Fatal work injuries totaled 48 in 2012 for Nebraska, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Charlene Peiffer noted that while the 2012 count was preliminary, the number of work-related fatalities in Nebraska increased by nine over the year. Fatal occupational injuries in the state have ranged from a high of 83 in 1994 and 2002 to a low of 36 in 2005. (See chart 1.)

Nationwide, a preliminary total of 4,383 fatal work injuries were recorded in 2012, down from a revised count of 4,693 fatalities in 2011, according to results from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) program. Final 2012 CFOI data will be released in spring 2014.

Of the 48 fatal work injuries reported in Nebraska in 2012, 25 resulted from transportation incidents; this category accounted for 52 percent of all fatal work injuries. Other major event categories each reported 10 or fewer deaths. (See table 1.) Within transportation incidents, roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicles was the most frequent type of workplace fatality with 17 deaths, accounting for 35 percent of all on-the-job fatalities in the state. The second-largest event in transportation incidents, non-roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicles, accounted for four fatalities. (Note that transportation counts presented in this release are expected to rise when updated 2012 data are released in Spring 2014 because key source documentation detailing specific transportation-related incidents has not yet been received.)

In the United States, transportation incidents were also the most frequent fatal workplace event in 2012, accounting for 41 percent of fatal work injuries. Nebraska’s 52-percent share of on-the-job fatalities due to this event was larger than the nationwide share. (See chart 2.) Violence and other injuries by persons or animals was the second most frequent type of event nationally with 17 percent of work-related fatalities. Contact with objects or equipment (16 percent) and falls, slips, and trips (15 percent) were the third and fourth most frequent events, respectively, in the nation.

Additional key characteristics:

• The agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting industry sector had the largest number of fatalities in the state with 13, compared to 18 in the previous year. (See table 2.) Within this industry sector, transportation incidents accounted for six worker deaths. 
• Construction recorded nine fatalities, up from four in 2011. Within the construction industry, transportation incidents and exposure to harmful substances or environments accounted for three on-the-job fatalities each. 
• Transportation and material moving occupations had the highest number of fatal work injuries with 14. (See table 3.) Motor vehicle operators accounted for eight of these fatalities. Workers in management occupations along with construction and extraction occupations had the next highest fatality count at 10 each. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers accounted for 9 of the 10 fatalities in the management group.
• Men accounted for 44, or 92 percent, of the work-related fatalities in the state. (See table 4.) Transportation incidents made up 52 percent of these fatalities.
• In Nebraska, 88 percent of those who died from a workplace injury were white non-Hispanics. Nationwide, this group accounted for 68 percent of work-related deaths.
• Workers 25-54 years old—the prime working age group—accounted for 27 fatalities, or 56 percent, of the state’s work-related deaths in 2012. Workers in this group nationally accounted for 59 percent of on-the-job fatalities.
• Of the 48 persons that suffered fatal work injuries in Nebraska, 75 percent worked for wages and salaries; the remaining were self-employed. The most frequent fatal event for both groups was transportation incidents.

Technical Note

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 United States during the calendar year. The program uses diverse state, federal, and independent data sources to identify, verify, and describe fatal work injuries. This assures counts are as complete and accurate as possible.

For technical information about the CFOI program, please go to the BLS Handbook of Methods on the BLS web site at www.bls.gov/opub/hom/soii/home.htm.

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.

Acknowledgments. The Bureau of Labor Statistics appreciates the efforts of all federal, state, local, and private sector entities that submitted source documents used to identify fatal work injuries, in particular the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court.

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

Table 1. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, Nebraska, 2011-2012

Event or exposure(1)	2011	2012(p)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	39	48	100
Transportation incidents	25	25	52
Aircraft incidents	--	1	2
Other in-flight crash	--	1	2
Other in-flight crash into structure, object, or ground	--	1	2
Pedestrian vehicular incident	1	3	6
Pedestrian struck by vehicle in work zone	--	1	2
Pedestrian struck by vehicle backing up in work zone	--	1	2
Pedestrian struck by vehicle backing up in nonroadway area	--	1	2
Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicle	15	17	35
Roadway collision with other vehicle	5	12	25
Roadway collision--moving in opposite directions, oncoming	--	6	13
Roadway collision--moving perpendicularly	1	4	8
Roadway collision--moving and standing vehicle in roadway	--	1	2
Roadway noncollision incident	6	3	6
Jack-knifed or overturned, roadway	5	3	6
Nonroadway incident involving motorized land vehicles	7	4	8
Nonroadway collision with object other than vehicle	1	1	2
Nonroadway noncollision incident	6	3	6
Jack-knifed or overturned, nonroadway	5	3	6
Falls, slips, trips	3	6	13
Falls to lower level	--	5	10
Fall from collapsing structure or equipment	--	1	2
Other fall to lower level	--	4	8
Other fall to lower level 21 to 25 feet	--	1	2
Direct exposure to electricity	--	1	2
Direct exposure to electricity, greater than 220 volts	--	1	2
Exposure to harmful substances or environments	--	5	10
Exposure to temperature extremes	--	3	6
Exposure to environmental heat	--	3	6
Contact with objects and equipment	5	10	21
Struck by object or equipment	--	6	13
Struck by powered vehicle--nontransport	--	3	6
Caught between rolling powered vehicle and other object	--	1	2
Struck by other falling powered vehicle	--	1	2
Struck by falling object or equipment--other than powered vehicle	--	2	4
Struck by object falling from vehicle or machinery--other than vehicle part	--	1	2
Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects	2	3	6
Caught in running equipment or machinery	1	3	6
Caught in running equipment or machinery during maintenance, cleaning	1	1	2
Struck, caught, or crushed in collapsing structure, equipment, or material	1	1	2
Engulfment in other collapsing material	1	1	2
Footnotes: (1) Based on the BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) 2.01 implemented for 2011 data forward. Total may include other events not shown. (p) Data are preliminary. Revised and final 2012 data are scheduled to be released in spring 2014.
NOTE: Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding. CFOI fatality counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event. 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, Nebraska, 2011-2012

Industry(1)	2011	2012(p)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	39	48	100
Private industry	34	41	85
Natural resources and mining	19	14	29
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting	18	13	27
Crop production	12	5	10
Animal production	6	8	17
Cattle ranching and farming	6	7	15
Beef cattle ranching and farming, including feedlots	3	4	8
Beef cattle ranching and farming	--	2	4
Mining(2)	1	1	2
Mining (except oil and gas)	1	1	2
Nonmetallic mineral mining and quarrying	1	1	2
Stone mining and quarrying	1	1	2
Construction	4	9	19
Construction	4	9	19
Heavy and civil engineering construction	--	1	2
Highway, street, and bridge construction	--	1	2
Highway, street, and bridge construction	--	1	2
Specialty trade contractors	3	8	17
Building equipment contractors	1	1	2
Electrical contractors	1	1	2
Other specialty trade contractors	--	3	6
Site preparation contractors	--	3	6
Manufacturing	--	4	8
Manufacturing	--	4	8
Food manufacturing	--	3	6
Grain and oilseed milling	--	1	2
Trade, transportation, and utilities	5	11	23
Utilities	--	1	2
Utilities	--	1	2
Electric power generation, transmission and distribution	--	1	2
Electric power transmission, control, and distribution	--	1	2
Electric power distribution	--	1	2
Wholesale trade	1	4	8
Merchant wholesalers, durable goods	1	1	2
Miscellaneous durable goods merchant wholesalers	--	1	2
Recyclable material merchant wholesalers	--	1	2
Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods	--	3	6
Farm product raw material merchant wholesalers	--	1	2
Grain and field bean merchant wholesalers	--	1	2
Retail trade	--	1	2
Food and beverage stores	--	1	2
Specialty food stores	--	1	2
Transportation and warehousing	4	6	12
Rail transportation	--	1	2
Rail transportation	--	1	2
Rail transportation	--	1	2
Truck transportation	--	5	10
General freight trucking	--	3	6
General freight trucking, long-distance	--	3	6
General freight trucking, long-distance, truckload	--	3	6
Professional and business services	1	1	2
Administrative and waste services	--	1	2
Administrative and support services	--	1	2
Services to buildings and dwellings	--	1	2
Landscaping services	--	1	2
Educational and health services	1	3	6
Educational services	2	3	6
Educational services	2	3	6
Elementary and secondary schools	2	3	6
Elementary and secondary schools	2	3	6
Leisure and hospitality	1	1	2
Arts, entertainment, and recreation	1	1	2
Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries	1	1	2
Promoters of performing arts, sports, and similar events	--	1	2
Government(3)	5	7	15
Federal government	--	1	2
State government	--	2	4
Local government	3	4	8
Footnotes: (1) Industry data are based on the North American Industry Classification System, 2007. Total may include other industries not shown. (2) Includes fatal injuries at all establishments categorized as Mining (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. (p) Data are preliminary. Revised and final 2012 data are scheduled to be released in spring 2014.
NOTE: Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria. CFOI fatality counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event. 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, Nebraska, 2011-2012

Occupation(1)	2011	2012(p)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	39	48	100
Management occupations	11	10	21
Other management occupations	11	9	19
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers	10	9	19
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers	10	9	19
Education, training, and library occupations	--	2	4
Preschool, primary, secondary, and special education school teachers	--	2	4
Secondary school teachers	--	2	4
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education	--	2	4
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations	--	1	2
Supervisors of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers	--	1	2
First-line supervisors of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers	--	1	2
First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers	--	1	2
Office and administrative support occupations	--	1	2
Material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing workers	--	1	2
Postal service workers	--	1	2
Postal service mail carriers	--	1	2
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations	8	4	8
Agricultural workers	7	4	8
Miscellaneous agricultural workers	7	4	8
Agricultural equipment operators	--	1	2
Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse	4	2	4
Construction and extraction occupations	5	10	21
Construction trades workers	4	7	15
Electricians	1	1	2
Electricians	1	1	2
Extraction workers	--	1	2
Mining machine operators	--	1	2
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	--	3	6
Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers	--	1	2
Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians and mechanics	--	1	2
Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians	--	1	2
Other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	--	2	4
Industrial machinery installation, repair, and maintenance workers	--	1	2
Industrial machinery mechanics	--	1	2
Line installers and repairers	--	1	2
Electrical power-line installers and repairers	--	1	2
Transportation and material moving occupations	6	14	29
Motor vehicle operators	6	8	17
Bus drivers	1	1	2
Bus drivers, school or special client	1	1	2
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers	5	7	15
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers	4	7	15
Material moving workers	--	5	10
Laborers and material movers, hand	--	4	8
Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand	--	4	8
Refuse and recyclable material collectors	--	1	2
Refuse and recyclable material collectors	--	1	2
Footnotes: (1) Occupation data are based on the Standard Occupational Classification system, 2010. Total may include occupations not shown. (p) Data are preliminary. Revised and final 2012 data are scheduled to be released in spring 2014.
NOTE: Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria. CFOI fatality counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event. 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 worker characteristics, Nebraska, 2011-2012

Worker characteristics	2011	2012(p)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	39	48	100
Employee status
Wage and salary(1)	26	36	75
Self-employed(2)	13	12	25
Gender
Men	32	44	92
Women	7	4	8
Age(3)
20 to 24 years	4	5	10
25 to 34 years	3	8	17
35 to 44 years	--	5	10
45 to 54 years	8	14	29
55 to 64 years	13	10	21
65 years and over	8	6	13
Race or ethnic origin(4)
White, non-Hispanic	34	42	88
Hispanic or Latino	3	5	10
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) Information may not be available for all age groups. (4) Persons identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. The race categories shown exclude Hispanic and Latino workers. (p) Data are preliminary. Revised and final 2012 data are scheduled to be released in spring 2014.
NOTE: Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria. CFOI fatality counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event. 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.