Fatal work injuries totaled 66 in 2011 for the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Pa.-N.J.-Del.-Md. Metropolitan Statistical Area, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Sheila Watkins, the Bureau’s regional commissioner, noted that while the 2011 count is preliminary, the number of work-related fatalities in the Philadelphia metropolitan area decreased by 4 from the 70 deaths recorded a year earlier and was the lowest total in the nine-year history of the series. (See chart 1.) Final 2011 fatality data will be released in Spring 2013.

The Philadelphia area had the sixth-largest population nationally¹ and placed sixth in work-related fatalities among the 10 largest metropolitan statistical areas in the United States. (See chart 2.) The most populated area in the country—New York—had the highest number of workplace fatalities (181) in 2011. The smallest metropolitan area in this group—Boston—had the lowest fatality count with 41 deaths. (See chart 4.)

Of the 66 fatal work injuries reported in the Philadelphia metropolitan area in 2011, 22 were a result of violence and other injuries by persons or animals; 16 of these were homicides. (See table 2.) Violence and other injuries by persons or animals was the most frequent fatal event in 6 of the 10 largest metropolitan areas in 2011, including Philadelphia; in two more, it was tied with transportation incidents as the most frequent. (See table 1.) Among the 10 areas, Philadelphia had the highest share of work-related deaths from violence and other injuries by persons or animals at one-third of total fatalities; all of the top 10 metropolitan areas had a higher share than the nation’s 17 percent.

Fatal transportation incidents were the second-most frequent cause of workplace deaths in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, responsible for 27 percent of total fatalities. (See chart 3.) Ten of the 18 fatalities in this category were roadway collisions with other vehicles. Philadelphia had the third-lowest share of fatal transportation incidents among the top 10 metropolitan areas. Nationwide, transportation incidents accounted for 41 percent of work-related fatalities; all 10 metropolitan areas had shares well below that for the nation. Falls, slips, and trips in the Philadelphia metropolitan area accounted for 12 work-related deaths in 2011, 18 percent of total fatalities. Philadelphia had the fourth-lowest share of total fatalities in this category. All of the largest metropolitan areas except for Washington had higher shares of occupational fatalities from falls, slips, and trips than the 14 percent recorded for the nation.

Additional key characteristics in the Philadelphia area:

• The retail trade sector accounted for the largest portion of the Philadelphia area’s fatal workplace injuries with 13 deaths. (See table 3.) Eleven fatalities in this sector resulted from intentional shootings by other persons.
• The transportation and warehousing sector had the second-highest fatality count with 10. All of these were men and nine were between the ages of 45 and 64.
• Transportation and material moving occupations had the highest number of on-the-job fatalities in the Philadelphia area with 13; heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers and refuse and recyclable material collectors each accounted for 3 of the 13 fatalities. Workers in sales and related occupations had the second-highest fatality count with 12, followed by those in construction and extraction occupations with 9. (See table 4.)
• Men accounted for 60, or 91 percent, of the work-related fatalities in the Philadelphia metropolitan area in 2011. Violence and other injuries by persons or animals accounted for one-third of these fatalities. Six women were fatally injured at work in the Philadelphia area. (See table 5.)
• In the Philadelphia area, 61 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 65 percent of the work-related fatalities in the Philadelphia area in 2011; this was higher than the 60-percent share of worker deaths for this age group nationwide. Another 30 percent of the fatally injured workers were 55 or older.
• Of the 66 fatally injured workers in the Philadelphia area, 79 percent worked for wages and salaries; the remaining were self-employed. The most frequent fatal event for both groups was violence and other injuries by persons or animals.
• Thirty-two percent of work-related fatalities in Philadelphia occurred during August (11 fatalities) and May (10). February had the fewest number of fatalities with one. Nationally, August also had the most occupational fatalities of any month, and February had the fewest.

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.

Footnotes

¹ Metropolitan area populations based on 2011 estimates from the Census Bureau: http://www.census.gov/popest/data/metro/totals/2011/tables/CBSA-EST2011-05.xls

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; New Jersey Department of Health; Delaware Department of Labor; and Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation 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.

Area definitions. The substate area data published in this release reflect the standards and definitions established by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, dated December 2009. A detailed list of the geographic definitions is available at http://www.bls.gov/lau/lausmsa.htm.

The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Pa.-N.J.-Del.-Md. Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) consists of the Camden, N.J. Metropolitan Division (MD); the Philadelphia, Pa. Metropolitan Division (MD); and the Wilmington, Del.-Md.-N.J. Metropolitan Division (MD).

• The Camden, N.J. MD is composed of Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester Counties in New Jersey.
• The Philadelphia, Pa. MD consists of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties in Pennsylvania.
• The Wilmington, Del.-Md.-N.J. MD consists of New Castle County in Delaware, Cecil County in Maryland, and Salem County in New Jersey.

 

Table 1. Fatal occupational injuries by selected event groups in the 10 largest metropolitan areas in 2011

Metropolitan Areas(1)	Total fatalities(2)	Violence and other injuries by persons or animals	Transportation incidents	Falls, slips, trips	Contact with objects and equipment
United States(3)	4,609	780	1,898	666	708
New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa.	181	56	50	35	28
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif.	110	32	17	29	17
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, Texas	105	25	26	20	19
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, Ill.-Ind.-Wis.	97	30	29	16	10
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas	80	22	22	14	10
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Pa.-N.J.-Del.-Md.	66	22	18	12	11
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, D.C.-Va.-Md.-W.Va.	62	19	17	8	8
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, Fla.	59	19	18	11	6
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, Ga.	43	10	12	8	11
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, Mass.-N.H.	41	13	13	9	3
Footnotes: (1) Metropolitan areas used in this table are Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) based on definitions from the Office of Management and Budget Bulletin Number 10-02, December 2009. (2) Data are based on a preliminary total of 4,609 fatal work injuries for 2011. (3) Also includes fatalities occurring in nonmetropolitan areas.

Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by selected* event or exposure, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, 2011(1)

Event or exposure(2)	Number	Percent
Total	66	100
Violence and other injuries by persons or animals	22	33
Intentional injury by person	22	33
Homicides	16	24
Shooting by other person—intentional	12	18
Stabbing, cutting, slashing, piercing	2	3
Multiple violent acts by other person	1	2
Suicides	6	9
Hanging, strangulation, asphyxiation—intentional self-harm	3	5
Transportation incidents	18	27
Animal and other non-motorized vehicle transportation incidents	1	2
Animal transportation incident	1	2
Thrown, fell, or jumped from animal being ridden	1	2
Pedestrian vehicular incident	3	5
Water vehicle incident	1	2
Fall on water vehicle	1	2
Roadway incident involving motorized land vehicle	13	20
Roadway collision with other vehicle	10	15
Roadway collision moving in same direction	1	2
Roadway collision moving in opposite directions, oncoming	4	6
Roadway collision moving and standing vehicle in roadway	2	3
Roadway collision moving and standing vehicle on side of roadway	1	2
Roadway collision with object other than vehicle	2	3
Vehicle struck object or animal in roadway	1	2
Fire or explosion	1	2
Explosion	1	2
Explosion of pressure vessel, piping, or tire	1	2
Fall, slip, trip	12	18
Fall on same level	3	5
Fall to lower level	9	14
Fall from collapsing structure or equipment	1	2
Fall from collapsing structure or equipment 16 to 20 feet	1	2
Other fall to lower level	8	12
Other fall to lower level more than 30 feet	3	5
Contact with objects and equipment	11	17
Struck by object or equipment	10	15
Struck by powered vehicle nontransport	3	5
Struck by falling object or equipment	6	9
Struck by object falling from vehicle or machinery other than vehicle part	3	5
Struck by discharged or flying object	1	2
* For full table details, see www.bls.gov/ro3/cfoiphltables.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 3. Fatal occupational injuries by industry, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, 2010-2011

Industry(1)	2010	2011(2)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	70	66	100
Private industry	64	60	91
Natural resources and mining	4	1	2
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting	4	1	2
Forestry and logging	-	1	2
Logging	-	1	2
Construction	17	6	9
Specialty trade contractors	11	3	5
Foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors	9	1	2
Bakeries and tortilla manufacturing	-	1	2
Manufacturing	5	6	9
Trade, transportation, and utilities	18	26	39
Retail trade	3	13	20
Food and beverage stores	-	11	17
Grocery stores	-	11	17
Health and personal care stores	-	1	2
Gasoline stations	-	1	2
Transportation and warehousing	12	10	15
Truck transportation	6	4	6
Transit and ground passenger transportation	-	4	6
Taxi and limousine service	-	3	5
Support activities for transportation	-	2	3
Support activities for water transportation	-	2	3
Utilities	-	1	2
Utilities	-	1	2
Electric power generation, transmission and distribution	-	1	2
Financial activities	-	3	5
Finance and insurance	-	1	2
Insurance carriers and related activities	-	1	2
Insurance carriers	-	1	2
Professional and business services	3	9	14
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services	-	7	11
Administrative and support services	-	4	6
Services to buildings and dwellings	-	4	6
Waste management and remediation services	-	3	5
Waste collection	-	3	5
Leisure and hospitality	7	1	2
Arts, entertainment, and recreation	-	1	2
Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries	-	1	2
Spectator sports	-	1	2
Other services, except public administration	5	4	6
Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations	-	1	2
Government(3)	6	6	9
Federal government	-	1	2
Local government	4	5	8
* For full table detail, see www.bls.gov/cfoiphltables.htm#industry
Footnotes: (1) Industry data are based on the North American Industry Classification System, 2007. Total may include other industries not shown. (2) Data are preliminary. Revised and final 2011 data are scheduled to be released in Spring 2013. (3) 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 4. Fatal occupational injuries by selected* occupation, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, 2010-2011

Occupation(1)	2010	2011(2)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	70	66	100
Management occupations	9	3	5
Education, training, and library occupations	-	1	2
Postsecondary teachers	-	1	2
Math and computer teachers, postsecondary	-	1	2
Healthcare support occupations	-	1	2
Nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides	-	1	2
Protective service occupations	5	2	3
First-line supervisors/managers, protective service workers	-	1	2
First-line supervisors/managers, law enforcement workers	-	1	2
Law enforcement workers	-	1	2
Detectives and criminal investigators	-	1	2
Food preparation and serving related occupations	-	1	2
Food and beverage serving workers	-	1	2
Fast food and counter workers	-	1	2
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations	-	4	6
Grounds maintenance workers	-	3	5
Sales and related occupations	-	12	18
Supervisors, sales workers	-	8	12
First-line supervisors/managers, sales workers	-	8	12
Retail sales workers	-	1	2
Retail salespersons	-	1	2
Sales representatives, services	-	1	2
Insurance sales agents	-	1	2
Office and administrative support occupations	-	5	8
Material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing workers	-	5	8
Stock clerks and order fillers	-	4	6
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations	-	1	2
Forest, conservation, and logging workers	-	1	2
Logging workers	-	1	2
Construction and extraction occupations	14	9	14
Construction trades workers	12	6	9
Carpenters	-	1	2
Roofers	5	1	2
Helpers, construction trades	-	1	2
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	5	7	11
Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers	-	3	5
Production occupations	8	5	8
Transportation and material moving occupations	19	13	20
Supervisors, transportation and material moving workers	-	2	3
First-line supervisors/managers of helpers, laborers, and material movers, hand	-	1	2
First-line supervisors/managers of transportation and material-moving machine and vehicle operators	-	1	2
Motor vehicle operators	15	7	11
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers	13	5	8
Material moving workers	-	4	6
Laborers and material movers, hand	-	1	2
Refuse and recyclable material collectors	-	3	5
* For full table detail, see www.bls.gov/ro3/cfoiphltables.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) 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 5. Fatal occupational injuries by worker characteristics*, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, 2010-2011

Worker characteristics	2010	2011(1)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	70	66	100
Employee status
Wage and salary workers(2)	59	52	79
Self-employed(3)	11	14	21
Gender
Men	65	60	91
Women	5	6	9
Age(4)
18-19 years	-	1	2
20 to 24 years	4	2	3
25 to 34 years	12	7	11
35 to 44 years	16	12	18
45 to 54 years	20	24	36
55 to 64 years	9	14	21
65 and over	9	6	9
Race or ethnic origin(5)
White (non-Hispanic)	39	40	61
Black or African-American (non-Hispanic)	14	9	14
Hispanic or Latino	12	11	17
Asian or Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander (non-Hispanic)	4	4	6
*See www.bls.gov/ro3/cfoiphltables.htm#characteristic
Footnotes: (1) Data are preliminary. Revised and final 2011 data are scheduled to be released in Spring 2013. (2) May include volunteers and workers receiving other types of compensation. (3) 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. (4) Information may not be available for all age groups. (5) 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