Fatal work injuries totaled 186 in 2011 for Pennsylvania, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Sheila Watkins, the Bureau’s regional commissioner, noted that while the 2011 count was preliminary, the number of work-related fatalities in Pennsylvania declined by 35 over the year to the second-lowest level since the series began in 1992. Fatal occupational injuries in the state have ranged from a high of 354 in 1994 to a low of 168 in 2009. (See chart 1.)

Nationwide, a preliminary total of 4,609 fatal work injuries were recorded in 2011, down from the final count of 4,690 fatalities recorded in 2010, according to results from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) program. Final 2011 CFOI data will be released in Spring 2013.

Of the 186 fatal work injuries reported in Pennsylvania in 2011, 69 resulted from transportation incidents, 34 from falls, slips, and trips, and 32 from contact with objects and equipment; together, these three major categories accounted for almost three-quarters of all workplace fatalities. (See table 1.) Within transportation incidents, roadway incidents was the most frequent type of workplace fatality with 42 deaths; in fact, it accounted for 23 percent of all on-the-job fatalities in the state. The second-largest event in transportation incidents, pedestrian vehicular incidents, accounted for 14 fatalities. In the falls, slips, and trips category, over three-quarters (27) of the deaths occurred as a result of falling to a lower level. In the contact with objects and equipment category, 20 workers were killed by being struck by an object or equipment.

In the United States, transportation incidents were also the most frequent fatal workplace event in 2011, accounting for 41 percent of fatal work injuries. Pennsylvania’s share of on-the-job fatalities due to this event was slightly lower at 37 percent. (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; the share in Pennsylvania was 15 percent. Contact with objects or equipment (15 percent) and falls, slips, and trips (14 percent) were the third- and fourth-most frequent events in the nation.

Additional key characteristics in Pennsylvania:

• The transportation and warehousing industry sector had the largest number of fatalities in the state with 34, down from 40 in the previous year. (See table 2.) Twenty-five workers, or nearly three-quarters of those fatally injured in this category, were between 45 and 64 years old.
• The construction industry had the second-highest fatality count with 30, down from 39 in 2010. Falls, slips, and trips accounted for 11 worker deaths in this sector, followed by transportation incidents with 8.
• Transportation and material moving occupations and construction and extraction occupations had the highest number of workplace fatalities with 54 and 37, respectively. (See table 3.) The majority of the fatalities within the transportation and material moving group were heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (30). Among construction and extraction workers, more than one-third (13) were the result of falls to lower levels.
• The highest number of fatal workplace injuries occurred on Mondays and Tuesdays in Pennsylvania, with 36 fatalities each; nationally, fatalities occurred most frequently on Wednesdays.
• Men accounted for 167, or 90 percent, of the work-related fatalities in the state. (See table 4.) Transportation incidents made up more than one-third of these fatalities.
• In Pennsylvania, 81 percent of those who died from a workplace injury were white non-Hispanics. Nationwide, this group accounted for 71 percent of work-related deaths.
• Workers 25-54 years old—the prime working age group—accounted for 100, or 54 percent, of the state’s work-related fatalities in 2011, compared to 60 percent of on-the-job fatalities nationwide. In Pennsylvania, workers 55-64 years old suffered more than one-quarter (49) of the state’s fatal work injuries, more than any other age group.
• Of the 186 fatally injured workers in Pennsylvania, 83 percent worked for wages and salaries; the remainder were self-employed. The most frequent fatal event for wage and salary workers was transportation incidents while falls, slips, and trips caused the highest number of self-employed worker fatalities.

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.

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 assures counts are as complete and accurate as possible.

For technical information and definitions for the CFOI program, please go to the BLS Handbook of Methods on the BLS web site at www.bls.gov/opub/hom/pdf/homch9.pdf.

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. BLS thanks the Pennsylvania Department of Health 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 entities 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 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 industries, and workers' compensation agencies; state and local police departments; and state farm bureaus.

Table 1. Fatal occupational injuries by selected* event or exposure, Pennsylvania, 2011(1)

Event or exposure(2)	Number	Percent
Total	186	100
Violence and other injuries by persons or animals	28	15
Intentional injury by person	28	15
Homicides	18	10
Suicides	10	5
Transportation incidents	69	37
Aircraft incidents	2	1
Other in-flight crash	2	1
Rail vehicle incidents	1	1
Rail vehicle collision	1	1
Animal and other non-motorized vehicle transportation incidents	1	1
Animal transportation incident	1	1
Pedestrian vehicular incident	14	8
Pedestrian struck by vehicle in work zone	3	2
Pedestrian struck by vehicle in nonroadway area	7	4
Water vehicle incident	1	1
Fall on water vehicle	1	1
Roadway incident involving motorized land vehicle	42	23
Roadway collision with other vehicle	21	11
Roadway collision with object other than vehicle	19	10
Nonroadway incident involving motorized land vehicle	8	4
Nonroadway collision with object other than vehicle	1	1
Nonroadway noncollision incident	6	3
Fire or explosion	6	3
Fire	-	-
Other structural fire without collapse	1	1
Explosion	4	2
Explosion of nonpressurized vapors, gases, or liquids	2	1
Explosion of pressure vessel, piping, or tire	1	1
Fall, slip, trip	34	18
Fall on same level	7	4
Fall to lower level	27	15
Fall from collapsing structure or equipment	3	2
Other fall to lower level	23	12
Exposure to harmful substances or environments	17	9
Exposure to electricity	7	4
Direct exposure to electricity	4	2
Indirect exposure to electricity	3	2
Exposure to other harmful substances	7	4
Nonmedical use of drugs or alcohol unintentional overdose	4	2
Inhalation of harmful substance	3	2
Contact with objects and equipment	32	17
Struck by object or equipment	20	11
Struck by powered vehicle nontransport	9	5
Struck by falling object or equipment	10	5
Injured by handheld object or equipment	1	1
Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects	6	3
Caught in running equipment or machinery	5	3
Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment	1	1
Struck, caught, or crushed in collapsing structure, equipment, or material	6	3
Excavation or trenching cave-in	2	1
* For full table detail, see www.bls.gov/ro3/cfoipatables.htm#event
Footnotes: (1) Data are preliminary. Revised and final 2011 data are scheduled to be released in Spring 2013. (2) Based on the BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) 2.01 implemented for 2011 data forward.
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 selected* industry, Pennsylvania, 2010-2011

Industry(1)	2010(2)	2011(3)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	221	186	100
Private industry	200	174	94
Natural resources and mining	29	20	11
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting	19	14	8
Crop production	13	3	2
Animal production	3	7	4
Forestry and logging	3	4	2
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction(4)	10	6	3
Support activities for mining	8	5	3
Construction	39	30	16
Construction of buildings	14	5	3
Heavy and civil engineering construction	-	5	3
Specialty trade contractors	23	20	11
Manufacturing	20	17	9
Food manufacturing	-	2	1
Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing	-	2	1
Fabricated metal product manufacturing	-	4	2
Trade, transportation, and utilities	58	62	33
Wholesale trade	6	11	6
Merchant wholesalers, durable goods	5	7	4
Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods	-	3	2
Retail trade	10	16	9
Food and beverage stores	-	11	6
Transportation and warehousing	40	34	18
Truck transportation	25	26	14
Transit and ground passenger transportation	6	4	2
Support activities for transportation	-	3	2
Utilities	-	1	1
Information	-	3	2
Publishing industries (except internet)	-	2	1
Financial activities	-	4	2
Finance and insurance	-	2	1
Insurance carriers and related activities	-	2	1
Professional and business services	16	22	12
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services	15	20	11
Administrative and support services	9	13	7
Waste management and remediation services	6	7	4
Education and health services	14	6	3
Educational services	5	2	1
Health care and social assistance	9	4	2
Ambulatory health care services	6	1	1
Leisure and hospitality	9	7	4
Accommodation and food services	7	5	3
Accommodation	-	2	1
Food services and drinking places	5	3	2
Other services, except public administration	12	3	2
Repair and maintenance	5	1	1
Government(5)	21	12	6
Federal government	-	2	1
State government	8	2	1
Local government	11	8	4
* For full table detail, see www.bls.gov/ro3/cfoipatables.htm#industry
Footnotes: (1) Industry data are based on the North American Industry Classification System, 2007. Total may include other industries not shown. (2) Preliminary data reported a total of 219 fatal work injuries in Pennsylvania for 2010. Since then, an additional 2 job-related fatal injuries were identified, bringing the final job-related fatal injury count for 2010 to 221. (3) Data are preliminary. Revised and final 2011 data are scheduled to be released in Spring 2013. (4) 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. (5) Includes fatal injuries to workers employed by governmental organizations regardless of industry.
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 selected* occupation, Pennsylvania, 2010-2011

Occupation(1)	2010(2)	2011(3)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	221	186	100
Management occupations	17	14	8
Other management occupations	15	10	5
Life, physical, and social science occupations	-	1	1
Life, physical, and social science technicians	-	1	1
Education, training, and library occupations	-	1	1
Postsecondary teachers	-	1	1
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations	3	1	1
Entertainers and performers, sports and related workers	-	1	1
Healthcare support occupations	-	1	1
Nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides	-	1	1
Protective service occupations	12	8	4
Law enforcement workers	6	5	3
Other protective service workers	4	3	2
Food preparation and serving related occupations	-	3	2
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations	11	11	6
Grounds maintenance workers	7	10	5
Personal care and service occupations	3	3	2
Animal care and service workers	-	1	1
Sales and related occupations	5	12	6
Supervisors, sales workers	3	9	5
Sales representatives, services	-	1	1
Office and administrative support occupations	7	6	3
Material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing workers	-	6	3
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations	10	9	5
Agricultural workers	6	5	3
Forest, conservation, and logging workers	4	3	2
Construction and extraction occupations	49	37	20
Supervisors of construction and extraction workers	4	2	1
Construction trades workers	36	25	13
Helpers, construction trades	-	3	2
Other construction and related workers	-	3	2
Extraction workers	7	4	2
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	14	10	5
Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers	4	6	3
Other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	10	3	2
Production occupations	22	15	8
Metal workers and plastic workers	9	4	2
Woodworkers	-	1	1
Plant and system operators	3	1	1
Other production occupations	4	7	4
Transportation and material moving occupations	58	54	29
Supervisors, transportation and material moving workers	-	3	2
Air transportation workers	-	1	1
Motor vehicle operators	48	39	21
Material moving workers	5	11	6
* For full table detail, see www.bls.gov/ro3/cfoipatables.htm#occupation
Footnotes: (1) Occupation data for 2010 are based on the Standard Occupational Classification system, 2000. Occupation data for 2011 are based on the Standard Occupational Classification system, 2010. Total may include occupations not shown. (2) Preliminary data reported a total of 219 fatal work injuries in Pennsylvania for 2010. Since then, an additional 2 job-related fatal injuries were identified, bringing the final job-related fatal injury count for 2010 to 221. (3) Data are preliminary. Revised and final 2011 data are scheduled to be released in Spring 2013.
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*, Pennsylvania, 2010-2011

Worker characteristics	2010(1)	2011(2)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	221	186	100
Employee status
Wage and salary workers(3)	186	154	83
Self-employed(4)	35	32	17
Gender
Men	201	167	90
Women	20	19	10
Age(5)
Under 16 years	-	2	1
18-19 years	-	2	1
20 to 24 years	8	10	5
25 to 34 years	23	23	12
35 to 44 years	42	29	16
45 to 54 years	57	48	26
55 to 64 years	43	49	26
65 and over	44	23	12
Race or ethnic origin(6)
White (non-Hispanic)	185	151	81
Black or African-American (non-Hispanic)	18	13	7
Hispanic or Latino	13	14	8
Asian or Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander (non-Hispanic)	4	6	3
* See www.bls.gov/ro3/cfoipatables.htm#characteristic
Footnotes: (1) Preliminary data reported a total of 219 fatal work injuries in Pennsylvania for 2010. Since then, an additional 2 job-related fatal injuries were identified, bringing the final job-related fatal injury count for 2010 to 221. (2) Data are preliminary. Revised and final 2011 data are scheduled to be released in Spring 2013. (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, and may include some owners of incorporated businesses or members of partnerships. (5) Information may not be available for all age groups. (6) Persons identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. The race categories shown exclude Hispanic and Latino workers.
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

 

 

Last Modified Date: January 3, 2013