The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.
Technical information: (202) 691-6170 USDL 06-1364
Media information: (202) 691-5902 FOR RELEASE: 10 a.m. EDT
Internet address: http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm Thursday, August 10, 2006
NATIONAL CENSUS OF FATAL OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES IN 2005
A total of 5,702 fatal work injuries were recorded in the United States in 2005,
down about 1 percent from the revised total of 5,764 fatal work injuries recorded
in 2004. The rate at which fatal work injuries occurred in 2005 was 4.0 per
100,000 workers, down slightly from a rate of 4.1 per 100,000 in 2004.
The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries has been conducted each year since 1992.
The numbers reported in this release are preliminary and will be updated in April 2007.
Key findings of the 2005 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries:
* Fatal work injuries among workers under 20 years of age were up about 18 percent
from the 2004 figure to 166 cases.
* Fatal work injuries involving women in 2005 were down 3 percent to 402 cases-the
lowest total ever recorded by the fatality census.
* Fatalities among agricultural workers were up 23 percent from 145 in 2004
to 178 in 2005.
* Fatal work injuries among Hispanic workers increased by 2 percent in 2005 to
a new series high, though the fatality rate for Hispanic workers was lower.
* Fatal falls were lower by 7 percent after reaching a series high in 2004.
* While the number of fatal work injuries in private construction continued to be
the most of any industry sector, the number of fatalities was 4 percent lower
in 2005 than 2004.
* Fatal workplace injuries attributable to hurricanes accounted for 29 fatal work
injuries in 2005, though this total may rise as additional cases are identified
and verified.
Profile of 2005 fatal work injuries by type of incident
Fatal highway incidents remained the most frequent type of fatal workplace event,
accounting for one in every four fatalities nationally in 2005. Fatal highway incidents
rose by 2 percent in 2005, accounting for 1,428 worker deaths. Nonhighway incidents
(such as those that might occur on a farm or industrial premises) stayed about the same.
The number of workers who were killed after being struck by vehicles or mobile equipment
rose from 378 in 2004 to 390 in 2005.
The number of fatal work injuries involving aircraft declined 36 percent in 2005
after increasing the previous 2 years. The 147 fatal injuries involving aircraft in 2005
was a series low for the fatality census and 24 percent lower than the lowest previous
annual total. Fatalities involving railroad incidents, however, were sharply higher,
rising from 50 fatalities in 2004 to 84 in 2005.
The 767 fatal falls recorded in 2005 represented a 7 percent decline from the
series high recorded in 2004. Lower numbers of fatal falls from roofs (from 180 in 2004
to 160 in 2005), ladders (from 135 to 129), from stairs or steps (from 27 to 17), and from
nonmoving vehicles (from 84 to 74) led to the lower overall total. However, falls on the
same level (to a floor or onto or against objects) rose in 2005 (from 61 to 83).
The number of workers who were fatally injured after being struck by objects
in 2005 remained at about the same level as in 2004 (604 fatal work injuries in 2005
as compared to 602 in 2004). Fatalities resulting from workers being struck by falling
or flying objects rose 5 percent in 2005, though fatalities involving rolling or
sliding objects were down 15 percent to 94 fatalities in 2005.
A total of 564 workplace homicides was recorded in 2005 (up from 559 in 2004).
However, workplace suicides were sharply lower in 2005, dropping 14 percent to a series
low of 177 fatalities.
Fatal work injuries resulting from exposure to harmful substances or environments
rose 7 percent in 2005. This overall increase was led by a sharp increase in the number
of workers who died after exposure to environmental heat, from 18 fatalities in 2004 to 47
in 2005. Higher numbers of fatal work injuries resulting from the inhalation of caustic,
noxious, or allergenic substances also contributed to the overall increase. The number
of electrocutions was down slightly in 2005.
Profile of fatal work injuries by industry
Of the 5,702 fatal work injuries recorded in 2005, 5,188 (or 91 percent) occurred
in private industry. Service-providing industries in the private sector accounted for 48
percent of all fatal work injuries in 2005, while goods-producing industries accounted
for 43 percent. Another 9 percent of the fatal work injuries in 2005 involved
government workers.
The private construction industry accounted for 1,186 fatal work injuries, the
most of any industry sector and about one out of every five fatal work injuries recorded
in 2005. While the total number of construction fatalities was 4 percent lower in 2005,
the number of fatalities in residential building construction (NAICS 2361), utility system
construction (NAICS 2371), and highway, street, and bridge construction (NAICS 2373)
increased. These increases were offset by a substantial decrease in the number of
fatalities to specialty trade contractors (NAICS 238) from 759 in 2004 to 675 in 2005,
a decline of 11 percent. Roofing contractor fatalities, which fell from 116 in 2004 to
75 in 2005, accounted for almost half of the decrease in the number of specialty
trade contractor fatalities.
The 881 fatalities in transportation and warehousing in 2005 represented a
5 percent increase over the 840 cases reported in 2004. Although fewer fatalities were
reported for air and water transportation, the 585 truck transportation fatalities,
accounting for 10 percent of all work fatalities in 2005, were up 13 percent.
Fatalities were also higher in agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting.
Agriculture and mining recorded the highest fatal work injury rates among the major
industry sectors in 2005-32.5 fatalities per 100,000 workers for agriculture and
25.6 fatalities per 100,000 workers for mining. Fatalities in the manufacturing sector
were lower by 15 percent in 2005.
Led by increases in transportation and warehousing, professional and business
services, administrative and support services, retail trade, and information,
service-providing industries recorded a slight increase in the number of fatalities.
Profile of fatal work injuries by occupation
Similar to 2004, the combined number of fatalities in two occupational groups
(construction and extraction occupations and transportation and material moving
occupations) accounted for nearly half of all fatal work injuries in 2005 (48 percent).
Transportation and material moving occupations accounted for the highest number of
fatalities of any major occupational group (1,543 fatalities, up 2 percent from 2004).
Fatalities among motor vehicle operators accounted for 71 percent of all fatal work
injuries in this occupational group and were higher by 7 percent in 2005.
However, fatalities involving air transportation workers were down 26 percent (from 109
in 2004 to 81 in 2005).
Fatal work injury counts were higher by 4 percent in construction and extraction
occupations in 2005 (from 1,138 fatalities in 2004 to 1,180 in 2005), although the
fatality rate for this occupational group was slightly lower in 2005 due to increases in
employment. Fatal work injuries were higher for construction laborers, carpenters, and
construction equipment operators, but substantially lower among both painters
(down 46 percent) and roofers (down 44 percent).
Fatal work injuries were significantly higher for farming, forestry, and fishing
occupations in 2005. The 324 fatalities in this occupational group represented a
14 percent increase over the total recorded in 2004. The fatality rate for this
occupational group rose from 28.1 in 2004 to 31.4 in 2005, and was the highest rate among
major occupational groups.
Military fatalities (domestic only-see technical notes) were down sharply in 2005.
Fatal work injuries among protective service occupations were also lower in 2005.
Profile of fatal work injuries by demographic characteristics
Fatal work injuries among both male and female workers were down in 2005.
The total of 402 fatal work injuries among female workers in 2005 was the lowest annual
total ever recorded by the fatality census. The number of fatalities among male workers
was down 1 percent from the previous year (from 5,349 in 2004 to 5,300 in 2005).
The number of fatal work injuries among Hispanic or Latino workers reached a series
high for the fatality census (917 fatal work injuries), but due to increased employment,
the fatality rate for this population was down in 2005. Fatalities involving
foreign-born Hispanic workers were also higher in 2005, rising to a series high of 625
fatal work injuries, up from 596 in 2004. Fatalities among black or African American
workers rose to 577 fatal work injuries in 2005 from 546 in 2004. Fatalities involving
Asians and Native Hawaiians or Pacific Islanders declined from 180 in 2004 to 162 in 2005.
Higher numbers of fatalities were observed for both younger workers (19 years of age
and younger) and older workers (55 years of age and older). The number of fatalities
among younger workers was up 18 percent (166 fatalities, up from 141 in 2004). Fatal work
injuries among workers 55 years of age or older rose to 1,499-a series high for this
population-though the fatality rate for older workers was lower.
Fatal work injuries among self-employed workers were down 4 percent from 2004
to 1,134 cases-the second lowest annual count ever reported by the fatality census.
Profile of fatal work injuries by State
Twenty-six States reported lower numbers of fatal work injuries in 2005 than in 2004,
22 States and the District of Columbia reported higher numbers, and two States were
unchanged. Four States reported increases of at least 20 percent (Mississippi, Montana,
New Hampshire, and Wisconsin), while five States reported decreases of at least
20 percent (Alaska, Hawaii, Nebraska, New Mexico, and West Virginia).
A total of 29 work-related fatalities were attributable to hurricanes and their
aftermath in 2005. Hurricane-related fatalities were concentrated in three
States-Mississippi(10 fatalities), Louisiana (8 fatalities), and Florida (8 fatalities).
Virtually all of the hurricane-related cases in Mississippi and Louisiana were attributed
to Hurricane Katrina, while about half of fatal work injuries attributed to hurricanes
in Florida were associated with Hurricane Wilma. Of the 29 cases identified by the
fatality census, 9 involved workers who were struck by objects, 8 involved transportation-
related incidents, and 5 resulted from falls.
While all data from the fatality census are subject to revision, data on work-related
fatalities attributable to hurricanes were especially difficult to collect and verify,
and therefore may be subject to a larger than normal revision. The census attempted to
identify all fatal work injuries that were both hurricane- and work-related. This
included fatalities to public safety, rescue, and repair workers, among others
(including volunteers), as well as fatalities during the immediate time period of the
storms and those occurring months later. While most of the hurricane-related fatalities
occurred in the States most immediately affected, the census identified and included
fatalities in other locations as well, such as transportation-related fatalities
involving rescue workers. The BLS is grateful to all those who helped compile these
data under difficult conditions and circumstances.
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
2005 data, over 20,000 unique source documents were reviewed as part of the data
collection process.
This is the 14th 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 2004 are
available from BLS by calling (202) 691-6170 or by accessing the website listed below.
Incidence rates for 2005 by industry will be published in October 2006, and information
on 2005 worker and case characteristics will be available November 2006.
For additional data, access the BLS Internet site: http://www.bls.gov/iif/.
Table 1. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, 2000-2005
______________________________________________________________________
|
| Fatalities
_______________________________________
|
| | |
Event or exposure(1) | | 2004(2) | 2005
_____________________________
|2000-2004| | |
| average | | |
| | Number | Number | Percent
______________________________________________________________________
| | | |
Total.......................| 5,742 | 5,764 | 5,702 | 100
| | | |
Transportation incidents......| 2,467 | 2,490 | 2,480 | 43
Highway.....................| 1,380 | 1,398 | 1,428 | 25
Collision between | | | |
vehicles, mobile | | | |
equipment................| 682 | 702 | 716 | 13
Moving in same | | | |
direction..............| 143 | 147 | 175 | 3
Moving in opposite | | | |
directions, oncoming...| 249 | 276 | 263 | 5
Moving in | | | |
intersection...........| 141 | 145 | 133 | 2
Vehicle struck stationary | | | |
object or equipment in | | | |
roadway..................| 26 | 27 | 27 | (3)
Vehicle struck stationary | | | |
object, equipment on side| | | |
of road..................| 292 | 316 | 342 | 6
Noncollision..............| 342 | 323 | 314 | 6
Jack-knifed or | | | |
overturned-no | | | |
collision..............| 281 | 262 | 272 | 5
Nonhighway (farm, industrial| | | |
premises)..................| 347 | 338 | 340 | 6
Overturned..............| 181 | 184 | 183 | 3
Worker struck by a | | | |
vehicle....................| 365 | 378 | 390 | 7
Rail vehicle................| 58 | 50 | 84 | 1
Water vehicle...............| 81 | 91 | 86 | 2
Aircraft....................| 233 | 231 | 147 | 3
| | | |
Assaults and violent acts.....| 878 | 809 | 787 | 14
Homicides...................| 624 | 559 | 564 | 10
Shooting..................| 484 | 421 | 439 | 8
Stabbing..................| 62 | 68 | 60 | 1
Self-inflicted injuries.....| 215 | 206 | 177 | 3
Contact with objects and | | | |
equipment....................| 952 | 1,009 | 1,001 | 18
Struck by object............| 552 | 602 | 604 | 11
Struck by falling | | | |
object...................| 340 | 373 | 383 | 7
Struck by flying object...| 52 | 42 | 52 | 1
Caught in or compressed by | | | |
equipment or objects.......| 260 | 269 | 277 | 5
Caught in running | | | |
equipment or machinery...| 135 | 141 | 121 | 2
Caught in or crushed in | | | |
collapsing materials.......| 121 | 117 | 109 | 2
| | | |
Falls.........................| 756 | 822 | 767 | 13
Fall to lower level.........| 668 | 738 | 662 | 12
Fall from ladder..........| 122 | 135 | 129 | 2
Fall from roof............| 152 | 180 | 160 | 3
Fall from scaffold, | | | |
staging..................| 88 | 90 | 82 | 1
Fall on same level..........| 67 | 61 | 83 | 1
| | | |
Exposure to harmful substances| | | |
or environments..............| 494 | 464 | 496 | 9
Contact with electric | | | |
current....................| 266 | 254 | 250 | 4
Contact with overhead | | | |
power lines..............| 121 | 124 | 110 | 2
Contact with temperature | | | |
extremes...................| 39 | 27 | 55 | 1
Exposure to caustic, | | | |
noxious, or allergenic | | | |
substances.................| 107 | 116 | 132 | 2
Inhalation of substance...| 53 | 52 | 65 | 1
Oxygen deficiency...........| 81 | 65 | 59 | 1
Drowning, submersion......| 59 | 51 | 48 | 1
| | | |
Fires and explosions..........| 177 | 159 | 158 | 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 August 25, 2005, reported a total of
5,703 fatal work injuries for calendar year 2004. Since then, an
additional 61 job-related fatalities were identified, bringing the
total job-related fatality count for 2004 to 5,764.
3 Less than or equal to 0.5 percent.
NOTE: Totals for 2005 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, 2005
__________________________________________________________________________________________
| |
| Fatalities | Selected event or exposure(2)
| | (percent of total for industry)
___________________________________________________________
Industry(1) | |
| | | | | |
| Number | Percent | Highway |Homicides| Falls |Struck by
| | | (3) | | | object
__________________________________________________________________________________________
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Total.....................| 5,702 | 100 | 25 | 10 | 13 | 11
| | | | | |
Private industry.............| 5,188 | 91 | 24 | 9 | 14 | 11
| | | | | |
Goods producing.............| 2,452 | 43 | 13 | 2 | 20 | 15
| | | | | |
Natural resources and | | | | | |
mining....................| 873 | 15 | 15 | 1 | 5 | 21
Agriculture, forestry, | | | | | |
fishing and hunting......| 714 | 13 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 21
Crop production.........| 352 | 6 | 13 | - | 5 | 17
Animal production.......| 155 | 3 | 15 | 3 | 6 | 14
Forestry and logging....| 98 | 2 | 12 | - | - | 67
Fishing, hunting and | | | | | |
trapping...............| 47 | 1 | - | - | - | -
Agriculture and forestry| | | | | |
support activities.....| 58 | 1 | 17 | - | 5 | 7
Mining(4).................| 159 | 3 | 22 | 3 | 7 | 18
Oil and gas | | | | | |
extraction.............| 17 | (5) | 24 | - | - | -
Mining, except oil and | | | | | |
gas....................| 57 | 1 | 14 | - | - | 12
Support activities for | | | | | |
mining.................| 85 | 1 | 27 | - | 11 | 22
Construction...............| 1,186 | 21 | 13 | 2 | 33 | 11
Construction..............| 1,186 | 21 | 13 | 2 | 33 | 11
Construction of | | | | | |
buildings..............| 224 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 57 | 12
Heavy and civil | | | | | |
engineering | | | | | |
construction...........| 242 | 4 | 18 | - | 5 | 11
Specialty trade | | | | | |
contractors............| 675 | 12 | 13 | 1 | 35 | 11
Manufacturing..............| 393 | 7 | 13 | 5 | 12 | 17
Manufacturing.............| 393 | 7 | 13 | 5 | 12 | 17
Food manufacturing......| 46 | 1 | 20 | 9 | 13 | 7
Wood product | | | | | |
manufacturing..........| 37 | 1 | - | - | 14 | 24
Paper manufacturing.....| 11 | (5) | - | - | - | -
Chemical | | | | | |
manufacturing..........| 22 | (5) | - | - | - | -
Plastics and rubber | | | | | |
products | | | | | |
manufacturing..........| 24 | (5) | - | - | 17 | 21
Nonmetallic mineral | | | | | |
product | | | | | |
manufacturing..........| 59 | 1 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 27
Primary metal | | | | | |
manufacturing..........| 23 | (5) | - | - | - | 22
Fabricated metal product| | | | | |
manufacturing..........| 43 | 1 | 19 | - | 19 | 26
Machinery | | | | | |
manufacturing..........| 20 | (5) | 15 | - | - | 35
Transportation equipment| | | | | |
manufacturing..........| 37 | 1 | - | - | 14 | 19
| | | | | |
Service providing...........| 2,736 | 48 | 34 | 16 | 9 | 7
| | | | | |
Trade, transportation, and | | | | | |
utilities.................| 1,512 | 27 | 45 | 15 | 6 | 7
Wholesale trade...........| 204 | 4 | 44 | 2 | 8 | 13
Merchant wholesalers, | | | | | |
durable goods..........| 105 | 2 | 32 | 3 | 8 | 17
Merchant wholesalers, | | | | | |
nondurable goods.......| 92 | 2 | 57 | - | 9 | 9
Retail trade..............| 397 | 7 | 21 | 46 | 9 | 5
Motor vehicle and parts | | | | | |
dealers................| 72 | 1 | 36 | 25 | 7 | 8
Building material and | | | | | |
garden supply stores...| 47 | 1 | 38 | 11 | 11 | 17
Food and beverage | | | | | |
stores.................| 105 | 2 | 10 | 72 | 8 | -
Gasoline stations.......| 58 | 1 | 9 | 71 | - | -
General merchandise | | | | | |
stores.................| 19 | (5) | - | 37 | 26 | -
Miscellaneous store | | | | | |
retailers..............| 29 | 1 | 24 | 24 | 17 | -
Nonstore retailers......| 22 | (5) | 55 | - | 18 | -
Transportation and | | | | | |
warehousing..............| 881 | 15 | 56 | 5 | 4 | 6
Air transportation......| 29 | 1 | - | - | - | -
Rail transportation.....| 23 | (5) | 13 | - | - | -
Water transportation....| 23 | (5) | - | - | - | -
Truck transportation....| 585 | 10 | 70 | 1 | 4 | 6
Transit and ground | | | | | |
passenger | | | | | |
transportation.........| 68 | 1 | 43 | 40 | - | 6
Support activities for | | | | | |
transportation.........| 79 | 1 | 18 | 8 | - | 14
Couriers and | | | | | |
messengers.............| 34 | 1 | 85 | - | - | -
Warehousing and | | | | | |
storage................| 27 | (5) | - | - | 15 | -
Utilities.................| 30 | 1 | 23 | - | 23 | -
Information................| 67 | 1 | 54 | 12 | 7 | -
Information...............| 67 | 1 | 54 | 12 | 7 | -
Publishing industries, | | | | | |
except Internet........| 39 | 1 | 74 | 10 | - | -
Financial activities.......| 98 | 2 | 24 | 22 | 18 | 3
Finance and insurance.....| 42 | 1 | 26 | 26 | 7 | -
Credit intermediation | | | | | |
and related | | | | | |
activities.............| 23 | (5) | 22 | 48 | - | -
Real estate and rental and| | | | | |
leasing..................| 56 | 1 | 23 | 20 | 27 | -
Real estate.............| 36 | 1 | 11 | 25 | 33 | -
Rental and leasing | | | | | |
services...............| 19 | (5) | 47 | - | - | -
Professional and business | | | | | |
services..................| 481 | 8 | 21 | 5 | 15 | 10
Professional and technical| | | | | |
services.................| 82 | 1 | 23 | 9 | 12 | -
Professional and | | | | | |
technical services.....| 82 | 1 | 23 | 9 | 12 | -
Administrative and waste | | | | | |
services.................| 398 | 7 | 20 | 5 | 16 | 12
Administrative and | | | | | |
support services.......| 319 | 6 | 18 | 6 | 18 | 12
Waste management and | | | | | |
remediation services...| 79 | 1 | 32 | - | 6 | 10
Educational and health | | | | | |
services..................| 149 | 3 | 26 | 9 | 11 | -
Educational services......| 45 | 1 | 13 | 7 | 11 | -
Educational services....| 45 | 1 | 13 | 7 | 11 | -
Health care and social | | | | | |
assistance...............| 104 | 2 | 31 | 11 | 11 | -
Ambulatory health care | | | | | |
services...............| 50 | 1 | 36 | 10 | - | -
Hospitals...............| 19 | (5) | 16 | - | 16 | -
Nursing and residential | | | | | |
care facilities........| 13 | (5) | - | - | 23 | -
Social assistance.......| 21 | (5) | 43 | 14 | 14 | -
Leisure and hospitality....| 210 | 4 | 12 | 42 | 8 | 5
Arts, entertainment, and | | | | | |
recreation...............| 76 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 9 | 13
Performing arts and | | | | | |
spectator sports.......| 36 | 1 | - | - | 14 | 22
Amusements, gambling, | | | | | |
and recreation ........| 35 | 1 | 14 | 11 | - | -
Accommodation and food | | | | | |
services.................| 134 | 2 | 13 | 63 | 7 | -
Accommodation...........| 27 | (5) | - | 59 | 15 | -
Food services and | | | | | |
drinking places........| 107 | 2 | 15 | 64 | 6 | -
Other services, except | | | | | |
public administration.....| 208 | 4 | 16 | 20 | 11 | 13
Other services, except | | | | | |
public administration....| 208 | 4 | 16 | 20 | 11 | 13
Repair and | | | | | |
maintenance............| 113 | 2 | 12 | 9 | 5 | 22
Personal and laundry | | | | | |
services...............| 47 | 1 | 15 | 57 | 6 | -
Membership associations | | | | | |
and organizations......| 43 | 1 | 30 | - | 28 | -
| | | | | |
Government(6)................| 514 | 9 | 33 | 16 | 7 | 6
| | | | | |
Federal government..........| 103 | 2 | 30 | 3 | 9 | 5
Public administration.....| 66 | 1 | 23 | - | 6 | -
National security and | | | | | |
international | | | | | |
affairs................| 53 | 1 | 17 | - | - | -
State government............| 106 | 2 | 37 | 15 | 3 | 4
Public administration.....| 61 | 1 | 41 | 20 | - | 5
Justice, public order, | | | | | |
and safety | | | | | |
activities.............| 37 | 1 | 30 | 30 | - | 8
Local government............| 298 | 5 | 33 | 21 | 8 | 7
Public administration.....| 163 | 3 | 36 | 29 | 4 | 4
Justice, public order, | | | | | |
and safety | | | | | |
activities.............| 148 | 3 | 35 | 32 | 4 | 5
__________________________________________________________________________________________
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 Industry 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 2005 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 11 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, 2005
__________________________________________________________________________________________
| |
| Fatalities | Selected event or exposure(2)
| | (percent of total for occupation)
___________________________________________________________
Occupation(1) | |
| | | | | |
| Number | Percent | Highway |Homicides| Falls |Struck by
| | | (3) | | | object
__________________________________________________________________________________________
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Total.......................| 5,702 | 100 | 25 | 10 | 13 | 11
| | | | | |
Management occupations........| 567 | 10 | 15 | 7 | 9 | 13
Top executives..............| 30 | 1 | 37 | - | - | -
Advertising, marketing, | | | | | |
promotions, public | | | | | |
relations, and sales | | | | | |
managers...................| 7 | (4) | 57 | - | - | -
Operations specialties | | | | | |
managers...................| 34 | 1 | 15 | 15 | 12 | -
Other management | | | | | |
occupations................| 496 | 9 | 14 | 7 | 9 | 14
Business and financial | | | | | |
operations occupations.......| 36 | 1 | 33 | 8 | 19 | -
Business operations | | | | | |
specialists................| 23 | (4) | 30 | - | 17 | -
Financial specialists.......| 13 | (4) | 38 | - | 23 | -
Computer and mathematical | | | | | |
occupations..................| 6 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Computer specialists........| 6 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Architecture and engineering | | | | | |
occupations..................| 53 | 1 | 21 | 6 | 15 | 6
Architects, surveyors, and | | | | | |
cartographers..............| 9 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Engineers...................| 29 | 1 | 24 | - | 14 | -
Drafters, engineering, and | | | | | |
mapping technicians........| 15 | (4) | 20 | - | 27 | -
Life, physical, and social | | | | | |
science occupations..........| 17 | (4) | 41 | 18 | - | -
Life scientists.............| 4 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Physical scientists.........| 4 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Social scientists and | | | | | |
related workers............| 3 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Life, physical, and social | | | | | |
science technicians........| 6 | (4) | 50 | - | - | -
Community and social services | | | | | |
occupations..................| 25 | (4) | 36 | 16 | 12 | -
Counselors, social workers, | | | | | |
and other community and | | | | | |
social service | | | | | |
specialists................| 14 | (4) | 29 | 21 | - | -
Religious workers...........| 11 | (4) | 45 | - | - | -
Legal occupations.............| 17 | (4) | 41 | 29 | - | -
Lawyers, judges, and related| | | | | |
workers....................| 15 | (4) | 40 | 27 | - | -
Education, training, and | | | | | |
library occupations..........| 25 | (4) | 24 | 20 | 12 | -
Postsecondary teachers......| 11 | (4) | 27 | - | - | -
Primary, secondary, and | | | | | |
special education school | | | | | |
teachers...................| 6 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Other teachers and | | | | | |
instructors................| 3 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Librarians, curators, and | | | | | |
archivists.................| 3 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Arts, design, entertainment, | | | | | |
sports, and media | | | | | |
occupations..................| 52 | 1 | 17 | 10 | 21 | 10
Art and design workers......| 10 | (4) | - | - | 30 | -
Entertainers and performers,| | | | | |
sports and related | | | | | |
workers....................| 29 | 1 | 14 | - | 21 | 17
Media and communication | | | | | |
workers....................| 4 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Media and communication | | | | | |
equipment workers..........| 9 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Healthcare practitioners and | | | | | |
technical occupations........| 42 | 1 | 26 | 12 | - | -
Health diagnosing and | | | | | |
treating practitioners.....| 23 | (4) | 22 | 13 | - | -
Health technologists and | | | | | |
technicians................| 19 | (4) | 32 | - | - | -
Healthcare support | | | | | |
occupations..................| 18 | (4) | 39 | 22 | - | -
Nursing, psychiatric, and | | | | | |
home health aides..........| 17 | (4) | 41 | 18 | - | -
Protective service | | | | | |
occupations..................| 256 | 4 | 29 | 35 | 5 | 5
First-line supervisors | | | | | |
managers, protective | | | | | |
service workers............| 15 | (4) | 47 | - | - | -
Fire fighting and prevention| | | | | |
workers....................| 28 | (4) | 43 | - | - | 14
Law enforcement workers.....| 141 | 2 | 32 | 40 | 4 | 4
Other protective service | | | | | |
workers....................| 72 | 1 | 15 | 43 | 7 | 6
Food preparation and serving | | | | | |
related occupations..........| 58 | 1 | 5 | 62 | 12 | -
Supervisors, food | | | | | |
preparation and serving | | | | | |
workers....................| 26 | (4) | - | 65 | - | -
Cooks and food preparation | | | | | |
workers....................| 15 | (4) | - | 53 | 20 | -
Food and beverage serving | | | | | |
workers....................| 13 | (4) | - | 77 | - | -
Other food preparation and | | | | | |
serving related workers....| 4 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Building and grounds cleaning | | | | | |
and maintenance | | | | | |
occupations..................| 264 | 5 | 12 | 4 | 23 | 12
Supervisors, building and | | | | | |
grounds cleaning and | | | | | |
maintenance workers........| 36 | 1 | 25 | - | 31 | 11
Building cleaning and pest | | | | | |
control workers............| 58 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 36 | -
Grounds maintenance | | | | | |
workers....................| 170 | 3 | 10 | 2 | 17 | 17
Personal care and service | | | | | |
occupations..................| 61 | 1 | 13 | 33 | 7 | 7
Supervisors, personal care | | | | | |
and service workers........| 6 | (4) | - | 67 | - | -
Animal care and service | | | | | |
workers....................| 5 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Entertainment attendants and| | | | | |
related workers............| 7 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Personal appearance | | | | | |
workers....................| 11 | (4) | - | 100 | - | -
Transportation, tourism, and| | | | | |
lodging attendants.........| 12 | (4) | 25 | - | - | -
Other personal care and | | | | | |
service workers............| 19 | (4) | 21 | 26 | - | -
Sales and related | | | | | |
occupations..................| 320 | 6 | 22 | 54 | 6 | 3
Supervisors, sales | | | | | |
workers....................| 132 | 2 | 14 | 58 | 5 | 5
Retail sales workers........| 112 | 2 | 6 | 75 | 8 | 4
Sales representatives, | | | | | |
services...................| 17 | (4) | 59 | - | - | -
Sales representatives, | | | | | |
wholesale and | | | | | |
manufacturing..............| 26 | (4) | 85 | - | - | -
Other sales and related | | | | | |
workers....................| 33 | 1 | 42 | 33 | - | -
Office and administrative | | | | | |
support occupations..........| 106 | 2 | 26 | 28 | 13 | 4
Supervisors, office and | | | | | |
administrative support | | | | | |
workers....................| 8 | (4) | - | 62 | - | -
Financial clerks............| 7 | (4) | - | 57 | - | -
Information and record | | | | | |
clerks.....................| 22 | (4) | 14 | 41 | 18 | -
Material recording, | | | | | |
scheduling, dispatching, | | | | | |
and distributing workers...| 54 | 1 | 41 | 17 | 11 | 6
Secretaries and | | | | | |
administrative | | | | | |
assistants.................| 9 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Other office and | | | | | |
administrative support | | | | | |
workers....................| 6 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Farming, fishing, and forestry| | | | | |
occupations..................| 324 | 6 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 25
Supervisors, farming, | | | | | |
fishing, and forestry | | | | | |
workers....................| 12 | (4) | 25 | - | - | 33
Agricultural workers........| 178 | 3 | 17 | 2 | 6 | 8
Fishing and hunting | | | | | |
workers....................| 48 | 1 | - | - | - | -
Forest, conservation, and | | | | | |
logging workers............| 86 | 2 | 5 | - | - | 74
Construction and extraction | | | | | |
occupations..................| 1,180 | 21 | 11 | 2 | 33 | 12
Supervisors, construction | | | | | |
and extraction workers.....| 122 | 2 | 15 | 5 | 20 | 11
Construction trades | | | | | |
workers....................| 890 | 16 | 9 | 1 | 38 | 11
Helpers, construction | | | | | |
trades.....................| 23 | (4) | 13 | - | 35 | -
Other construction and | | | | | |
related workers............| 64 | 1 | 20 | 5 | 11 | -
Extraction workers..........| 81 | 1 | 14 | - | 14 | 21
Installation, maintenance, and| | | | | |
repair occupations...........| 396 | 7 | 17 | 3 | 13 | 16
Supervisors of installation,| | | | | |
maintenance, and repair | | | | | |
workers....................| 19 | (4) | 16 | - | 16 | -
Electrical and electronic | | | | | |
equipment mechanics, | | | | | |
installers, and | | | | | |
repairers..................| 17 | (4) | 24 | - | 29 | -
Vehicle and mobile equipment| | | | | |
mechanics, installers, and | | | | | |
repairers..................| 138 | 2 | 17 | 2 | 5 | 29
Other installation, | | | | | |
maintenance, and repair | | | | | |
occupations................| 222 | 4 | 17 | 3 | 17 | 9
Production occupations........| 274 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 21
Supervisors, production | | | | | |
workers....................| 39 | 1 | 8 | 18 | - | 21
Assemblers and | | | | | |
fabricators................| 26 | (4) | - | - | 15 | 31
Food processing workers.....| 9 | (4) | - | 33 | - | -
Metal workers and plastic | | | | | |
workers....................| 84 | 1 | 6 | - | 19 | 26
Printing workers............| 8 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Textile, apparel, and | | | | | |
furnishings workers........| 5 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Woodworkers.................| 7 | (4) | - | - | - | 71
Plant and system | | | | | |
operators..................| 15 | (4) | 33 | - | - | -
Other production | | | | | |
occupations................| 81 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 11 | 15
Transportation and material | | | | | |
moving occupations...........| 1,543 | 27 | 50 | 4 | 4 | 7
Supervisors, transportation | | | | | |
and material moving | | | | | |
workers....................| 23 | (4) | 13 | 13 | - | 13
Air transportation | | | | | |
workers....................| 81 | 1 | - | - | - | -
Motor vehicle operators.....| 1,095 | 19 | 67 | 5 | 3 | 6
Rail transportation | | | | | |
workers....................| 23 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Water transportation | | | | | |
workers....................| 35 | 1 | - | - | - | -
Other transportation | | | | | |
workers....................| 15 | (4) | - | 27 | - | -
Material moving workers.....| 271 | 5 | 15 | 2 | 10 | 17
Military occupations..........| 47 | 1 | 17 | - | - | -
__________________________________________________________________________________________
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 2005 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 15 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, 2005
_________________________________________________________________________________________
| |
| | Selected event or exposure(1)
| Fatalities | (percent of total for characteristic
| | category)
___________________________________________________________
Characteristic | |
| | | | | |
| Number | Percent | Highway |Homicides| Falls |Struck by
| | | (2) | | | object
__________________________________________________________________________________________
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Total.......................| 5,702 | 100 | 25 | 10 | 13 | 11
| | | | | |
Employee status | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Wage and salary(3)............| 4,568 | 80 | 28 | 9 | 14 | 10
Self-employed(4)..............| 1,134 | 20 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 15
| | | | | |
Sex | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Men...........................| 5,300 | 93 | 24 | 9 | 14 | 11
Women.........................| 402 | 7 | 33 | 24 | 9 | 4
| | | | | |
Age(5) | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Under 16 years................| 24 | (6) | - | - | - | 12
16-17 years...................| 30 | 1 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 20
18-19 years...................| 112 | 2 | 21 | 10 | 16 | 11
20-24 years...................| 403 | 7 | 26 | 10 | 10 | 9
25-34 years...................| 1,005 | 18 | 24 | 12 | 11 | 10
35-44 years...................| 1,239 | 22 | 26 | 12 | 12 | 11
45-54 years...................| 1,383 | 24 | 26 | 9 | 14 | 10
55-64 years...................| 924 | 16 | 28 | 8 | 16 | 10
65 years and older............| 575 | 10 | 20 | 6 | 17 | 15
| | | | | |
Race or ethnic origin(7) | | | | | |
| | | | | |
White.........................| 3,940 | 69 | 26 | 7 | 13 | 11
Black or African-American.....| 577 | 10 | 29 | 20 | 8 | 8
Hispanic or Latino............| 917 | 16 | 19 | 10 | 20 | 12
American Indian or Alaska | | | | | |
Native.......................| 49 | 1 | 31 | - | 8 | 10
Asian.........................| 153 | 3 | 12 | 46 | 9 | 6
Native Hawaiian or Pacific | | | | | |
Islander.....................| 9 | (6) | - | - | - | -
Other or not reported.........| 55 | 1 | 15 | 25 | 11 | 7
__________________________________________________________________________________________
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 7 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 2005 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, 2004-2005
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
| |
|Total fatalities(1)| Event or exposure(4)
| | 2005
______________________________________________________________________________
| |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Exposure|
State of injury | | | | | Contact | | to |
| | |Transpor-| Assaults| with | | harmful |Fires and
| 2004(2) | 2005(3) | tation | and | objects | Falls | sub- | explo-
|(revised)| | inci-- | violent | and | | stances | sions
| | | dents(5)| acts(6) |equipment| | or |
| | | | | | | environ-|
| | | | | | | ments |
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Total..................| 5,764 | 5,702 | 2,480 | 787 | 1,001 | 767 | 496 | 158
Alabama..................| 133 | 128 | 55 | 19 | 23 | 21 | 8 | -
Alaska...................| 42 | 29 | 21 | - | - | 3 | - | -
Arizona..................| 84 | 99 | 42 | 16 | 17 | 9 | 11 | -
Arkansas.................| 70 | 80 | 53 | 5 | 9 | 8 | - | -
California...............| 467 | 453 | 165 | 87 | 76 | 59 | 51 | 14
Colorado.................| 117 | 125 | 76 | 8 | 17 | 9 | 11 | 3
Connecticut..............| 54 | 46 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 8 | - | -
Delaware.................| 10 | 10 | - | - | - | 3 | - | -
District of Columbia.....| 11 | 12 | - | 4 | - | 4 | - | -
Florida..................| 422 | 404 | 186 | 47 | 39 | 72 | 50 | 8
Georgia..................| 232 | 200 | 81 | 32 | 31 | 39 | 13 | 3
Hawaii...................| 25 | 15 | 6 | - | - | 3 | 4 | -
Idaho....................| 38 | 35 | 15 | - | 12 | 5 | - | -
Illinois.................| 208 | 194 | 74 | 30 | 34 | 24 | 26 | 6
Indiana..................| 153 | 157 | 72 | 15 | 25 | 23 | 14 | 8
Iowa.....................| 82 | 88 | 44 | 3 | 26 | 8 | - | 4
Kansas...................| 80 | 81 | 40 | 12 | 16 | 4 | 5 | -
Kentucky.................| 143 | 122 | 54 | 16 | 30 | 16 | 5 | -
Louisiana................| 121 | 106 | 53 | 11 | 18 | 10 | 13 | -
Maine....................| 16 | 15 | 5 | - | 5 | 3 | - | -
Maryland.................| 81 | 95 | 31 | 23 | 16 | 19 | 4 | -
Massachusetts............| 72 | 75 | 23 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 7 | 4
Michigan.................| 127 | 110 | 40 | 16 | 20 | 19 | 10 | 5
Minnesota................| 80 | 87 | 34 | 12 | 26 | 11 | 3 | -
Mississippi..............| 88 | 111 | 49 | 19 | 20 | 17 | 6 | -
Missouri.................| 165 | 183 | 91 | 20 | 42 | 12 | 12 | 6
Montana..................| 39 | 50 | 19 | 8 | 14 | 7 | - | -
Nebraska.................| 46 | 36 | 18 | 4 | 10 | 3 | - | -
Nevada...................| 61 | 57 | 26 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 6 | -
New Hampshire............| 15 | 18 | 9 | - | 5 | 3 | - | -
New Jersey...............| 129 | 111 | 51 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 6 | 5
New Mexico...............| 57 | 44 | 23 | 9 | 4 | 4 | - | -
New York (including | | | | | | | |
N.Y.C.).................| 254 | 239 | 87 | 49 | 40 | 33 | 23 | 7
New York City..........| 107 | 88 | 18 | 29 | 11 | 17 | 9 | 4
North Carolina...........| 183 | 165 | 62 | 22 | 31 | 30 | 15 | 5
North Dakota.............| 24 | 22 | 9 | - | 5 | 5 | 3 | -
Ohio.....................| 202 | 168 | 71 | 23 | 34 | 18 | 18 | 4
Oklahoma.................| 91 | 95 | 57 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 4
Oregon...................| 60 | 65 | 31 | 5 | 15 | 11 | - | -
Pennsylvania.............| 230 | 223 | 107 | 41 | 30 | 33 | 10 | -
Rhode Island.............| 7 | 6 | - | - | - | - | - | -
South Carolina...........| 113 | 133 | 61 | 18 | 21 | 13 | 17 | -
South Dakota.............| 24 | 28 | 16 | - | 7 | 3 | - | -
Tennessee................| 145 | 139 | 70 | 18 | 29 | 14 | 5 | 3
Texas....................| 440 | 495 | 200 | 67 | 80 | 54 | 63 | 31
Utah.....................| 50 | 54 | 29 | - | 12 | 5 | 4 | -
Vermont..................| 7 | 7 | - | - | 4 | - | - | -
Virginia.................| 171 | 186 | 69 | 22 | 35 | 33 | 21 | 6
Washington...............| 98 | 83 | 40 | 6 | 20 | 8 | 8 | -
West Virginia............| 58 | 46 | 23 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 7 | -
Wisconsin................| 94 | 125 | 48 | 20 | 22 | 25 | 6 | 3
Wyoming..................| 43 | 46 | 25 | 3 | 11 | - | - | -
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1 State totals include other events and exposures, such as bodily reaction, in addition to those shown
separately.
2 The BLS news release issued August 25, 2005, reported a total of 5,703 fatal work injuries for
calendar year 2004. Since then, an additional 61 job-related fatalities were identified, bringing the
total job-related fatality count for 2004 to 5,764. Includes 2 fatalities that occurred within the
territorial boundaries of the United States, but a State of incident could not be determined.
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, 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 2005 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) 558-0500
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. 280
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) 284-5568
Mississippi Department of Health (601) 576-7816
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 Div. of Vital Records Administration (603) 271-4647
New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (609) 292-9553
New Mexico Occupational Health and Safety Bureau (505) 476-8740
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) 947-7991
Pennsylvania Department of Health (717) 783-0295 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 Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' (512) 804-4599
Compensation
Utah 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 normal commute to or from work are excluded from the census counts.)
Data presented in this release include deaths occurring in 2005 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 2005, there were 73 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 21 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 seven months 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 fewer than 22 fatalities per year or less than 0.5 percent of the
revised total. The BLS news release issued August 25, 2005, reported a total of 5,703
fatal work injuries for 2004. Since then, an additional 61 fatal work injuries were
identified, bringing the total for 2004 to 5,764. Revised counts for 2005 will be
available in April 2007.
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.