Fatal work injuries totaled 47 in 2016 for West Virginia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Sheila Watkins, the Bureau’s regional commissioner, noted that the number of work-related fatalities in West Virginia increased from 35 in the previous year. Fatal occupational injuries in the state have ranged from a high of 95 in 2010 to a low of 35 in 2015. (See chart 1.)

Nationwide, a total of 5,190 fatal work injuries were recorded in 2016, a 7-percent increase from the 4,836 fatal injuries reported in 2015, according to the results from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) program. This was the third consecutive increase in annual workplace fatalities and the first time more than 5,000 fatalities have been recorded since 2008.

Type of incident

In West Virginia, transportation incidents resulted in 14 fatal work injuries and exposure to harmful substances or environments accounted for 11 fatalities. These two major categories accounted for 53 percent of all workplace fatalities in the state. (See table 1.) The number of worker deaths from transportation incidents declined from 17 in 2015, while worker fatalities due to exposure to harmful substances or environments rose from 4 in 2015. Nine of the 11 fatalities in 2016 in exposure to harmful substances or environments were due to overdoses from the non-medical use of drugs or alcohol at work.

Falls, slips, or trips was the third-most frequent fatal work event in the state with eight fatalities, closely followed by contact with objects and equipment with seven. Fatalities due to falls, slips, or trips doubled over the year from four, while fatalities due to contact with objects and equipment was little changed.

Nationally, transportation incidents remained the most frequent fatal workplace event in 2016, accounting for 40 percent of fatal work injuries.(See chart 2.) Violence and other injuries by persons or animals was the second-most frequent type of event, with 17 percent of work-related fatalities, followed by falls, slips, or trips (16 percent) and contact with objects and equipment (15 percent).

Industry

The private transportation and warehousing industry had the largest number of fatalities in West Virginia with 12, up from 5 in the previous year. (See table 2.) The most frequent event in this industry was transportation incidents causing eight, or two-thirds, of the fatalities. General freight trucking accounted for the 5 of the 12 fatalities in this sector.

The private construction industry sector had six workplace fatalities and the private mining industry closely followed with five fatalities.

Occupation

Transportationand material moving occupations and construction and extraction occupations had the highest number of workplace fatalities with 17 and 11, respectively. (See table 3.) The majority of the fatalities within the transportation and material moving group were heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (nine). Construction trades workers accounted for almost half of fatal injuries in construction and extraction occupations, with five fatalities.

Contracted Workers

A contracted worker is defined as a worker employed by one firm but working at the behest of another firm that exercises overall responsibility for the operations at the site of the fatal injury. In 2016, West Virginia had five fatally-injured workers identified as fitting the contracted worker criteria.

Additional highlights:

• Men accounted for 91 percent of the work-related fatalities in West Virginia, comparable to the 93-percent national share. (See table 4.) The most frequent fatal event for men was transportation incidents (13) followed by exposure to harmful substances or environments (11).
• White, non-Hispanic workers accounted for 94 percent of those who died from a workplace injury. Nationwide, this group accounted for 67 percent of work-related deaths.
• Workers 25-54 years old accounted for 79 percent of the state’s work-related fatalities in 2016, higher than the 57 percent of on-the-job fatalities nationally.
• Of the 47 fatally-injured workers in West Virginia, 87 percent worked for wages and salaries; the remainder were self-employed. Transportation incidents and exposure to harmful substances or environments each accounted for 27 percent of the fatalities to wage and salary workers. Transportation incidents made up half of the six self-employed worker deaths.

Technical Note

Background of the program. The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), part of the BLS Occupational Safety and Health Statistics (OSHS) program, compiles a count of all fatal work injuries occurring in the U.S. during the calendar year. The CFOI program uses diverse state, federal, and independent data sources to identify, verify, and describe fatal work injuries. This ensures counts are as complete and accurate as possible. Nationwide, for the 2016 data, over 23,300 unique source documents were reviewed as part of the data collection process. For technical information and definitions for CFOI, please go to the BLS Handbook of Methods on the BLS website at www.bls.gov/opub/hom/cfoi/home.htm.

Federal/State agency coverage. The CFOI includes data for all fatal work injuries, even those that may be outside the scope of other agencies or 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. More on the scope of CFOI can be found at www.bls.gov/iif/cfoiscope.htm.

Acknowledgments. BLS appreciates the efforts of all federal, state, local, and private sector entities that provided 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 Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (Federal Employees' Compensation and Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation divisions); the Federal Railroad Administration; the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; state vital statistics registrars, coroners, and medical examiners; state departments of health, labor, and industrial relations and workers' compensation agencies; state and local police departments; and state farm bureaus.

Information in this release is available to sensory-impaired individuals. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339.

Table 1. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, West Virginia, 2015-16

Event or exposure(1)	2015	2016
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	35	47	100
Violence and other injuries by persons or animals	-	4	9
Intentional injury by person	-	4	9
Homicides	-	2	4
Shooting by other person—intentional	-	2	4
Transportation incidents	17	14	30
Aircraft incidents	-	1	2
Aircraft crash during takeoff or landing	-	1	2
Aircraft crash during takeoff or landing—into structure, object, or ground	-	1	2
Rail vehicle incidents	-	1	2
Pedestrian vehicular incident	2	1	2
Pedestrian struck by vehicle on side of road	-	1	2
Pedestrian struck by forward-moving vehicle on side of road	-	1	2
Roadway incident involving motorized land vehicle	14	9	19
Roadway collision with other vehicle	4	3	6
Roadway collision moving in opposite directions, oncoming	1	1	2
Roadway collision with object other than vehicle	5	4	9
Vehicle struck object or animal in roadway	-	1	2
Vehicle struck object or animal on side of roadway	5	3	6
Roadway noncollision incident	5	2	4
Jack-knifed or overturned, roadway	3	2	4
Fire or explosion	-	3	6
Fire	-	-	-
Ignition of vapors, gases, or liquids	-	1	2
Explosion	-	1	2
Explosion of pressure vessel, piping, or tire	-	1	2
Fall, slip, trip	4	8	17
Fall to lower level	-	8	17
Fall through surface or existing opening	1	-	-
Fall through surface or existing opening 26 to 30 feet	-	1	2
Other fall to lower level	-	5	11
Other fall to lower level more than 30 feet	-	3	6
Exposure to harmful substances or environments	4	11	23
Exposure to other harmful substances	-	10	21
Nonmedical use of drugs or alcohol unintentional overdose	-	9	19
Contact with objects and equipment	8	7	15
Struck by object or equipment	8	5	11
Struck by falling object or equipment	6	3	6
Struck by swinging or slipping object, other than handheld	-	1	2
Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects	-	1	2
Caught in running equipment or machinery	-	1	2
Caught in running equipment or machinery during maintenance, cleaning	-	1	2
Struck, caught, or crushed in collapsing structure, equipment, or material	-	1	2
Excavation or trenching cave-in	-	1	2
Footnotes: (1) Based on the BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) 2.01 implemented for 2011 data forward.
Note: Data for all years are final. Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding. CFOI fatal injury counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria.

Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by industry, West Virginia, 2015-16

Industry (1)	2015	2016
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	35	47	100
Private industry	29	44	94
Goods producing	17	15	32
Natural resources and mining	8	8	17
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting	6	3	6
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (2)	2	5	11
Oil and gas extraction	-	1	2
Oil and gas extraction	-	1	2
Oil and gas extraction	-	1	2
Crude petroleum and natural gas extraction	-	1	2
Mining (except oil and gas)	1	4	9
Coal mining	1	4	9
Coal mining	1	4	9
Bituminous coal underground mining	1	4	9
Construction	6	6	13
Construction of buildings	1	-	-
Residential building construction	1	-	-
Residential building construction	1	-	-
New multifamily housing construction (except for-sale builders)	-	1	2
Heavy and civil engineering construction	4	2	4
Utility system construction	2	2	4
Water and sewer line and related structures construction	-	1	2
Oil and gas pipeline and related structures construction	1	1	2
Specialty trade contractors	-	-	-
Building equipment contractors	-	1	2
Electrical contractors and other wiring installation contractors	-	1	2
Nonresidential electrical contractors and other wiring installation contractors	-	1	2
Service providing	12	29	62
Trade, transportation, and utilities	8	17	36
Retail trade	1	3	6
Motor vehicle and parts dealers	-	1	2
Automobile dealers	-	1	2
Used car dealers	-	1	2
Food and beverage stores	-	1	2
Grocery stores	-	1	2
Gasoline stations	-	1	2
Gasoline stations	-	1	2
Gasoline stations with convenience stores	-	1	2
Transportation and warehousing	5	12	26
Truck transportation	5	8	17
General freight trucking	4	5	11
General freight trucking, local	-	1	2
General freight trucking, long-distance	4	3	6
Specialized freight trucking	-	3	6
Specialized freight (except used goods) trucking, local	-	2	4
Transit and ground passenger transportation	-	1	2
Interurban and rural bus transportation	-	1	2
Interurban and rural bus transportation	-	1	2
Support activities for transportation	-	3	6
Support activities for road transportation	-	1	2
Motor vehicle towing	-	1	2
Professional and business services	-	5	11
Professional, scientific, and technical services	-	-	-
Professional, scientific, and technical services	-	-	-
Advertising and related services	-	1	2
Outdoor advertising	-	1	2
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services	-	3	6
Administrative and support services	-	3	6
Educational and health services	-	1	2
Educational services	-	1	2
Educational services	-	1	2
Technical and trade schools	-	1	2
Technical and trade schools	-	1	2
Flight training	-	1	2
Leisure and hospitality	-	3	6
Accommodation and food services	-	3	6
Other services, except public administration	-	3	6
Repair and maintenance	-	3	6
Automotive repair and maintenance	-	3	6
Automotive mechanical and electrical repair and maintenance	-	3	6
General automotive repair	-	3	6
Government (3)	6	3	6
State government	2	1	2
Goods producing	2	1	2
Construction	2	1	2
Heavy and civil engineering construction	2	1	2
Highway, street, and bridge construction	2	1	2
Highway, street, and bridge construction	2	1	2
Local government	3	-	-
Service providing	3	-	-
Public administration	-	-	-
Justice, public order, and safety activities	-	-	-
Justice, public order, and safety activities	-	-	-
Fire protection	-	1	2
Footnotes: (1) Industry data are based on the North American Industry Classification System, 2012. (2) Includes fatal injuries at all establishments categorized as Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (Sector 21) in the North American Industry Classification System, including establishments not governed by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) rules and reporting, such as those in Oil and Gas Extraction. (3) Includes fatal injuries to workers employed by governmental organizations regardless of industry.
Note: Data for all years are final. Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding. CFOI fatal injury counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria.

Table 3. Fatal occupational injuries by occupation, West Virginia, 2015-16

Occupation (1)	2015	2016
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	35	47	100
Service occupations	3	8	17
Protective service occupations	-	-	-
Fire fighting and prevention workers	-	1	2
Firefighters	-	1	2
Firefighters	-	1	2
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations	1	4	9
Sales and office occupations	-	4	9
Sales and related occupations	-	3	6
Supervisors, sales workers	-	-	-
First-line supervisors/managers, sales workers	-	-	-
First-line supervisors of retail sales workers	-	1	2
Retail sales workers	-	1	2
Cashiers	-	1	2
Cashiers	-	1	2
Office and administrative support occupations	-	1	2
Material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing workers	-	1	2
Stock clerks and order fillers	-	1	2
Stock clerks and order fillers	-	1	2
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations	15	16	34
Construction and extraction occupations	7	11	23
Supervisors of construction and extraction workers	3	4	9
First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers	3	4	9
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers	3	4	9
Construction trades workers	3	5	11
Electricians	-	1	2
Electricians	-	1	2
Painters and paperhangers	-	1	2
Paperhangers	-	1	2
Extraction workers	1	1	2
Derrick, rotary drill, and service unit operators, oil, gas, and mining	1	1	2
Service unit operators, oil, gas, and mining	-	1	2
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	4	3	6
Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers	-	3	6
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists	-	3	6
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists	-	3	6
Production, transportation, and material moving occupations	12	18	38
Transportation and material moving occupations	12	17	36
Air transportation workers	-	1	2
Aircraft pilots and flight engineers	-	1	2
Commercial pilots	-	1	2
Motor vehicle operators	10	11	23
Bus drivers	-	1	2
Bus drivers, transit and intercity	-	1	2
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers	10	10	21
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers	8	9	19
Rail transportation workers	-	1	2
Locomotive engineers and operators	-	1	2
Locomotive engineers	-	1	2
Water transportation workers	-	-	-
Ship engineers	-	1	2
Ship engineers	-	1	2
Material moving workers	-	-	-
Shuttle car operators	-	1	2
Mine shuttle car operators	-	1	2
Footnotes: (1) Occupation data are based on the Standard Occupational Classification system, 2010.
Note: Data for all years are final. Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding. CFOI fatal injury counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria.

Table 4. Fatal occupational injuries by worker characteristic, West Virginia, 2015-16

Worker characteristics	2015	2016	2016
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	35	47	100
Employee status
Wage and salary workers (1)	31	41	87
Self-employed (2)	4	6	13
Gender
Women	-	4	9
Men	33	43	91
Age
25 to 34 years	3	5	11
35 to 44 years	4	18	38
45 to 54 years	9	14	30
55 to 64 years	9	7	15
Race or ethnic origin (3)
White (non-Hispanic)	33	44	94
Footnotes: (1) May include volunteers and workers receiving other types of compensation. (2) Includes self-employed workers, owners of unincorporated businesses and farms, paid and unpaid family workers, and may include some owners of incorporated businesses or members of partnerships. (3) Persons identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. The race categories shown exclude data for Hispanics and Latinos.
Note: Data for all years are final. Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding. CFOI fatal injury counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria.