News Release Information
20-340-SAN
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Fatal Work Injuries in Alaska – 2018
Fatal work injuries totaled 32 in 2018 for Alaska, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Richard Holden noted that the number of work-related fatalities in Alaska was similar to the previous year. Fatal occupational injuries in the state have ranged from a high of 91 in 1992 to a low of 14 in 2015. (See chart 1.)
Nationwide, a total of 5,250 fatal work injuries were recorded in 2018, up from the 5,147 fatal injuries in 2017, according to the results from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) program.
Type of incidentIn Alaska, transportation incidents resulted in 18 fatal work injuries and violence and other injuries by persons or animals accounted for 7 fatalities. These two major categories accounted for 78 percent of all workplace fatalities in the state. (See table 1.) Worker deaths from transportation incidents were unchanged over the year and worker fatalities due to violence or other injuries by persons or animals rose by one. Exposure to harmful substances or environments was the third-most frequent fatal work event with three fatalities.
Nationally, transportation incidents were the most frequent fatal workplace event in 2018, accounting for 40 percent of fatal work injuries. (See chart 2.) Violence and other injuries by persons or animals was the second-most common fatal event (16 percent), followed by falls, slips, and trips (15 percent) and contact with objects and equipment (15 percent).
IndustryThe private agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting industry had the highest number of fatalities in Alaska with 13, down from 16 in the previous year. (See table 2.) Transportation incidents resulted in 9 of the 13 fatalities in the industry. The fishing sector accounted for 12 of the 13 workplace fatalities in the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting industry.
The private transportation and warehousing industry had nine workplace fatalities, up from three in the previous year. The air transportation sector accounted for five, or 56 percent, of the fatal injuries in this industry.
OccupationThe farming, fishing, and forestry occupational group had the highest number of workplace fatalities with 11. (See table 3.) Fishers and related fishing workers accounted for 9 of the 11 fatalities among farming, fishing, and forestry workers. The transportation and material moving occupational group had the second highest number of workplace fatalities with eight, followed by construction and extraction occupations with three. Commercial pilots suffered four of the work-related deaths within the transportation and material moving group.
Additional highlights:- Men accounted for 94 percent of the work-related fatalities in Alaska, similar to the national share. (See table 4.) Transportation incidents made up 57 percent of the fatalities for men in Alaska.
- White non-Hispanics accounted for 69 percent of those who died from a workplace injury. Nationwide, this group accounted for 65 percent of work-related deaths.
- Workers 25-54 years old accounted for 53 percent of the state’s work-related fatalities in 2018, compared to 58 percent of on-the-job fatalities nationally.
- Of the 32 fatal work injuries in Alaska, 88 percent worked for wages and salaries; the remainder were self-employed. The most frequent fatal event for both wage and salary workers and self-employed workers was transportation incidents.
Technical Note
Background of the program. The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), part of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Safety and Health Statistics (OSHS) program, is a count of all fatal work injuries occurring in the U.S. during the calendar year. The CFOI uses a variety of state, federal, and independent data sources to identify, verify, and describe fatal work injuries. This ensures counts are as complete and accurate as possible. For the 2018 national data, over 24,800 unique source documents were reviewed as part of the data collection process. For technical information and definitions for the CFOI, see 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, some of which may be outside the scope of other agencies or regulatory coverage. Comparisons between CFOI counts and those released by other agencies should account for the different coverage requirements and definitions used by each agency. For more information on the scope of CFOI, see www.bls.gov/iif/cfoiscope.htm and www.bls.gov/opub/hom/cfoi/concepts.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 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, Alaska, 2017–18| Event or exposure | 2017 | 2018 |
|---|
| Number | Number | Percent |
|---|
Total | 33 | 32 | 100 |
|---|
Violence and other injuries by persons or animals | 6 | 7 | 22 |
|---|
Intentional injury by person | 5 | 6 | 19 |
|---|
Intentional injury by other person | 3 | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Self-inflicted injury--intentional | -- | 5 | 16 |
|---|
Shooting--intentional self-harm | 1 | 3 | 9 |
|---|
Animal and insect related incidents | 1 | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Multiple types of animal and insect incidents | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Bitten and struck by animal | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Transportation incidents | 18 | 18 | 56 |
|---|
Aircraft incidents | 4 | 6 | 19 |
|---|
Aircraft crash during takeoff or landing | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Aircraft crash during takeoff or landing--into structure, object, or ground | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Other in-flight crash | 4 | 5 | 16 |
|---|
Other in-flight crash between air vehicles | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Other in-flight crash into structure, object, or ground | 4 | 4 | 13 |
|---|
Water vehicle incidents | 12 | 10 | 31 |
|---|
Water vehicle collisions | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Collision between water vehicle and object | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Capsized or sinking water vehicle | 8 | 4 | 13 |
|---|
Fall or jump from water vehicle | 4 | 3 | 9 |
|---|
Machinery or equipment incident on water vehicle | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicle | -- | 2 | 6 |
|---|
Roadway collision with other vehicle | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Roadway collision--moving perpendicularly | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Roadway noncollision incident | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Ran off roadway | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Fires and explosions | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Falls, slips, trips | 6 | -- | -- |
|---|
Exposure to harmful substances or environments | -- | 3 | 9 |
|---|
Contact with objects and equipment | 1 | -- | -- |
|---|
Overexertion and bodily reaction | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
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 fatality 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, Alaska, 2017–18| Industry | 2017 | 2018 |
|---|
| Number | Number | Percent |
|---|
Total | 33 | 32 | 100 |
|---|
Private industry | 31 | 30 | 94 |
|---|
Goods producing | 20 | 15 | 47 |
|---|
Natural resources and mining | 16 | 15 | 47 |
|---|
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 16 | 13 | 41 |
|---|
Forestry and logging | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Logging | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Logging | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Fishing, hunting and trapping | 14 | 12 | 38 |
|---|
Fishing | 14 | 12 | 38 |
|---|
Fishing | 14 | 12 | 38 |
|---|
Finfish fishing | 7 | 9 | 28 |
|---|
Mining | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Support activities for mining | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Support activities for mining | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Support activities for mining | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Drilling oil and gas wells | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Construction | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Manufacturing | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Service providing | 11 | 15 | 47 |
|---|
Trade, transportation, and utilities | 6 | 9 | 28 |
|---|
Transportation and warehousing | 3 | 9 | 28 |
|---|
Air transportation | 3 | 5 | 16 |
|---|
Scheduled air transportation | 1 | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Scheduled air transportation | 1 | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Nonscheduled air transportation | 2 | 4 | 13 |
|---|
Nonscheduled air transportation | 2 | 4 | 13 |
|---|
Nonscheduled chartered passenger air transportation | 1 | 4 | 13 |
|---|
Water transportation | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Deep sea, coastal, and great lakes water transportation | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Deep sea, coastal, and great lakes water transportation | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Deep sea passenger transportation | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Truck transportation | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Specialized freight trucking | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Specialized freight (except used goods) trucking, long-distance | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Transit and ground passenger transportation | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Taxi and limousine service | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Taxi service | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Information | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Financial activities | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Professional and business services | -- | 3 | 9 |
|---|
Professional and technical services | 1 | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Professional, scientific, and technical services | 1 | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Other professional, scientific, and technical services | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Educational and health services | 1 | -- | -- |
|---|
Leisure and hospitality | -- | 3 | 9 |
|---|
Arts, entertainment, and recreation | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Zoos and botanical gardens | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Accommodation and food services | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Accommodation | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
RV (recreational vehicle) parks and recreational camps | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
RV (recreational vehicle) parks and recreational camps | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Recreational and vacation camps (except campgrounds) | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Other services, except public administration | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Government | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Federal government | 1 | -- | -- |
|---|
State government | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Local government | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
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 fatality 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, Alaska, 2017–18| Occupation | 2017 | 2018 |
|---|
| Number | Number | Percent |
|---|
Total | 33 | 32 | 100 |
|---|
Management occupations | 1 | -- | -- |
|---|
Other management occupations | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Lodging managers | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Lodging managers | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Business and financial operations occupations | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Computer and mathematical occupations | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Architecture and engineering occupations | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Life, physical, and social science occupations | 1 | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Life scientists | 1 | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Biological scientists | 1 | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Zoologists and wildlife biologists | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Community and social services occupations | 1 | -- | -- |
|---|
Legal occupations | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Education, training, and library occupations | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Healthcare support occupations | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Protective service occupations | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Food preparation and serving related occupations | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Supervisors of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
First-line supervisors of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Personal care and service occupations | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Sales and related occupations | 3 | -- | -- |
|---|
Office and administrative support occupations | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations | 14 | 11 | 34 |
|---|
Supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Fishing and hunting workers | 13 | 9 | 28 |
|---|
Fishers and related fishing workers | 13 | 9 | 28 |
|---|
Fishers and related fishing workers | 13 | 9 | 28 |
|---|
Construction and extraction occupations | 4 | 3 | 9 |
|---|
Extraction workers | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Derrick, rotary drill, and service unit operators, oil, gas, and mining | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Rotary drill operators, oil and gas | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Miscellaneous installation, maintenance, and repair workers | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Production occupations | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Transportation and material moving occupations | 4 | 8 | 25 |
|---|
Air transportation workers | 3 | 5 | 16 |
|---|
Aircraft pilots and flight engineers | 3 | 5 | 16 |
|---|
Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers | 1 | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Commercial pilots | 2 | 4 | 13 |
|---|
Motor vehicle operators | -- | 2 | 6 |
|---|
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Taxi drivers and chauffeurs | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Taxi drivers and chauffeurs | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
Military specific occupations | -- | 1 | 3 |
|---|
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. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria. |
Table 4. Fatal occupational injuries by selected demographic characteristics, Alaska, 2017–18| Worker characteristics | 2017 | 2018 |
|---|
| Number | Number | Percent |
|---|
Total | 33 | 32 | 100 |
|---|
Employee status | |
|---|
Wage and salary workers | 25 | 28 | 88 |
|---|
Self-employed | 8 | 4 | 13 |
|---|
Gender | |
|---|
Men | 31 | 30 | 94 |
|---|
Women | 2 | -- | -- |
|---|
Age | |
|---|
18 to 19 years | 1 | 1 | 3 |
|---|
20 to 24 years | 2 | 3 | 9 |
|---|
25 to 34 years | 9 | 4 | 13 |
|---|
35 to 44 years | 5 | 4 | 13 |
|---|
45 to 54 years | 4 | 9 | 28 |
|---|
55 to 64 years | 8 | 9 | 28 |
|---|
65 years and over | 4 | 2 | 6 |
|---|
Race or ethnic origin | |
|---|
White, non-Hispanic | 22 | 22 | 69 |
|---|
Black or African-American, non-Hispanic | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
Hispanic or Latino | -- | -- | -- |
|---|
American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic | 3 | 4 | 13 |
|---|
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 fatality counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria. |
United States Department of Labor
