Fatal work injuries totaled 43 in 2011 for West Virginia, 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 West Virginia declined by 52 over the year and was the third-lowest count since the series began in 1992. Fatal occupational injuries in the state have ranged from 2010’s high of 95 to a low of 40 in 2002. The 2010 total includes the 29 fatalities from the Upper Big Branch Mine incident. (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 43 fatal work injuries reported in West Virginia in 2011, 18 resulted from transportation incidents and 11 from contact with objects and equipment. Together these two major categories accounted for more than two-thirds of all workplace fatalities. Other major event categories each reported fewer than 10 deaths. (See table 1.) Within transportation incidents, roadway incidents accounted for the most workplace fatalities with 12 deaths—more than one-quarter of all on-the-job fatalities in the state. In the contact with objects and equipment category, seven deaths occurred from 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. West Virginia’s 42-percent share was similar to that for the nation. (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, 10 percentage points higher than the share in West Virginia. Contact with objects or equipment was the third-most frequent event in the nation, representing 15 percent of worker fatalities, but the second-most frequent in West Virginia, representing 26 percent of worker deaths in the state. 

Additional key characteristics in West Virginia:

• The mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction industry sector had the largest number of fatalities in the state with 10, down from 37 the previous year, which included the 29 fatalities from the Upper Big Branch Mine incident. (See table 2.) Transportation incidents and contact with objects and equipment each accounted for half of the worker deaths in this sector.
• The transportation and warehousing sector and the construction sector tied with the second-highest fatality count in West Virginia, seven each. Last year’s counts in these industries were 8 and 10, respectively. Roadway incidents accounted for five worker deaths in the transportation and warehousing sector, while in the construction industry, exposure to electricity and falls to a lower level events each had three fatalities.
• Transportation and material moving occupations had the highest number of workplace fatalities in West Virginia with 12. (See table 3.) The majority of these fatalities were heavy and tractor trailer truck drivers (seven). Workers in construction and extraction occupations had the next-highest fatality count at nine, followed by installation, maintenance, and repair workers with seven.
• Men accounted for all of the work-related fatalities in the state.(See table 4.) Nationally, men made up 92 percent of fatally injured workers.
• In West Virginia, all of the workers 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 27, or 63 percent, of the state’s work-related fatalities in 2011. Nationally, workers in this group accounted for 60 percent of on-the-job fatalities. In both West Virginia and the U.S., workers 45-54 years old had the most fatalities of all of the age groups, accounting for slightly more than one-third of fatalities in West Virginia and just over a quarter nationwide.
• Of the 43 fatally injured workers in West Virginia, 77 percent worked for wages and salaries; the remainder were self-employed. The most frequent fatal event for both groups was transportation incidents.
• In West Virginia, the months with the most fatalities were June (six) and July (seven). Together, they represented 30 percent of the work-related fatalities in 2011. The nationwide fatality share for these two months was 20 percent.

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 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, West Virginia, 2011(1)

Event or exposure(2)	Number	Percent
Total	43	100
Violence and other injuries by persons or animals	3	7
Intentional injury by person	2	5
Homicides	2	5
Shooting by other person—intentional	2	5
Transportation incidents	18	42
Aircraft incidents	1	2
Other in-flight crash	1	2
Other in-flight crash into structure, object, or ground	1	2
Roadway incident involving motorized land vehicle	12	28
Roadway collision with other vehicle	5	12
Roadway collision moving in same direction	1	2
Roadway collision moving in opposite directions, oncoming	3	7
Roadway collision with object other than vehicle	5	12
Vehicle struck object or animal in roadway	1	2
Vehicle struck object or animal on side of roadway	4	9
Roadway noncollision incident	2	5
Jack-knifed or overturned, roadway	2	5
Nonroadway incident involving motorized land vehicle	3	7
Nonroadway noncollision incident	3	7
Jack-knifed or overturned, nonroadway	2	5
Fall, slip, trip	6	14
Fall to lower level	6	14
Fall from collapsing structure or equipment	1	2
Fall from collapsing structure or equipment 11 to 15 feet	1	2
Fall through surface or existing opening	1	2
Fall through surface or existing opening more than 30 feet	1	2
Other fall to lower level	4	9
Other fall to lower level more than 30 feet	2	5
Exposure to harmful substances or environments	5	12
Exposure to electricity	4	9
Direct exposure to electricity	3	7
Indirect exposure to electricity	1	2
Indirect exposure to electricity, greater than 220 volts	1	2
Contact with objects and equipment	11	26
Struck by object or equipment	7	16
Struck by powered vehicle nontransport	2	5
Caught between rolling powered vehicle and other object	1	2
Struck or run over by rolling powered vehicle	1	2
Struck by falling object or equipment	5	12
Struck by object falling from vehicle or machinery other than vehicle part	1	2
Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects	4	9
Caught in running equipment or machinery	4	9
* For full table detail, see www.bls.gov/ro3/cfoiwvtables.htm#event
Footnotes: (1) Based on the BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) 2.01 implemented for 2011 data forward. (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. 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, West Virginia, 2010-2011

Industry(1)	2010	2011(2)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	95	43	100
Private industry	87	38	88
Natural resources and mining	45	16	37
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting	8	6	14
Animal production	3	3	7
Cattle ranching and farming	-	2	5
Poultry and egg production	-	1	2
Forestry and logging	4	3	7
Logging	-	3	7
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction(3)	37	10	23
Mining (except oil and gas)	35	6	14
Coal mining	34	5	12
Nonmetallic mineral mining and quarrying	-	1	2
Support activities for mining	-	4	9
Construction	10	7	16
Heavy and civil engineering construction	3	1	2
Utility system construction	3	1	2
Specialty trade contractors	5	4	9
Building equipment contractors	-	1	2
Other specialty trade contractors	3	2	5
Manufacturing	6	1	2
Primary metal manufacturing	-	1	2
Alumina and aluminum production and processing	-	1	2
Trade, transportation, and utilities	12	10	23
Wholesale trade	-	1	2
Merchant wholesalers, durable goods	-	1	2
Lumber and other construction materials merchant wholesalers	-	1	2
Transportation and warehousing	8	7	16
Air transportation	-	1	2
Nonscheduled air transportation	-	1	2
Truck transportation	6	5	12
General freight trucking	5	3	7
Specialized freight trucking	-	2	5
Support activities for transportation	-	1	2
Support activities for road transportation	-	1	2
Utilities	-	2	5
Utilities	-	2	5
Electric power generation, transmission and distribution	-	2	5
Financial activities	-	1	2
Real estate and rental and leasing	-	1	2
Rental and leasing services	-	1	2
Consumer goods rental	-	1	2
Government(4)	8	5	12
Federal government	-	2	5
Local government	3	1	2
* For full table detail, see www.bls.gov/ro3/cfoiwvtables.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 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. (4) 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, West Virginia, 2010-2011

Occupation(1)	2010	2011(2)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	95	43	100
Management occupations	7	3	7
Other management occupations	7	3	7
Agricultural managers	4	3	7
Architecture and engineering occupations	-	1	2
Engineers	-	1	2
Electrical and electronics engineers	-	1	2
Education, training, and library occupations	-	1	2
Postsecondary teachers	-	1	2
Health teachers, postsecondary	-	1	2
Protective service occupations	3	2	5
Fire fighting and prevention workers	-	1	2
Fire fighters	-	1	2
Law enforcement workers	-	1	2
Police officers	-	1	2
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations	4	4	9
Forest, conservation, and logging workers	3	4	9
Logging workers	3	3	7
Construction and extraction occupations	35	9	21
Supervisors of construction and extraction workers	5	3	7
First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers	5	3	7
Construction trades workers	9	3	7
Construction equipment operators	-	1	2
Extraction workers	21	3	7
Miscellaneous extraction workers	-	3	7
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	7	7	16
Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers	-	1	2
Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians and mechanics	-	1	2
Other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	5	6	14
Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers	-	1	2
Line installers and repairers	3	1	2
Miscellaneous installation, maintenance, and repair workers	-	1	2
Production occupations	9	1	2
Assemblers and fabricators	-	1	2
Structural metal fabricators and fitters	-	1	2
Transportation and material moving occupations	21	12	28
Air transportation workers	-	1	2
Aircraft pilots and flight engineers	-	1	2
Motor vehicle operators	12	8	19
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers	10	8	19
Material moving workers	6	3	7
Conveyor operators and tenders	-	1	2
Industrial truck and tractor operators	-	1	2
Laborers and material movers, hand	-	1	2
Military occupations(3)	-	1	2
* For full table detail, see www.bls.gov/ro3/cfoiwvtables.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. (3) Military specific occupations include fatalities to persons identified as resident armed forces regardless of individual occupation listed.
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* worker characteristics, West Virginia, 2010-2011

Worker characteristics	2010	2011(1)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	95	43	100
Employee status
Wage and salary workers(2)	81	33	77
Self-employed(3)	14	10	23
Gender
Men	89	43	100
Age(4)
18-19 years	-	1	2
20 to 24 years	-	4	9
25 to 34 years	18	6	14
35 to 44 years	18	6	14
45 to 54 years	26	15	35
55 to 64 years	24	9	21
65 and over	4	2	5
Race or ethnic origin(5)
White (non-Hispanic)	91	43	100
* For full table detail, see www.bls.gov/ro3/cfoiwvtables.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

 

 

Last Modified Date: January 3, 2013