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Technical information: (202) 691-6170 USDL 07-1202
Media information: (202) 691-5902 FOR RELEASE: 10 a.m. EDT
Internet address: http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm Thursday, August 9, 2007
NATIONAL CENSUS OF FATAL OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES IN 2006
There were 5,703 fatal work injuries in the United States in 2006, down slightly
from the revised total of 5,734 fatalities in 2005. The rate of fatal work injuries in
2006 was 3.9 per 100,000 workers, down from a rate of 4.0 per 100,000 in 2005. The
numbers reported in this release are preliminary and will be updated in April 2008.
Key findings of the 2006 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries:
- The overall fatal work injury rate for the U.S. in 2006 was lower than the rate
for any year since the fatality census was first conducted in 1992.
- Coal mining industry fatalities more than doubled in 2006, due to the Sago Mine
disaster and other multiple-fatality coal mining incidents.
- The number of workplace homicides in 2006 was a series low and reflected a
decline of over 50 percent from the high reported in 1994.
- Fatalities among workers under 25 years of age fell 9 percent, and the rate of
fatal injury among these workers was down significantly.
- The 937 fatal work injuries involving Hispanic or Latino workers in 2006 was
a series high, but the overall fatality rate for Hispanic or Latino workers
was lower than in 2005.
- Fatalities among self-employed workers declined 11 percent and reached a
series low in 2006.
- Aircraft-related fatalities were up 44 percent, led by a number of
multiple-fatality events including the August 2006 Comair crash.
Profile of 2006 fatal work injuries by type of incident
While fatal highway incidents remained the most frequent type of fatal
work-related event, accounting for nearly one out of four fatal work injuries, the
number of highway incidents fell 8 percent in 2006. The 1,329 fatal highway
incidents in 2006 was the lowest annual total since 1993. Nonhighway incidents
(such as those that might occur on a farm or industrial premises) remained at about
the same level in 2006. Work-related pedestrian fatalities were lower.
Aircraft related fatalities increased sharply in 2006 after declining
in 2005. The 215 fatalities involving aircraft in 2006 represented a 44 percent
increase over the 149 in 2005. Overall, there were 44 multiple-fatality aircraft
incidents claiming 137 workers in 2006, including one (the August 2006 Comair crash)
that resulted in 23 fatalities. The annual number of aircraft fatalities tends to be
volatile and has ranged from a high of 426 fatalities in 1994 to a low of 149
in 2005.
Fatal work injuries involving falls increased 5 percent in 2006 after a
sharp decrease in 2005. The 809 fatal falls in 2006 was the third highest total
since 1992, when the fatality census began. Fatal falls from roofs increased
from 160 fatalities in 2005 to 184 in 2006, a rise of 15 percent.
Workplace homicides decreased 9 percent to 516 in 2006, the lowest annual
total ever reported by the fatality census. Overall, workplace homicides have
decreased more than 50 percent from the series high in 1994.
The number of workers who were fatally injured from being struck by
objects was lower in 2006, after increasing for the last three years. The 583
fatalities resulting from being struck by objects in 2006 represented a 4 percent
decline from the 2005 total.
Fatalities involving fires and explosions increased by 26 percent in 2006,
rising from 159 in 2005 to 201 in 2006. Fatalities resulting from exposure to
harmful substances or environments were also higher in 2006, led by a 12 percent
increase in exposure to caustic, noxious, or allergenic substances (from 136
in 2005 to 153 in 2006).
Profile of fatal work injuries by demographic characteristics
Fatal work injuries involving female workers increased 5 percent in 2006
after declining the past two years. Despite the increase, the 428 fatal work
injuries involving female workers was the third lowest annual total for female
workers in the 15 years of the fatality census. The number and rate of fatal
injury among male workers were both lower in 2006.
The 937 fatal work injuries among Hispanic or Latino workers in 2006 was
up from the 923 fatal work injuries in 2005 and represented the largest annual
total since the fatality census began in 1992. Due to increased employment,
however, the fatality rate for Hispanic or Latino workers was lower (4.7
fatalities per 100,000 workers in 2006 versus 4.9 per 100,000 in 2005).
Among foreign-born Hispanic or Latino workers, fatalities decreased slightly
after reaching a series high in 2005. Fatalities among White workers,
Black or African-American workers, and Asian, Native Hawaiian,
or Pacific Islander workers were all lower.
The number of fatal work injuries among workers younger than 25 years of
age decreased 9 percent (516 in 2006 versus 568 in 2005). Fatality rates were
also lower, especially for workers 16 to 17 years of age, whose fatality rates
declined 40 percent. Fatal work injuries among workers 55 years of age or older
were slightly higher in 2006, but the fatality rate for this group of workers was
lower, reflecting the growing number of older workers in the workforce.
Fatalities among self-employed workers were down for the second straight
year and represented the lowest annual total in the history of the fatality
census. The rate of fatal injury among self-employed workers fell to 9.4
fatalities per 100,000 workers, down from 10.7 per 100,000 in 2005. Fatalities
among wage and salary workers rose 2 percent in 2006, but the rate of fatal
injury for wage and salary workers was unchanged from 2005.
Profiles of fatal injuries by industry
Of the 5,703 fatal work injuries in 2006, 5,202 occurred in private
industry. Service-providing industries in the private sector accounted for
47 percent (2,693 fatalities), while private goods-producing industries
accounted for 44 percent (2,509 fatalities). Government workers accounted
for 9 percent (501) of fatalities in 2006. The fatality rate for
goods-producing industries was unchanged in 2006, while the fatality rate
for service-providing industries and for government were both lower in 2006.
Construction accounted for 1,226 fatal work injuries, the most of
any industry sector. The total for construction represented an increase
of 3 percent over the 2005 total. Fatalities among specialty trade
contractors rose 6 percent (from 677 fatalities in 2005 to 721 in 2006),
due primarily to higher numbers of fatal work injuries among building
finishing contractors and roofing contractors. Fatalities in building
construction and in heavy and civil engineering construction
decreased in 2006.
Transportation and warehousing fatalities decreased from 885
in 2005 to 832 in 2006, a 6 percent decline. The decrease was due in large
part to a sharp decline in fatal injuries in general freight trucking.
Rail and water transportation fatalities were also lower, but air
transportation fatalities rose sharply.
Mining fatalities increased 19 percent in 2006. Fatal work
injuries in coal mining more than doubled in 2006 due in part to the
Sago mine disaster and other mining incidents. A total of
47 coal mining fatalities were recorded in 2006, up from 22 in 2005,
due in part to 4 multiple-fatality incidents in coal mining in 2006,
claiming a total of 21 workers. The fatality rate for coal mining
jumped 84 percent in 2006 to 49.5 fatalities per 100,000 workers, up from
26.8 in 2005. Oil and gas extraction fatalities were also higher in 2006.
Fatalities in the agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting
sector decreased 10 percent in 2006, and the rate of fatal injury dropped
from 32.5 per 100,000 in 2005 to 29.6 per 100,000 in 2006.
Crop production, which reported the highest number of fatalities in
agriculture, had 14 percent fewer fatal work injuries in 2006 than in 2005.
The rate of fatal injury in crop production fell from 38.2 in 2005 to
33.0 in 2006.
Manufacturing fatalities were up 14 percent in 2006. The fatality
rate in manufacturing rose from 2.4 fatalities per 100,000 manufacturing
workers in 2005 to 2.7 per 100,000 in 2006, an increase of 13 percent.
Fatalities in wholesale trade also increased, while fatalities in
retail trade decreased 12 percent. The decline in retail trade fatalities
was led by a drop of close to 25 percent in both the rate and number of
fatalities in the food and beverage stores industry. Homicides in retail
trade decreased 25 percent in 2006 (from 184 in 2005 to 138 in 2006).
The number of fatal injuries in professional and business services
decreased 7 percent in 2006, and the rate of fatal injury was also lower.
However, the number and rate of fatal injury in both educational and health
services and in leisure and hospitality services were higher.
Overall, fatal work injuries decreased 4 percent among government
workers. The rate of fatal injury was lower for local government workers
in 2006, but higher for federal government workers. The rate for State
government remained about the same as in 2005.
Profile of fatal work injuries by occupation
Two occupational groups (construction and extraction occupations
and transportation and material moving occupations) together accounted for
nearly half of all fatal work injuries in 2006 (48 percent).
Construction and extraction worker fatalities rose 6 percent in 2006
(from 1,184 in 2005 to 1,258 in 2006), though the rate of 13.2 per 100,000 in
2006 was not significantly higher than the rate in 2005. Construction laborers
accounted for the highest number of fatal work injuries among construction and
extraction occupations, accounting for 360 fatal work injuries, up 5 percent
from 2005. Fatalities among electricians, roofers, painters, and drywall and
ceiling tile installers also rose. Fatalities decreased among carpenters,
construction trade helpers, and among plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters.
Transportation and material moving worker fatalities decreased 6 percent
in 2006, primarily as a result of a 7 percent decline in motor vehicle operator
fatalities (from 1,100 in 2005 to 1,021 in 2006). The overall fatality rate for
transportation and material moving occupations decreased 8 percent in 2006
to 16.5 per 100,000 workers. Fatalities among air transportation workers
rose by 22 percent in 2006, but fatalities decreased among rail transportation,
water transportation, and material moving workers.
Farming, fishing, and forestry worker fatalities decreased 11 percent
in 2006, from 325 in 2005 to 289 in 2006, though the fatality rate was not
significantly lower. Fatalities were lower among agricultural workers and among
forest conservation and logging workers, but slightly higher among fishing and
related fishing workers, such as captains and mates.
Fatalities in protective service occupations increased 6 percent in 2006,
led by a rise in fire fighter fatalities (from 28 fatalities in 2005 to 42
in 2006). There were fewer work-related fatalities among law enforcement workers
in 2006 as compared to 2005. Military fatalities (domestic only) were slightly
higher in 2006.
Profile of fatal work injuries by state
Twenty-seven States reported higher numbers of fatalities in 2006, and
23 States and the District of Columbia had lower totals. Texas recorded the
highest number of fatalities of any State (486), followed by California (448),
and Florida (355). Twelve States reported increases of 20 percent or more
(Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Nebraska, New Mexico,
North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia). Seven states (Alabama,
Iowa, New Hampshire, New Jersey, South Carolina, Wisconsin, and Wyoming) and the
District of Columbia recorded declines of 20 percent or more.
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 describe 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, news accounts, and reports to Federal and State agencies.
This method assures counts are as complete and accurate as possible. For the
2006 data, over 21,000 unique source documents were reviewed as part of the
data collection process.
This is the 15th 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 days away from work. Copies of the news releases on nonfatal injuries and
illnesses in 2005 are available from BLS by calling (202) 691-6170 or by accessing
the website listed below. Incidence rates for 2006 by industry will be published
in October 2007, and information on 2006 worker and case characteristics will be
available in November 2007. For additional data, access the
BLS Internet site: http://www.bls.gov/iif/.
Table 1. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, 2001-2006
______________________________________________________________________
|
| Fatalities
|_______________________________________
| | |
Event or exposure(1) | | 2005(2) | 2006
|2001-2005|_________|___________________
| average | |
| | Number | Percent
________________________________________|_________|_________|_________
| | | |
Total.......................| 5,704 | 5,734 | 5,703 | 100
| | | |
Transportation incidents......| 2,451 | 2,493 | 2,413 | 42
Highway.....................| 1,394 | 1,437 | 1,329 | 23
Collision between | | | |
vehicles, mobile | | | |
equipment................| 686 | 718 | 644 | 11
Moving in same direction| 151 | 175 | 152 | 3
Moving in opposite | | | |
directions, oncoming...| 254 | 265 | 234 | 4
Moving in intersection..| 137 | 134 | 138 | 2
Vehicle struck stationary | | | |
object or equipment in | | | |
roadway..................| 27 | 27 | 19 | (3)
Vehicle struck stationary | | | |
object, equipment on side| | | |
of road..................| 310 | 345 | 337 | 6
Noncollision..............| 335 | 318 | 297 | 5
Jack-knifed or | | | |
overturned-no collision| 274 | 273 | 248 | 4
Nonhighway (farm, industrial| | | |
premises)..................| 335 | 340 | 342 | 6
Overturned..............| 175 | 182 | 165 | 3
Worker struck by a vehicle..| 369 | 391 | 372 | 7
Rail vehicle................| 60 | 83 | 65 | 1
Water vehicle...............| 82 | 88 | 89 | 2
Aircraft....................| 206 | 149 | 215 | 4
| | | |
Assaults and violent acts.....| 850 | 792 | 754 | 13
Homicides...................| 602 | 567 | 516 | 9
Shooting..................| 465 | 441 | 417 | 7
Stabbing..................| 60 | 60 | 38 | 1
Self-inflicted injuries.....| 207 | 180 | 199 | 3
| | | |
Contact with objects and | | | |
equipment....................| 952 | 1,005 | 983 | 17
Struck by object............| 560 | 607 | 583 | 10
Struck by falling object..| 345 | 385 | 378 | 7
Struck by flying object...| 50 | 53 | 69 | 1
Caught in or compressed by | | | |
equipment or objects.......| 256 | 278 | 281 | 5
Caught in running | | | |
equipment or machinery...| 128 | 121 | 148 | 3
Caught in or crushed in | | | |
collapsing materials.......| 118 | 109 | 107 | 2
| | | |
Falls.........................| 763 | 770 | 809 | 14
Fall to lower level.........| 669 | 664 | 728 | 13
Fall from ladder..........| 125 | 129 | 129 | 2
Fall from roof............| 154 | 160 | 184 | 3
Fall from scaffold, | | | |
staging..................| 87 | 82 | 88 | 2
Fall on same level..........| 73 | 84 | 59 | 1
| | | |
Exposure to harmful substances| | | |
or environments..............| 498 | 501 | 525 | 9
Contact with electric | | | |
current....................| 265 | 251 | 247 | 4
Contact with overhead | | | |
power lines..............| 118 | 112 | 108 | 2
Contact with temperature | | | |
extremes...................| 44 | 55 | 53 | 1
Exposure to caustic, | | | |
noxious, or allergenic | | | |
substances.................| 114 | 136 | 153 | 3
Inhalation of substance...| 56 | 66 | 58 | 1
Oxygen deficiency...........| 74 | 59 | 64 | 1
Drowning, submersion......| 54 | 48 | 50 | 1
| | | |
Fires and explosions..........| 174 | 159 | 201 | 4
______________________________________________________________________
1 Based on the 1992 BLS Occupational Injury and Illness
Classification Manual. Includes other events and exposures, such as
bodily reaction, in addition to those shown separately.
2 The BLS news release issued August 10, 2006, reported a total of
5,702 fatal work injuries for calendar year 2005. Since then, an
additional 32 job-related fatalities were identified, bringing the
total job-related fatality count for 2005 to 5,734.
3 Less than or equal to 0.5 percent.
NOTE: Totals for 2006 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, 2006
__________________________________________________________________________________________
| |
| 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 | 23 | 9 | 14 | 10
| | | | | |
Private industry.............| 5,202 | 91 | 22 | 8 | 15 | 11
| | | | | |
Goods producing.............| 2,509 | 44 | 13 | 1 | 21 | 14
| | | | | |
Natural resources and | | | | | |
mining....................| 836 | 15 | 13 | (4) | 4 | 20
Agriculture, forestry, | | | | | |
fishing and hunting......| 646 | 11 | 12 | (4) | 3 | 21
Crop production.........| 303 | 5 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 17
Animal production.......| 150 | 3 | 8 | - | 5 | 18
Forestry and logging....| 99 | 2 | 20 | - | 3 | 55
Fishing, hunting and | | | | | |
trapping...............| 47 | 1 | - | - | - | -
Agriculture and forestry| | | | | |
support activities.....| 41 | 1 | 17 | - | - | -
Mining(5).................| 190 | 3 | 16 | - | 5 | 18
Oil and gas extraction..| 21 | (4) | 19 | - | - | -
Mining, except oil and | | | | | |
gas....................| 67 | 1 | - | - | - | 7
Support activities for | | | | | |
mining.................| 102 | 2 | 23 | - | 7 | 26
Construction...............| 1,226 | 21 | 12 | 1 | 35 | 10
Construction..............| 1,226 | 21 | 12 | 1 | 35 | 10
Construction of | | | | | |
buildings..............| 218 | 4 | 10 | 3 | 45 | 9
Heavy and civil | | | | | |
engineering | | | | | |
construction...........| 224 | 4 | 15 | - | 9 | 13
Specialty trade | | | | | |
contractors............| 721 | 13 | 11 | 1 | 40 | 9
Manufacturing..............| 447 | 8 | 13 | 3 | 13 | 14
Manufacturing.............| 447 | 8 | 13 | 3 | 13 | 14
Food manufacturing......| 59 | 1 | 29 | - | 8 | -
Wood product | | | | | |
manufacturing..........| 36 | 1 | 8 | - | 19 | 25
Chemical manufacturing..| 32 | 1 | - | - | 9 | -
Nonmetallic mineral | | | | | |
product manufacturing..| 59 | 1 | 25 | - | 14 | 15
Primary metal | | | | | |
manufacturing..........| 36 | 1 | - | - | - | 25
Fabricated metal product| | | | | |
manufacturing..........| 46 | 1 | 7 | - | 24 | 24
Machinery manufacturing | 33 | 1 | 12 | - | - | 21
Transportation equipment| | | | | |
manufacturing..........| 51 | 1 | - | 8 | 14 | 16
| | | | | |
Service providing...........| 2,693 | 47 | 32 | 15 | 9 | 8
| | | | | |
Trade, transportation, and | | | | | |
utilities.................| 1,452 | 25 | 42 | 12 | 6 | 7
Wholesale trade...........| 217 | 4 | 36 | 2 | 11 | 15
Merchant wholesalers, | | | | | |
durable goods..........| 107 | 2 | 29 | 4 | 7 | 26
Merchant wholesalers, | | | | | |
nondurable goods.......| 102 | 2 | 43 | - | 15 | 5
Retail trade..............| 351 | 6 | 21 | 39 | 9 | 5
Motor vehicle and parts | | | | | |
dealers................| 69 | 1 | 42 | 9 | 6 | 9
Building material and | | | | | |
garden supply stores...| 40 | 1 | 20 | 10 | 22 | 18
Food and beverage stores| 79 | 1 | 4 | 75 | 8 | -
Gasoline stations.......| 51 | 1 | 10 | 76 | - | -
General merchandise | | | | | |
stores.................| 25 | (4) | 20 | 28 | 20 | -
Miscellaneous store | | | | | |
retailers..............| 21 | (4) | 29 | 24 | - | -
Transportation and | | | | | |
warehousing..............| 832 | 15 | 55 | 4 | 3 | 6
Air transportation......| 51 | 1 | - | - | - | -
Truck transportation....| 537 | 9 | 71 | 1 | 3 | 5
Transit and ground | | | | | |
passenger | | | | | |
transportation.........| 57 | 1 | 37 | 49 | - | -
Support activities for | | | | | |
transportation.........| 81 | 1 | 20 | - | - | 22
Couriers and messengers | 41 | 1 | 66 | 7 | - | 7
Utilities.................| 52 | 1 | 17 | - | 15 | 12
Information................| 64 | 1 | 44 | - | 14 | 5
Information...............| 64 | 1 | 44 | - | 14 | 5
Publishing industries, | | | | | |
except Internet........| 27 | (4) | 67 | - | - | -
Financial activities.......| 122 | 2 | 16 | 24 | 13 | 3
Finance and insurance.....| 44 | 1 | 23 | 25 | 11 | -
Credit intermediation | | | | | |
and related activities | 21 | (4) | 33 | 33 | - | -
Real estate and rental and| | | | | |
leasing..................| 78 | 1 | 12 | 23 | 14 | 5
Real estate.............| 55 | 1 | 5 | 25 | 20 | 7
Rental and leasing | | | | | |
services...............| 23 | (4) | 26 | 17 | - | -
Professional and business | | | | | |
services..................| 449 | 8 | 21 | 7 | 19 | 11
Professional and technical| | | | | |
services.................| 78 | 1 | 17 | 14 | 12 | 4
Professional and | | | | | |
technical services.....| 78 | 1 | 17 | 14 | 12 | 4
Administrative and waste | | | | | |
services.................| 371 | 7 | 22 | 6 | 20 | 13
Administrative and | | | | | |
support services.......| 294 | 5 | 16 | 7 | 24 | 14
Waste management and | | | | | |
remediation services...| 77 | 1 | 42 | - | 6 | 8
Educational and health | | | | | |
services..................| 172 | 3 | 27 | 15 | 8 | 2
Educational services......| 49 | 1 | 18 | - | 10 | -
Educational services....| 49 | 1 | 18 | - | 10 | -
Health care and social | | | | | |
assistance...............| 123 | 2 | 30 | 20 | 7 | 3
Ambulatory health care | | | | | |
services...............| 55 | 1 | 36 | 18 | - | -
Hospitals...............| 20 | (4) | 25 | - | - | -
Nursing and residential | | | | | |
care facilities........| 22 | (4) | 14 | 32 | 27 | -
Social assistance.......| 24 | (4) | 29 | 21 | - | -
Leisure and hospitality....| 252 | 4 | 9 | 43 | 9 | 3
Arts, entertainment, and | | | | | |
recreation...............| 79 | 1 | 6 | 19 | 9 | 6
Performing arts and | | | | | |
spectator sports.......| 44 | 1 | - | 9 | 14 | 7
Amusements, gambling, | | | | | |
and recreation ........| 31 | 1 | - | 35 | - | -
Accommodation and food | | | | | |
services.................| 173 | 3 | 10 | 54 | 9 | -
Accommodation...........| 38 | 1 | 8 | 13 | 24 | -
Food services and | | | | | |
drinking places........| 135 | 2 | 11 | 65 | 5 | -
Other services, except | | | | | |
public administration.....| 175 | 3 | 14 | 17 | 12 | 19
Other services, except | | | | | |
public administration....| 175 | 3 | 14 | 17 | 12 | 19
Repair and maintenance..| 110 | 2 | 9 | 17 | 6 | 27
Personal and laundry | | | | | |
services...............| 27 | (4) | 22 | 30 | - | -
Membership associations | | | | | |
and organizations......| 32 | 1 | 25 | - | 34 | -
| | | | | |
Government(6)................| 501 | 9 | 32 | 15 | 8 | 4
| | | | | |
Federal government..........| 111 | 2 | 28 | 10 | 11 | 7
Public administration.....| 65 | 1 | 23 | - | 8 | 12
National security and | | | | | |
international affairs..| 52 | 1 | 25 | - | 6 | 13
State government............| 109 | 2 | 44 | 11 | 6 | 4
Public administration.....| 57 | 1 | 49 | 12 | 5 | -
Justice, public order, | | | | | |
and safety activities..| 36 | 1 | 42 | 19 | - | -
Local government............| 272 | 5 | 29 | 19 | 7 | 3
Public administration.....| 162 | 3 | 33 | 28 | 2 | -
Justice, public order, | | | | | |
and safety activities..| 147 | 3 | 33 | 30 | - | -
__________________________________________________________________________________________
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 Less than or equal to 0.5 percent.
5 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.
6 Includes fatalities to workers employed by governmental organizations regardless of
industry.
NOTE: Totals for 2006 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 8 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, 2006
__________________________________________________________________________________________
| |
| 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 | 23 | 9 | 14 | 10
| | | | | |
Management occupations........| 543 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 13
Top executives..............| 25 | (4) | 32 | - | - | -
Advertising, marketing, | | | | | |
promotions, public | | | | | |
relations, and sales | | | | | |
managers...................| 12 | (4) | 50 | - | - | -
Operations specialties | | | | | |
managers...................| 29 | 1 | 10 | - | 21 | -
Other management occupations| 477 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 14
Business and financial | | | | | |
operations occupations.......| 38 | 1 | 26 | 13 | 18 | -
Business operations | | | | | |
specialists................| 23 | (4) | 35 | 13 | 17 | -
Financial specialists.......| 15 | (4) | - | - | 20 | -
Computer and mathematical | | | | | |
occupations..................| 16 | (4) | 19 | - | 25 | -
Computer specialists........| 15 | (4) | 20 | - | 20 | -
Architecture and engineering | | | | | |
occupations..................| 54 | 1 | 26 | - | 19 | 6
Architects, surveyors, and | | | | | |
cartographers..............| 14 | (4) | - | - | 21 | -
Engineers...................| 29 | 1 | 24 | - | 21 | -
Drafters, engineering, and | | | | | |
mapping technicians........| 11 | (4) | 45 | - | - | -
Life, physical, and social | | | | | |
science occupations..........| 25 | (4) | 16 | - | 20 | -
Physical scientists.........| 7 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Social scientists and | | | | | |
related workers............| 5 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Life, physical, and social | | | | | |
science technicians........| 11 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Community and social services | | | | | |
occupations..................| 31 | 1 | 55 | 23 | 10 | -
Counselors, social workers, | | | | | |
and other community and | | | | | |
social service specialists | 19 | (4) | 58 | 21 | - | -
Religious workers...........| 12 | (4) | 50 | 25 | - | -
Legal occupations.............| 11 | (4) | - | 45 | - | -
Lawyers, judges, and related| | | | | |
workers....................| 9 | (4) | - | 44 | - | -
Education, training, and | | | | | |
library occupations..........| 23 | (4) | 30 | - | 22 | -
Primary, secondary, and | | | | | |
special education school | | | | | |
teachers...................| 11 | (4) | 27 | - | 27 | -
Other teachers and | | | | | |
instructors................| 6 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Other education, training, | | | | | |
and library occupations....| 5 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Arts, design, entertainment, | | | | | |
sports, and media occupations| 45 | 1 | 9 | - | 11 | -
Art and design workers......| 4 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Entertainers and performers,| | | | | |
sports and related workers | 26 | (4) | - | - | 19 | -
Media and communication | | | | | |
workers....................| 5 | (4) | 60 | - | - | -
Media and communication | | | | | |
equipment workers..........| 10 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Healthcare practitioners and | | | | | |
technical occupations........| 54 | 1 | 28 | 19 | - | -
Health diagnosing and | | | | | |
treating practitioners.....| 41 | 1 | 22 | 22 | - | -
Health technologists and | | | | | |
technicians................| 13 | (4) | 46 | - | - | -
Healthcare support occupations| 20 | (4) | 40 | 15 | 15 | -
Nursing, psychiatric, and | | | | | |
home health aides..........| 17 | (4) | 41 | 18 | - | -
Other healthcare support | | | | | |
occupations................| 3 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Protective service occupations| 274 | 5 | 27 | 33 | 1 | 2
First-line supervisors | | | | | |
managers, protective | | | | | |
service workers............| 21 | (4) | 24 | 19 | - | -
Fire fighting and prevention| | | | | |
workers....................| 44 | 1 | 20 | - | - | -
Law enforcement workers.....| 131 | 2 | 40 | 38 | - | 2
Other protective service | | | | | |
workers....................| 78 | 1 | 12 | 46 | 4 | -
Food preparation and serving | | | | | |
related occupations..........| 78 | 1 | 9 | 54 | 10 | -
Supervisors, food | | | | | |
preparation and serving | | | | | |
workers....................| 26 | (4) | - | 73 | - | -
Cooks and food preparation | | | | | |
workers....................| 14 | (4) | - | 36 | - | -
Food and beverage serving | | | | | |
workers....................| 28 | (4) | - | 57 | 18 | -
Other food preparation and | | | | | |
serving related workers....| 10 | (4) | 60 | - | - | -
Building and grounds cleaning | | | | | |
and maintenance occupations..| 277 | 5 | 11 | 5 | 29 | 14
Supervisors, building and | | | | | |
grounds cleaning and | | | | | |
maintenance workers........| 36 | 1 | 25 | - | 17 | -
Building cleaning and pest | | | | | |
control workers............| 74 | 1 | 14 | 11 | 39 | -
Grounds maintenance workers | 167 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 27 | 22
Personal care and service | | | | | |
occupations..................| 56 | 1 | 11 | 21 | 11 | 5
Supervisors, personal care | | | | | |
and service workers........| 5 | (4) | - | 80 | - | -
Animal care and service | | | | | |
workers....................| 13 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Entertainment attendants and| | | | | |
related workers............| 8 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Personal appearance workers | 6 | (4) | - | 67 | - | -
Transportation, tourism, and| | | | | |
lodging attendants.........| 5 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Other personal care and | | | | | |
service workers............| 19 | (4) | 16 | - | 16 | -
Sales and related occupations | 308 | 5 | 20 | 48 | 6 | 3
Supervisors, sales workers..| 132 | 2 | 11 | 52 | 5 | 5
Retail sales workers........| 99 | 2 | 13 | 70 | 5 | -
Sales representatives, | | | | | |
services...................| 23 | (4) | 48 | 22 | 17 | -
Sales representatives, | | | | | |
wholesale and manufacturing| 27 | (4) | 59 | - | 11 | -
Other sales and related | | | | | |
workers....................| 27 | (4) | 30 | - | - | -
Office and administrative | | | | | |
support occupations..........| 82 | 1 | 33 | 29 | 10 | 5
Supervisors, office and | | | | | |
administrative support | | | | | |
workers....................| 8 | (4) | - | 50 | - | -
Financial clerks............| 5 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Information and record | | | | | |
clerks.....................| 7 | (4) | - | 43 | - | -
Material recording, | | | | | |
scheduling, dispatching, | | | | | |
and distributing workers...| 45 | 1 | 38 | 22 | 11 | 7
Secretaries and | | | | | |
administrative assistants..| 6 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Other office and | | | | | |
administrative support | | | | | |
workers....................| 11 | (4) | 45 | 27 | - | -
Farming, fishing, and forestry| | | | | |
occupations..................| 289 | 5 | 11 | - | 4 | 23
Supervisors, farming, | | | | | |
fishing, and forestry | | | | | |
workers....................| 11 | (4) | 27 | - | - | 36
Agricultural workers........| 162 | 3 | 17 | - | 6 | 10
Fishing and hunting workers | 51 | 1 | - | - | - | -
Forest, conservation, and | | | | | |
logging workers............| 65 | 1 | - | - | - | 71
Construction and extraction | | | | | |
occupations..................| 1,258 | 22 | 10 | 1 | 33 | 11
Supervisors, construction | | | | | |
and extraction workers.....| 113 | 2 | 19 | 4 | 22 | 11
Construction trades workers | 969 | 17 | 9 | 1 | 38 | 9
Helpers, construction trades| 10 | (4) | - | - | 30 | -
Other construction and | | | | | |
related workers............| 51 | 1 | 12 | - | 22 | 8
Extraction workers..........| 115 | 2 | 10 | - | 6 | 23
Installation, maintenance, and| | | | | |
repair occupations...........| 415 | 7 | 12 | 3 | 18 | 20
Supervisors of installation,| | | | | |
maintenance, and repair | | | | | |
workers....................| 23 | (4) | 22 | 13 | 13 | 13
Electrical and electronic | | | | | |
equipment mechanics, | | | | | |
installers, and repairers..| 20 | (4) | 20 | - | 35 | 20
Vehicle and mobile equipment| | | | | |
mechanics, installers, and | | | | | |
repairers..................| 137 | 2 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 36
Other installation, | | | | | |
maintenance, and repair | | | | | |
occupations................| 235 | 4 | 12 | 2 | 25 | 11
Production occupations........| 282 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 18
Supervisors, production | | | | | |
workers....................| 25 | (4) | - | - | - | 16
Assemblers and fabricators..| 21 | (4) | - | - | - | 29
Food processing workers.....| 8 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Metal workers and plastic | | | | | |
workers....................| 85 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 15 | 25
Printing workers............| 4 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Textile, apparel, and | | | | | |
furnishings workers........| 11 | (4) | - | - | - | 27
Woodworkers.................| 14 | (4) | - | - | - | 57
Plant and system operators..| 20 | (4) | 15 | - | - | -
Other production occupations| 94 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 9
Transportation and material | | | | | |
moving occupations...........| 1,463 | 26 | 50 | 4 | 4 | 7
Supervisors, transportation | | | | | |
and material moving workers| 15 | (4) | 27 | - | - | -
Air transportation workers..| 101 | 2 | - | - | - | -
Motor vehicle operators.....| 1,021 | 18 | 67 | 4 | 3 | 5
Rail transportation workers | 16 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Water transportation workers| 27 | (4) | - | - | - | 11
Other transportation workers| 18 | (4) | - | 39 | - | -
Material moving workers.....| 265 | 5 | 14 | 3 | 11 | 14
Military occupations..........| 51 | 1 | 25 | - | - | 14
__________________________________________________________________________________________
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 2006 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 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, 2006
__________________________________________________________________________________________
| |
| | 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 | 23 | 9 | 14 | 10
| | | | | |
Employee status | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Wage and salary(3)............| 4,690 | 82 | 26 | 8 | 14 | 10
Self-employed(4)..............| 1,013 | 18 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13
| | | | | |
Sex | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Men...........................| 5,275 | 92 | 23 | 8 | 15 | 11
Women.........................| 428 | 8 | 30 | 27 | 9 | 2
| | | | | |
Age(5) | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Under 16 years................| 10 | (6) | - | - | - | -
16-17 years...................| 20 | (6) | - | 15 | - | 20
18-19 years...................| 104 | 2 | 21 | 10 | 12 | 12
20-24 years...................| 382 | 7 | 19 | 8 | 11 | 10
25-34 years...................| 1,016 | 18 | 26 | 11 | 12 | 10
35-44 years...................| 1,266 | 22 | 24 | 11 | 12 | 9
45-54 years...................| 1,378 | 24 | 23 | 8 | 15 | 10
55-64 years...................| 941 | 17 | 24 | 9 | 17 | 11
65 years and older............| 577 | 10 | 20 | 5 | 17 | 13
| | | | | |
Race or ethnic origin(7) | | | | | |
| | | | | |
White.........................| 3,945 | 69 | 25 | 6 | 13 | 10
Black or African-American.....| 552 | 10 | 24 | 21 | 11 | 10
Hispanic or Latino............| 937 | 16 | 17 | 8 | 21 | 12
American Indian or Alaska | | | | | |
Native.......................| 44 | 1 | 39 | 7 | 7 | 9
Asian.........................| 142 | 2 | 15 | 46 | 8 | 4
Native Hawaiian or Pacific | | | | | |
Islander.....................| 10 | (6) | 50 | - | - | -
Multiple races................| 10 | (6) | 30 | - | - | -
Other or not reported.........| 63 | 1 | 21 | 11 | 13 | 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 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 2006 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, 2005-2006
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
| |
|Total fatalities(1)| Event or exposure(4)
| | 2006
_______________________________________________________________________________
| |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Exposure|
State of injury | | | | | Contact | | to |
| | |Transpor-| Assaults| with | | harmful |Fires and
| 2005(2) | 2006(3) | tation | and | objects | Falls | sub- | explo-
|(revised)| | inci- | violent | and | | stances | sions
| | | dents(5)| acts(6) |equipment| | or |
| | | | | | | environ-|
| | | | | | | ments |
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
| | | | | | | |
Alabama..................| 128 | 100 | 42 | 8 | 26 | 14 | 5 | 5
Alaska...................| 29 | 44 | 24 | 4 | 8 | - | 5 | -
Arizona..................| 99 | 108 | 53 | 18 | 10 | 15 | 12 | -
Arkansas.................| 80 | 78 | 47 | 5 | 8 | 12 | - | 4
California...............| 465 | 448 | 167 | 61 | 72 | 87 | 45 | 12
Colorado.................| 125 | 137 | 60 | 30 | 23 | 13 | 7 | 3
Connecticut..............| 46 | 38 | 15 | 10 | 6 | 4 | - | -
Delaware.................| 11 | 14 | 13 | - | - | - | - | -
District of Columbia.....| 12 | 7 | - | 3 | - | - | - | -
Florida..................| 406 | 355 | 141 | 54 | 36 | 63 | 48 | 11
Georgia..................| 200 | 192 | 80 | 27 | 31 | 33 | 15 | 4
Hawaii...................| 15 | 30 | 18 | - | 6 | - | - | -
Idaho....................| 35 | 38 | 24 | - | 7 | 3 | - | -
Illinois.................| 194 | 207 | 86 | 36 | 24 | 32 | 27 | -
Indiana..................| 157 | 148 | 75 | 15 | 26 | 19 | 7 | 6
Iowa.....................| 90 | 71 | 38 | 3 | 11 | 11 | 4 | 4
Kansas...................| 81 | 85 | 43 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 5
Kentucky.................| 122 | 147 | 77 | 15 | 27 | 13 | 6 | 9
Louisiana................| 111 | 118 | 50 | 13 | 21 | 12 | 18 | 4
Maine....................| 15 | 20 | 12 | - | 3 | - | - | -
Maryland.................| 95 | 105 | 39 | 24 | 12 | 21 | 8 | -
Massachusetts............| 75 | 66 | 16 | 10 | 10 | 16 | 13 | -
Michigan.................| 110 | 155 | 60 | 21 | 30 | 21 | 17 | 4
Minnesota................| 87 | 78 | 29 | 5 | 27 | 9 | 5 | -
Mississippi..............| 112 | 96 | 45 | 8 | 20 | 9 | 10 | -
Missouri.................| 185 | 166 | 76 | 27 | 21 | 23 | 17 | -
Montana..................| 50 | 45 | 30 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | -
Nebraska.................| 36 | 57 | 17 | 6 | 19 | 7 | 5 | 3
Nevada...................| 57 | 49 | 16 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 8 | -
New Hampshire............| 18 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 3 | - | - | -
New Jersey...............| 112 | 88 | 39 | 18 | 9 | 13 | 3 | 6
New Mexico...............| 44 | 59 | 29 | 3 | 13 | 9 | 5 | -
New York (including | | | | | | | |
N.Y.C.).................| 239 | 233 | 71 | 37 | 43 | 46 | 24 | 12
New York City..........| 88 | 99 | 14 | 21 | 14 | 34 | 10 | 6
North Carolina...........| 165 | 167 | 66 | 22 | 30 | 25 | 16 | 8
North Dakota.............| 22 | 31 | 16 | - | 8 | 5 | - | -
Ohio.....................| 168 | 193 | 65 | 22 | 54 | 22 | 22 | 7
Oklahoma.................| 95 | 91 | 59 | - | 15 | 8 | 4 | 3
Oregon...................| 65 | 72 | 46 | 4 | 13 | 6 | - | -
Pennsylvania.............| 224 | 240 | 89 | 40 | 44 | 37 | 22 | 8
Rhode Island.............| 6 | 10 | 3 | - | - | 3 | - | -
South Carolina...........| 132 | 93 | 34 | 19 | 9 | 19 | 10 | -
South Dakota.............| 31 | 37 | 19 | 4 | 10 | - | - | -
Tennessee................| 139 | 153 | 59 | 37 | 29 | 14 | 9 | 5
Texas....................| 495 | 486 | 200 | 59 | 87 | 60 | 54 | 23
Utah.....................| 54 | 60 | 30 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 7 | -
Vermont..................| 7 | 14 | 6 | - | 3 | - | - | -
Virginia.................| 186 | 164 | 60 | 32 | 38 | 18 | 15 | -
Washington...............| 85 | 87 | 40 | 4 | 13 | 19 | 10 | -
West Virginia............| 46 | 79 | 26 | 3 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 22
Wisconsin................| 125 | 91 | 33 | 11 | 24 | 15 | 4 | -
Wyoming..................| 46 | 36 | 23 | - | 7 | - | - | 3
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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 10, 2006, reported a total of 5,702 fatal work injuries for
calendar year 2005. Since then, an additional 32 job-related fatalities were identified, bringing the
total job-related fatality count for 2005 to 5,734. Includes 1 fatality that occurred within the
territorial boundaries of the United States, but a State of incident could not be determined.
3 Includes 4 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 2006 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) 542-3737
Arkansas Department of Labor (501) 682-4542
California Department of Industrial Relations (510) 286-0702
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) 623-7907
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) 576-7186
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 Division 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) 728-4116
Oklahoma Department of Labor (405) 528-1500 ext. 236
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 (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. Fatalities to volunteer and unpaid family
workers who perform the same duties and functions as paid workers are also
included in the counts. 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 2006 that
resultedfrom traumatic occupational injuries. An injury is defined as any wound
or damage to the body resulting from acute exposure to energy, such as heat,
electricity, or impact from a crash or fall, or from the absence of such essentials
as heator oxygen, caused by a specific event or incident 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 2006, there were 81 cases included for which work relationship could not
be verified with a second document; 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 46 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 27 fatalities per year or less than
0.5 percent of the revised total. The BLS news release issued August 10, 2006,
reported a total of 5,702 fatal work injuries for 2005. Since then, a net addition
of 32 fatal work injuries were identified, bringing the total for 2005 to 5,734.
Revised counts for 2006 will be available in April 2008.
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 18 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 Federal Railroad Administration;
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.