | | | | |
leasing..................| 69 | 1 | 20 | 26 | 16 | 6
Real estate.............| 45 | 1 | 11 | 33 | 22 | -
Rental and leasing | | | | | |
services...............| 24 | (5) | 38 | 12 | - | -
Professional and business | | | | | |
services..................| 448 | 8 | 23 | 7 | 17 | 11
Professional and technical| | | | | |
services.................| 76 | 1 | 30 | 4 | 11 | -
Professional and | | | | | |
technical services.....| 76 | 1 | 30 | 4 | 11 | -
Administrative and waste | | | | | |
services.................| 370 | 6 | 22 | 7 | 18 | 13
Administrative and | | | | | |
support services.......| 292 | 5 | 17 | 9 | 22 | 13
Waste management and | | | | | |
remediation services...| 78 | 1 | 40 | - | 5 | 12
Educational and health | | | | | |
services..................| 157 | 3 | 25 | 15 | 9 | -
Educational services......| 44 | 1 | 11 | 9 | 11 | -
Educational services....| 44 | 1 | 11 | 9 | 11 | -
Health care and social | | | | | |
assistance...............| 113 | 2 | 31 | 17 | 8 | -
Ambulatory health care | | | | | |
services...............| 53 | 1 | 26 | 15 | - | -
Hospitals...............| 29 | 1 | 31 | - | 10 | -
Nursing and residential | | | | | |
care facilities........| 16 | (5) | 38 | 19 | 19 | -
Leisure and hospitality....| 245 | 4 | 13 | 36 | 9 | 4
Arts, entertainment, and | | | | | |
recreation...............| 99 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 6
Performing arts and | | | | | |
spectator sports.......| 50 | 1 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 6
Amusements, gambling, | | | | | |
and recreation ........| 45 | 1 | 9 | 13 | 9 | 7
Accommodation and food | | | | | |
services.................| 146 | 3 | 14 | 52 | 8 | 3
Accommodation...........| 29 | 1 | 14 | 34 | 17 | -
Food services and | | | | | |
drinking places........| 117 | 2 | 14 | 56 | 6 | 3
Other services, except | | | | | |
public administration.....| 204 | 4 | 10 | 19 | 11 | 14
Other services, except | | | | | |
public administration....| 204 | 4 | 10 | 19 | 11 | 14
Repair and | | | | | |
maintenance............| 114 | 2 | 5 | 15 | 6 | 24
Personal and laundry | | | | | |
services...............| 37 | 1 | 14 | 46 | 11 | -
Membership associations | | | | | |
and organizations......| 43 | 1 | 21 | 12 | 23 | -
| | | | | |
Government(6)................| 526 | 9 | 31 | 13 | 7 | 5
| | | | | |
Federal government..........| 111 | 2 | 30 | - | 7 | 6
Public administration.....| 84 | 1 | 25 | - | 5 | 5
National security and | | | | | |
international | | | | | |
affairs................| 70 | 1 | 21 | - | 6 | 4
State government............| 100 | 2 | 31 | 9 | 6 | 7
Public administration.....| 38 | 1 | 37 | 13 | - | -
Justice, public order, | | | | | |
and safety | | | | | |
activities.............| 21 | (5) | 43 | 19 | - | -
Local government............| 310 | 5 | 33 | 19 | 7 | 5
Public administration.....| 195 | 3 | 37 | 27 | 4 | 4
Justice, public order, | | | | | |
and safety | | | | | |
activities.............| 164 | 3 | 38 | 30 | 3 | 2
__________________________________________________________________________________________
1 Based on 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 nonpassengers.
4 Includes fatalities at all establishments categorized as Mining (Sector 21) in the
North American Industy Classification System, 2002, 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 2004 are preliminary. Totals for major categories may include subcat-
egories 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 5 fatalities for which there was insufficient information to determine a
specific industry classification, although 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
Table 3. Fatal occupational injuries by occupation and selected event or exposure, 2004
__________________________________________________________________________________________
| |
| Fatalities | Selected event or exposure(2)
| | (percent of total for occupation)
___________________________________________________________
Occupation(1) | |
| | | | | |
| Number | Percent | Highway |Homicides| Falls |Struck by
| | | (3) | | | object
__________________________________________________________________________________________
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Total.......................| 5,703 | 100 | 24 | 10 | 14 | 10
| | | | | |
Management occupations........| 629 | 11 | 17 | 9 | 10 | 12
Top executives..............| 27 | (4) | 30 | - | 11 | -
Advertising, marketing, | | | | | |
promotions, public | | | | | |
relations, and sales | | | | | |
managers...................| 19 | (4) | 47 | 16 | - | -
Operations specialties | | | | | |
managers...................| 43 | 1 | 30 | 23 | 16 | -
Other management | | | | | |
occupations................| 540 | 9 | 14 | 8 | 10 | 14
Business and financial | | | | | |
operations occupations.......| 27 | (4) | 48 | 15 | - | -
Business operations | | | | | |
specialists................| 18 | (4) | 61 | 17 | - | -
Financial specialists.......| 9 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Computer and mathematical | | | | | |
occupations..................| 7 | (4) | 57 | - | - | -
Computer specialists........| 7 | (4) | 57 | - | - | -
Architecture and engineering | | | | | |
occupations..................| 68 | 1 | 28 | - | 7 | -
Architects, surveyors, and | | | | | |
cartographers..............| 6 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Engineers...................| 36 | 1 | 31 | - | - | -
Drafters, engineering, and | | | | | |
mapping technicians........| 26 | (4) | 23 | - | 12 | -
Life, physical, and social | | | | | |
science occupations..........| 25 | (4) | 32 | - | - | -
Life scientists.............| 11 | (4) | 27 | - | - | -
Physical scientists.........| 4 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Life, physical, and social | | | | | |
science technicians........| 8 | (4) | 38 | - | - | -
Community and social services | | | | | |
occupations..................| 44 | 1 | 36 | 25 | 14 | -
Counselors, social workers, | | | | | |
and other community and | | | | | |
social service | | | | | |
specialists................| 21 | (4) | 52 | 33 | - | -
Religious workers...........| 23 | (4) | 22 | 17 | 22 | -
Legal occupations.............| 3 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Lawyers, judges, and related| | | | | |
workers....................| 3 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Education, training, and | | | | | |
library occupations..........| 27 | (4) | 30 | - | 19 | -
Postsecondary teachers......| 7 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Primary, secondary, and | | | | | |
special education school | | | | | |
teachers...................| 12 | (4) | 42 | - | - | -
Other teachers and | | | | | |
instructors................| 3 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Other education, training, | | | | | |
and library occupations....| 4 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Arts, design, entertainment, | | | | | |
sports, and media | | | | | |
occupations..................| 51 | 1 | 20 | 16 | 14 | 6
Art and design workers......| 8 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Entertainers and performers,| | | | | |
sports and related | | | | | |
workers....................| 32 | 1 | 16 | 12 | 19 | 9
Media and communication | | | | | |
equipment workers..........| 9 | (4) | - | 33 | - | -
Healthcare practitioners and | | | | | |
technical occupations........| 72 | 1 | 26 | 12 | 7 | -
Health diagnosing and | | | | | |
treating practitioners.....| 40 | 1 | 30 | 12 | 8 | -
Health technologists and | | | | | |
technicians................| 31 | 1 | 23 | 13 | - | -
Healthcare support | | | | | |
occupations..................| 11 | (4) | - | 27 | - | -
Nursing, psychiatric, and | | | | | |
home health aides..........| 8 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Other healthcare support | | | | | |
occupations................| 3 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Protective service | | | | | |
occupations..................| 271 | 5 | 31 | 31 | 4 | 3
First-line supervisors | | | | | |
managers, protective | | | | | |
service workers............| 24 | (4) | 50 | 21 | - | -
Fire fighting and prevention| | | | | |
workers....................| 30 | 1 | 37 | - | - | -
Law enforcement workers.....| 136 | 2 | 41 | 33 | 3 | -
Other protective service | | | | | |
workers....................| 81 | 1 | 6 | 38 | 7 | 4
Food preparation and serving | | | | | |
related occupations..........| 52 | 1 | - | 65 | 10 | -
Supervisors, food | | | | | |
preparation and serving | | | | | |
workers....................| 10 | (4) | - | 90 | - | -
Cooks and food preparation | | | | | |
workers....................| 10 | (4) | - | 40 | - | -
Food and beverage serving | | | | | |
workers....................| 27 | (4) | - | 63 | 15 | -
Other food preparation and | | | | | |
serving related workers....| 5 | (4) | - | 80 | - | -
Building and grounds cleaning | | | | | |
and maintenance | | | | | |
occupations..................| 277 | 5 | 13 | 6 | 25 | 15
Supervisors, building and | | | | | |
grounds cleaning and | | | | | |
maintenance workers........| 43 | 1 | 19 | - | 19 | 30
Building cleaning and pest | | | | | |
control workers............| 66 | 1 | 11 | 18 | 27 | 5
Grounds maintenance | | | | | |
workers....................| 168 | 3 | 12 | - | 25 | 15
Personal care and service | | | | | |
occupations..................| 55 | 1 | 15 | 25 | - | -
Supervisors, personal care | | | | | |
and service workers........| 6 | (4) | - | 67 | - | -
Animal care and service | | | | | |
workers....................| 11 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Entertainment attendants and| | | | | |
related workers............| 7 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Personal appearance | | | | | |
workers....................| 7 | (4) | - | 86 | - | -
Transportation, tourism, and| | | | | |
lodging attendants.........| 7 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Other personal care and | | | | | |
service workers............| 16 | (4) | 25 | 19 | - | -
Sales and related | | | | | |
occupations..................| 352 | 6 | 21 | 47 | 8 | 2
Supervisors, sales | | | | | |
workers....................| 156 | 3 | 6 | 58 | 10 | 4
Retail sales workers........| 101 | 2 | 10 | 63 | 8 | -
Sales representatives, | | | | | |
services...................| 21 | (4) | 57 | - | - | -
Sales representatives, | | | | | |
wholesale and | | | | | |
manufacturing..............| 34 | 1 | 74 | - | - | -
Other sales and related | | | | | |
workers....................| 40 | 1 | 45 | 20 | - | -
Office and administrative | | | | | |
support occupations..........| 91 | 2 | 40 | 21 | 9 | 4
Supervisors, office and | | | | | |
administrative support | | | | | |
workers....................| 4 | (4) | - | 75 | - | -
Financial clerks............| 8 | (4) | - | 50 | - | -
Information and record | | | | | |
clerks.....................| 9 | (4) | 33 | 44 | - | -
Material recording, | | | | | |
scheduling, dispatching, | | | | | |
and distributing workers...| 50 | 1 | 52 | 6 | 10 | 6
Secretaries and | | | | | |
administrative | | | | | |
assistants.................| 6 | (4) | - | 67 | - | -
Other office and | | | | | |
administrative support | | | | | |
workers....................| 14 | (4) | 29 | - | - | -
Farming, fishing, and forestry| | | | | |
occupations..................| 281 | 5 | 17 | 1 | 4 | 26
Supervisors, farming, | | | | | |
fishing, and forestry | | | | | |
workers....................| 11 | (4) | 36 | - | - | -
Agricultural workers........| 143 | 3 | 22 | 2 | 6 | 8
Fishing and hunting | | | | | |
workers....................| 38 | 1 | - | - | - | -
Forest, conservation, and | | | | | |
logging workers............| 89 | 2 | 13 | - | - | 66
Construction and extraction | | | | | |
occupations..................| 1,129 | 20 | 10 | 2 | 36 | 12
Supervisors, construction | | | | | |
and extraction workers.....| 116 | 2 | 17 | - | 28 | 12
Construction trades | | | | | |
workers....................| 870 | 15 | 8 | 2 | 41 | 11
Helpers, construction | | | | | |
trades.....................| 21 | (4) | - | - | 19 | -
Other construction and | | | | | |
related workers............| 45 | 1 | 13 | - | 18 | -
Extraction workers..........| 77 | 1 | 13 | - | 12 | 22
Installation, maintenance, and| | | | | |
repair occupations...........| 382 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 18 | 17
Supervisors of installation,| | | | | |
maintenance, and repair | | | | | |
workers....................| 43 | 1 | 7 | 14 | 19 | 21
Electrical and electronic | | | | | |
equipment mechanics, | | | | | |
installers, and | | | | | |
repairers..................| 13 | (4) | - | - | 23 | -
Vehicle and mobile equipment| | | | | |
mechanics, installers, and | | | | | |
repairers..................| 120 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 31
Other installation, | | | | | |
maintenance, and repair | | | | | |
occupations................| 206 | 4 | 12 | - | 25 | 9
Production occupations........| 288 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 15
Supervisors, production | | | | | |
workers....................| 37 | 1 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 14
Assemblers and | | | | | |
fabricators................| 19 | (4) | - | - | 21 | 21
Food processing workers.....| 13 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Metal workers and plastic | | | | | |
workers....................| 84 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 26
Printing workers............| 4 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Textile, apparel, and | | | | | |
furnishings workers........| 7 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Woodworkers.................| 15 | (4) | - | - | - | 27
Plant and system | | | | | |
operators..................| 14 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Other production | | | | | |
occupations................| 95 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 12 | 9
Transportation and material | | | | | |
moving occupations...........| 1,490 | 26 | 47 | 5 | 5 | 9
Supervisors, transportation | | | | | |
and material moving | | | | | |
workers....................| 24 | (4) | 17 | - | 12 | -
Air transportation | | | | | |
workers....................| 109 | 2 | - | - | - | -
Motor vehicle operators.....| 1,005 | 18 | 65 | 6 | 4 | 8
Rail transportation | | | | | |
workers....................| 21 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Water transportation | | | | | |
workers....................| 45 | 1 | - | - | - | -
Other transportation | | | | | |
workers....................| 15 | (4) | - | 33 | - | -
Material moving workers.....| 271 | 5 | 11 | 3 | 11 | 17
Military occupations..........| 64 | 1 | 19 | - | - | 5
__________________________________________________________________________________________
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 2004 are preliminary. Totals for major categories may include subcat-
egories 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
Table 4. Fatal occupational injuries by selected worker characteristics and selected
event or exposure, 2004
__________________________________________________________________________________________
| |
| | Selected event or exposure(1)
| Fatalities | (percent of total for characteristic
| | category)
___________________________________________________________
Characteristic | |
| | | | | |
| Number | Percent | Highway |Homicides| Falls |Struck by
| | | (2) | | | object
__________________________________________________________________________________________
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Total.........................| 5,703 | 100 | 24 | 10 | 14 | 10
| | | | | |
Employee status | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Wage and salary(3)............| 4,537 | 80 | 27 | 8 | 14 | 10
Self-employed(4)..............| 1,166 | 20 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13
| | | | | |
Sex | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Men...........................| 5,292 | 93 | 24 | 9 | 15 | 11
Women.........................| 411 | 7 | 30 | 24 | 9 | 2
| | | | | |
Age(5) | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Under 16 years................| 12 | (6) | - | - | - | -
16-17 years...................| 25 | (6) | 28 | - | - | -
18-19 years...................| 102 | 2 | 24 | 8 | 13 | 8
20-24 years...................| 415 | 7 | 23 | 10 | 11 | 10
25-34 years...................| 988 | 17 | 25 | 12 | 10 | 10
35-44 years...................| 1,325 | 23 | 25 | 10 | 14 | 10
45-54 years...................| 1,370 | 24 | 24 | 9 | 14 | 11
55-64 years...................| 899 | 16 | 25 | 9 | 18 | 10
65 years and older............| 563 | 10 | 18 | 8 | 21 | 15
| | | | | |
Race or ethnic origin(7) | | | | | |
| | | | | |
White.........................| 4,030 | 71 | 25 | 7 | 14 | 11
Black or African-American.....| 542 | 10 | 26 | 22 | 12 | 8
Hispanic or Latino............| 883 | 15 | 21 | 9 | 19 | 13
American Indian or Alaska | | | | | |
Native.......................| 26 | (6) | 31 | - | 19 | 12
Asian.........................| 165 | 3 | 12 | 36 | 6 | 3
Native Hawaiian or Pacific | | | | | |
Islander.....................| 12 | (6) | - | 33 | - | -
Multiple races................| 4 | (6) | - | - | - | -
Other or not reported.........| 41 | 1 | 17 | 15 | 22 | 10
__________________________________________________________________________________________
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 nonpassengers.
3 May include volunteers and workers receiving other types of compensation.
4 Includes self-employed workers, owners of unincorporated businesses and farms, paid
and unpaid family workers, members of partnerships, and may include owners of incorporated
businesses.
5 There were 4 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 or Latino may be of any race. The race categories
shown exclude Hispanic and Latino workers.
NOTE: Totals for 2004 are preliminary. Totals for major categories may include subcat-
egories 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
Table 5. Fatal occupational injuries by state and event or exposure, 2003-2004
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
| |
|Total fatalities(1)| Event or exposure(4)
| | 2004
_______________________________________________________________________________
| |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Exposure|
State of injury | | | | | Contact | | to |
| | |Transpor-| Assaults| with | | harmful |Fires and
| 2003(2) | 2004(3) | tation | and | objects | Falls | sub- | explo-
|(revised)| | inci- | violent | and | | stances | sions
| | | dents(5)| acts(6) |equipment| | or |
| | | | | | | environ-|
| | | | | | | ments |
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Total..................| 5,575 | 5,703 | 2,460 | 795 | 1,004 | 815 | 459 | 159
Alabama..................| 124 | 133 | 51 | 18 | 29 | 16 | 15 | 3
Alaska...................| 28 | 40 | 29 | - | - | - | 3 | -
Arizona..................| 80 | 84 | 42 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 8 | -
Arkansas.................| 87 | 70 | 31 | 4 | 13 | 10 | 5 | 6
California...............| 459 | 416 | 168 | 52 | 80 | 67 | 36 | 12
Colorado.................| 102 | 117 | 60 | 25 | 16 | 9 | 5 | -
Connecticut..............| 36 | 54 | 17 | 12 | 6 | 16 | - | -
Delaware.................| 9 | 10 | 5 | 4 | - | - | - | -
District of Columbia.....| 19 | 11 | - | - | - | 4 | - | -
Florida..................| 347 | 422 | 198 | 58 | 44 | 75 | 35 | 12
Georgia..................| 199 | 231 | 96 | 24 | 32 | 50 | 25 | 3
Hawaii...................| 21 | 25 | 14 | 7 | - | - | - | -
Idaho....................| 43 | 38 | 25 | - | 8 | - | - | -
Illinois.................| 200 | 208 | 83 | 41 | 33 | 29 | 14 | 8
Indiana..................| 132 | 153 | 72 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 8 | -
Iowa.....................| 76 | 82 | 33 | 5 | 26 | 14 | - | -
Kansas...................| 78 | 80 | 36 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 3
Kentucky.................| 145 | 143 | 79 | 13 | 30 | 11 | 6 | -
Louisiana................| 95 | 121 | 56 | 22 | 22 | 11 | 9 | -
Maine....................| 23 | 16 | 10 | - | - | - | - | -
Maryland.................| 92 | 81 | 34 | 10 | 18 | 11 | 7 | -
Massachusetts............| 78 | 70 | 25 | 8 | 15 | 13 | 6 | -
Michigan.................| 152 | 126 | 45 | 27 | 24 | 14 | 13 | 3
Minnesota................| 72 | 80 | 29 | 11 | 18 | 11 | 6 | 5
Mississippi..............| 102 | 88 | 39 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 6 | 5
Missouri.................| 154 | 165 | 82 | 18 | 36 | 10 | 16 | 3
Montana..................| 39 | 39 | 26 | 4 | - | 4 | 3 | -
Nebraska.................| 51 | 46 | 21 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 7 | -
Nevada...................| 52 | 61 | 30 | 4 | 10 | 14 | - | -
New Hampshire............| 19 | 15 | 7 | - | - | 3 | - | -
New Jersey...............| 104 | 129 | 37 | 20 | 23 | 33 | 10 | 6
New Mexico...............| 46 | 57 | 37 | 8 | 7 | - | 3 | -
New York (including | | | | | | | |
N.Y.C.).................| 227 | 254 | 71 | 68 | 32 | 49 | 28 | 6
New York City..........| 94 | 107 | 17 | 44 | 13 | 24 | 9 | -
North Carolina...........| 182 | 183 | 78 | 23 | 43 | 22 | 15 | -
North Dakota.............| 26 | 24 | 6 | - | 13 | - | - | -
Ohio.....................| 206 | 202 | 78 | 39 | 33 | 24 | 18 | 10
Oklahoma.................| 100 | 91 | 44 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 10 | -
Oregon...................| 75 | 60 | 31 | - | 17 | 7 | 3 | -
Pennsylvania.............| 208 | 230 | 87 | 32 | 50 | 34 | 16 | 11
Rhode Island.............| 18 | 7 | - | 3 | - | - | - | -
South Carolina...........| 115 | 110 | 50 | 12 | 22 | 8 | 13 | -
South Dakota.............| 28 | 24 | 12 | - | 3 | 4 | - | -
Tennessee................| 137 | 144 | 43 | 21 | 37 | 27 | 8 | 8
Texas....................| 491 | 440 | 194 | 54 | 77 | 61 | 35 | 18
Utah.....................| 54 | 50 | 30 | 6 | 7 | 6 | - | -
Vermont..................| 14 | 7 | 4 | - | - | - | - | -
Virginia.................| 155 | 171 | 84 | 17 | 22 | 27 | 18 | 3
Washington...............| 83 | 98 | 35 | 14 | 26 | 15 | 7 | -
West Virginia............| 51 | 58 | 34 | 3 | 14 | - | 4 | -
Wisconsin................| 103 | 94 | 33 | 21 | 21 | 14 | 4 | -
Wyoming..................| 37 | 43 | 28 | - | 6 | 3 | 4 | -
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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 22, 2004, reported a total of 5,559 fatal work injuries for
calendar year 2003. Since then, an additional 16 job-related fatalities were identified, bringing the
total job-related fatality count for 2003 to 5,575.
3 Includes 2 fatalities 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, rail fatalities, and fatalities resulting from being struck
by a vehicle.
6 Includes violence by persons, self-inflicted injuries, and attacks by animals.
NOTE: Totals for 2004 are preliminary. 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
Table 6. CFOI participating agencies and telephone numbers
State Agency Telephone number
Alabama Department of Labor (334) 242-3460
Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development (907) 465-4539
Arizona Industrial Commission of Arizona (602) 542-3739
Arkansas Department of Labor (501) 682-4542
California Department of Industrial Relations (415) 703-4757
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (303) 692-2173
Connecticut Labor Department (860) 263-6933
Delaware Department of Labor (302) 761-8221
District of Columbia State Center for Health Statistics (202) 442-9010
Florida Department of Financial Services (850) 413-1611
Georgia Department of Labor (404) 679-0687 ext. 113
Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (808) 586-9001
Idaho Industrial Commission (208) 334-6090
Illinois Department of Public Health (217) 557-5663
Indiana Department of Labor (317) 232-2668
Iowa Division of Labor Services (515) 281-5151
Kansas Department of Labor (785) 296-1640
Kentucky Department of Labor (502) 564-3070 ext. 281
Louisiana Department of Labor (225) 342-3126
Maine Bureau of Labor Standards (207) 624-6454
Maryland Division of Labor and Industry (410) 767-2356
Massachusetts Department of Public Health (617) 624-5679
Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth (517) 322-1851
Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (651) 284-5428
Mississippi Department of Health (601) 576-7817
Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (573) 751-2454
Montana Department of Labor and Industry (406) 444-3297
Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court (402) 471-3547
Nevada Division of Industrial Relations (775) 684-7081
New Hampshire Bureau of Vital Records (603) 271-4647
New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (609) 292-9553
New Mexico Occupational Health and Safety Bureau (505) 827-4230 ext. 116
New York State Department of Health (518) 402-7900
New York City Department of Health (212) 788-4585
North Carolina Department of Labor (919) 733-0337
North Dakota Bureau of Labor Statistics (312) 353-7200 ext. 410
Ohio Department of Health (614) 466-4183
Oklahoma Department of Labor (405) 528-1500
Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (503) 947-7367
Pennsylvania Department of Health (717) 783-2548 ext. 210
Rhode Island Department of Health (401) 222-2812
South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation (803) 896-7673
South Dakota Bureau of Labor Statistics (312) 353-7200 ext. 410
Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (615) 741-1749
Texas Workers' Compensation Commission (512) 804-4638
Utah Occupational Safety and Health Statistics (801) 530-6823
Vermont Department of Labor and Industry (802) 828-5076
Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (804) 786-1035
Washington Department of Labor and Industries (360) 902-5512
West Virginia Division of Labor (304) 558-7890 ext. 112
Wisconsin Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (608) 221-6289
Wyoming Department of Employment (307) 473-3819
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 2004 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 2004, there were 153 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. Data for
these fatalities are included in the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries counts. An
additional 29 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
legitimate cases are not 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 22,
2004, reported a total of 5,559 fatal work injuries for 2003. Since then, an additional 16
fatal work injuries were identified, bringing the total for 2003 to 5,575. Revised counts for
2004 will be available in May 2006.
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 20 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. (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.