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For release: Tuesday, December 29, 2009 Technical information: (816) 285-7000 • BLSInfoKansasCity@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/ro7 |
KANSAS WORKPLACE FATALITIES - 2008 (PDF)
Fatal work injuries in Kansas totaled 73 in 2008, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Stanley W. Suchman noted that while the 2008 results are preliminary, the number of work-related fatalities in Kansas was the lowest number recorded since the series began in 1992. (See chart 1.) The most frequent types of workplace fatalities in 2008 were highway incidents (22), nonhighway incidents (8), falls to a lower level (7), and workers caught in or compressed by equipment or objects (6). Combined, these four types of events1 accounted for 59 percent of all work-related fatalities in the State in 2008. (Final 2008 national and State numbers will be released in April 2010.)
Highway incidents remained the most frequent type of fatal workplace event for both the State and the nation in 2008. In Kansas, the number of fatal injuries from highway incidents decreased to 22 in 2008 from 32 in 2007. Highway incidents accounted for 30 percent of all job-related deaths in the State and 23 percent in the nation in 2008. (See tables A and B.) Workers involved in nonhighway incidents (such as tractor rollovers occurring on farm premises) resulted in 8 fatalities in the State in 2008, down from 10 in the previous year. This event accounted for 11 percent of on-the-job fatalities in Kansas and 6 percent in the nation.
Falls to a lower level were responsible for 7 fatalities in Kansas in 2008, while 11 fatalities were reported in 2007. Fatal work injuries from falls to a lower level represented 10 percent of job-related deaths in Kansas and 11 percent of the U.S. total.
Six fatalities from being caught in or compressed by equipment or objects were reported in Kansas in 2008, accounting for 8 percent of all work-related fatalities in the State. Nationally, this event accounted for 6 percent of the total.
Other events leading to workplace fatalities in Kansas in 2008 included being struck by an object or equipment (5); pedestrian workers struck by vehicles or mobile equipment (4); and homicides (4). Together, these three events were responsible for 18 percent of all fatal work injuries in Kansas in 2008. Fatalities from these same three events accounted for 27 percent of the total for the United States. (See table 1.)
| Year | Total fatalities | Highway incidents | Nonhighway incidents | Falls to a lower level | Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | ||
1992 |
82 | 20 | 24 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 |
1993 |
99 | 30 | 30 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
1994 |
106 | 32 | 30 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 |
1995 |
95 | 27 | 28 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 3 |
1996 |
85 | 33 | 39 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
1997 |
93 | 30 | 32 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 7 | 8 |
1998 |
98 | 32 | 33 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 | -- | -- |
1999 |
87 | 22 | 25 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 5 | 6 |
2000 |
85 | 27 | 32 | 8 | 9 | 14 | 16 | 4 | 5 |
2001 |
94 | 29 | 31 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 5 | 5 |
2002 |
89 | 22 | 25 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 7 |
2003 |
78 | 28 | 36 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 4 | 5 |
2004 |
80 | 21 | 26 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 6 |
2005 |
81 | 25 | 31 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 9 |
2006 |
85 | 30 | 35 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 3 | 4 |
2007(1) |
101 | 32 | 32 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 7 |
2008(2) |
73 | 22 | 30 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 8 |
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Footnotes: |
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NOTE: Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria. |
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Nationwide, a total of 5,071 fatal work injuries were recorded in 2008, a decrease of 10 percent from the revised total of 5,657 fatal work injuries recorded in 2007. While these results are preliminary, this figure represents the smallest annual total since the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) program was first conducted in 1992. (See table B.) Highway incidents in 2008 accounted for 23 percent of fatal work injuries in the nation and continued to lead all other events in the frequency of on-the-job fatalities. Still, the 2008 count of 1,149 fatal highway incidents was the lowest annual total since the census began in 1992. The 2008 total of 576 fatal falls to a lower level was the lowest since 1993 when 534 fatalities were reported; the 2008 total represents a 23-percent decline from 2007. The number of workers (508) who were fatally injured from being struck by an object or equipment in 2008 was slightly higher than the series low recorded in 2007 (504) and 16 percent lower than the series high recorded in 2005 (607).
Nationally, workplace homicides decreased by 18 percent from 628 in 2007 to 517 in 2008. The 2008 total is the lowest since the census began and has declined 52 percent from the high of 1,080 reported in 1994. Workplace suicides rose from 196 cases in 2007 to 251 cases in 2008, an increase of 28 percent and the highest number ever reported by the fatality census.
| Year | Total fatalities | Highway incidents | Falls to a lower level | Homicides | Struck by object or equipment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | ||
1992 |
6,217 | 1,158 | 19 | 507 | 8 | 1,044 | 17 | 557 | 9 |
1993 |
6,331 | 1,242 | 20 | 534 | 8 | 1,074 | 17 | 565 | 9 |
1994 |
6,632 | 1,343 | 20 | 580 | 9 | 1,080 | 16 | 591 | 9 |
1995 |
6,275 | 1,346 | 21 | 578 | 9 | 1,036 | 17 | 547 | 9 |
1996 |
6,202 | 1,346 | 22 | 610 | 10 | 927 | 15 | 582 | 9 |
1997 |
6,238 | 1,393 | 22 | 653 | 10 | 860 | 14 | 579 | 9 |
1998 |
6,055 | 1,442 | 24 | 625 | 10 | 714 | 12 | 520 | 9 |
1999 |
6,054 | 1,496 | 25 | 634 | 10 | 651 | 11 | 585 | 10 |
2000 |
5,920 | 1,365 | 23 | 659 | 11 | 677 | 11 | 571 | 10 |
2001(1) |
5,915 | 1,409 | 24 | 700 | 12 | 643 | 11 | 553 | 9 |
2002 |
5,534 | 1,373 | 25 | 638 | 12 | 609 | 11 | 505 | 9 |
2003 |
5,575 | 1,353 | 24 | 604 | 11 | 632 | 11 | 531 | 10 |
2004 |
5,764 | 1,398 | 24 | 738 | 13 | 559 | 10 | 602 | 10 |
2005 |
5,734 | 1,437 | 25 | 664 | 12 | 567 | 10 | 607 | 11 |
2006 |
5,840 | 1,356 | 23 | 738 | 13 | 540 | 9 | 589 | 10 |
2007(2) |
5,657 | 1,414 | 25 | 746 | 13 | 628 | 11 | 504 | 9 |
2008(3) |
5,071 | 1,149 | 23 | 576 | 11 | 517 | 10 | 508 | 10 |
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Footnotes: |
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Key characteristics of fatal work injuries in Kansas
- Men accounted for 86 percent (63) of the work-related fatalities in the State in 2008. Transportation incidents, which include highway, nonhighway, pedestrian, air, water, and rail fatalities, accounted for 49 percent of these deaths and contact with objects and equipment made up 19 percent. Ten women were fatally injured on the job in 2008, over half (7) as a result of transportation incidents. (See table 2.)
- Eighty-two percent of those who died from a workplace injury in Kansas were white, non-Hispanic (60) and 12 percent were Hispanic or Latino (9). Transportation incidents were the most frequent type of fatal event for white, non-Hispanic workers (29) and Hispanic or Latino workers (7). (See table 2.)
- Workers 25-54 years old-the prime working age group-made up 40 percent of the State's work-related fatalities in 2008 with 29 deaths. Thirty-six workers 55 years of age or older died on the job, accounting for 49 percent of the fatally injured. (See table 2.) Nationally, those 25-54 years old accounted for 63 percent of on-the-job fatalities, and those 55 and older, 29 percent.
- Fifty-three percent of workers killed on-the-job in Kansas worked for wages and salaries (39) and the remaining 47 percent were self-employed (34). The leading cause of death in both groups was transportation incidents with 21 wage and salary worker fatalities and 17 self-employed worker deaths. (See table 2.)
- Three industry sectors made up 58 percent of the workplace fatalities in Kansas-agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting (23), construction (10), and transportation and warehousing (9). Transportation incidents were the most frequent type of fatal event for all three industry sectors. (See table 3.)
- Workers in management occupations led all other occupational groups with 24 fatalities, 21 of which were farmers and ranchers. Construction and extraction occupations (13) had the next highest on-the-job fatality count, followed by transportation and material moving occupations (11). Combined, these three occupational groups accounted for nearly two-thirds of all fatal work injuries in Kansas. Transportation incidents accounted for half of the fatal injuries in management occupations (12) and four-fifths of all fatal injuries in transportation and material moving occupations (9). In construction and extraction occupations, transportation incidents and exposure to harmful substances or environments each had four fatalities. (See table 4.)
Additional Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries data are available on the BLS Internet site at www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm. Data can be accessed in a number of ways. Selected current and historical information is available in PDF format. Detailed data may be accessed through the online query application or via an extensive collection of flat text files. For personal assistance or further information on the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries program, as well as other Bureau programs, contact the Kansas City Economic Analysis & Information Office at 816-285-7000 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. CT.
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 U.S. in each 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 here:www.bls.gov/opub/hom/homch9_a1.htm. The technical information and definitions for the CFOI Program are in Chapter 9, Part III of the BLS Handbook of Methods.
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.
Several federal and State agencies have jurisdiction over workplace safety and health. OSHA and affiliated agencies in States with approved safety programs cover the largest portion of the nation's workers. However, injuries and illnesses occurring in certain industries or activities, such as coal, metal, and nonmetal mining and highway, water, rail, and air transportation, are excluded from OSHA coverage because they are covered by other federal agencies, such as the Mine Safety and Health Administration and various agencies within the Department of Transportation.
Acknowledgments
BLS thanks the Kansas Department of Labor 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 Employment Standards Administration (Federal Employees' Compensation and Longshore and Harbor Workers' divisions); the Federal Railroad Administration; the Department of Energy; 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.
Notes
1
Fatal events are categorized into several major groupings including transportation incidents, assaults and violent acts, and falls, among others. These major groups are further broken down into more detailed groups. See the Occupational Injury & Illness Classification System (OIICS) Manual at www.bls.gov/iif/oshoiics.htm for detailed information on the categories of fatalities used in this census.
| Event or exposure(2) | Total fatalities (number) | Goods producing | Service providing | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total goods producing | Natural resources and mining(3) | Construction | Manufacturing | Total service providing | Trade, transportation, and utilities | Information | Financial activities | Professional and business services | Education and health services | Leisure and hospitality | Other services | ||
Total |
73 | 42 | 26 | 10 | 6 | 28 | 16 | -- | -- | 5 | -- | -- | -- |
Contact with objects and equipment |
12 | 12 | 10 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Struck by object or equipment |
5 | 5 | 5 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Struck by flying object |
3 | 3 | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects |
6 | 6 | 4 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Compressed or pinched by rolling, sliding, or shifting objects |
4 | 4 | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Falls |
7 | 4 | -- | -- | 3 | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Fall to lower level |
7 | 4 | -- | -- | 3 | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Fall from scaffold, staging |
3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Exposure to harmful substances or environments |
6 | 6 | 3 | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Contact with electric current |
3 | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Transportation accidents |
38 | 18 | 12 | 4 | -- | 19 | 12 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Highway accident |
22 | 7 | 3 | 4 | -- | 14 | 7 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Collision between vehicles, mobile equipment |
9 | 3 | 3 | -- | -- | 6 | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Moving in opposite directions, oncoming |
3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Moving in intersection |
5 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 4 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Vehicle struck object on side of road |
8 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 5 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Noncollision accident |
5 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Jack-knifed or overturned--no collision |
5 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Nonhighway accident, except rail, air, water |
8 | 8 | 7 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Noncollision accident |
7 | 7 | 6 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Overturned |
4 | 4 | 4 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Pedestrian, nonpassenger struck by vehicle, mobile equipment |
4 | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Pedestrian struck by vehicle, mobile equipment in parking lot or non-roadway area |
3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Assaults and violent acts |
9 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 5 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Assaults and violent acts by person(s) |
4 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Self-inflicted injury |
3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
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Footnotes: |
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NOTE: Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria. n.e.c. means "not elsewhere classified." Data for 2008 are preliminary. |
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| Worker characteristics | Total fatalities (number) | Event or exposure(1) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation incidents(2) | Assaults and violent acts(3) | Contact with objects and equipment | Falls | Exposure to harmful substances or environments | Fires and explosions | ||
Total |
73 | 38 | 9 | 12 | 7 | 6 | -- |
| Employee Status | |||||||
Wage and Salary Workers(4) |
39 | 21 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 3 | -- |
Self-employed(5) |
34 | 17 | 4 | 9 | -- | 3 | -- |
| Gender | |||||||
Men |
63 | 31 | 8 | 12 | 5 | 6 | -- |
Women |
10 | 7 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Age | |||||||
Under 16 years |
-- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
16 to 17 years |
-- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
18 to 19 years |
-- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
20 to 24 years |
6 | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
25 to 34 years |
7 | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
35 to 44 years |
9 | 5 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
45 to 54 years |
13 | 8 | -- | 3 | -- | -- | -- |
55 to 64 years |
20 | 8 | 4 | 3 | -- | 3 | -- |
65 years and over |
16 | 9 | -- | 3 | -- | -- | -- |
| Race or Ethnic Origin(6) | |||||||
White, non-Hispanic |
60 | 29 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 5 | -- |
Black, non-Hispanic |
-- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Hispanic or Latino |
9 | 7 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
American Indian or Alaska Native |
-- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Asian |
-- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander |
-- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
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Footnotes: |
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NOTE: Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria. Data for 2008 are preliminary. |
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| Industry(1) | NAICS code(1) | Total fatalities (number) | Event or exposure(2) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation incidents(3) | Assaults and violent acts(4) | Contact with objects and equipment | Falls | Exposure to harmful substances or environments | Fires and explosions | |||
Total |
73 | 38 | 9 | 12 | 7 | 6 | -- | |
Private Industry |
70 | 37 | 7 | 12 | 7 | 6 | -- | |
Goods Producing |
42 | 18 | -- | 12 | 4 | 6 | -- | |
Natural Resources and Mining |
26 | 12 | -- | 10 | -- | 3 | -- | |
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting |
11 | 23 | 12 | -- | 9 | -- | -- | -- |
Crop Production |
111 | 15 | 6 | -- | 7 | -- | -- | -- |
Animal Production |
112 | 8 | 6 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Cattle Ranching and Farming |
1121 | 8 | 6 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Mining(5) |
21 | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Construction |
10 | 4 | -- | -- | -- | 3 | -- | |
Construction |
23 | 10 | 4 | -- | -- | -- | 3 | -- |
Specialty Trade Contractors |
238 | 7 | 4 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors |
2381 | 4 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Manufacturing |
6 | -- | -- | -- | 3 | -- | -- | |
Manufacturing |
31-33 | 6 | -- | -- | -- | 3 | -- | -- |
Service providing |
28 | 19 | 5 | -- | 3 | -- | -- | |
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities |
16 | 12 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | |
Wholesale Trade |
42 | 4 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Retail Trade |
44-45 | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers |
441 | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Transportation and Warehousing |
48-49 | 9 | 9 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Truck Transportation |
484 | 4 | 4 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
General Freight Trucking |
4841 | 3 | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Professional and Business Services |
5 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | |
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services |
56 | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Administrative and Support Services |
561 | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Services to Buildings and Dwellings |
5617 | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Government |
3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | |
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Footnotes: |
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struck by a vehicle. |
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| Occupation(1) | Total fatalities (number) | Event or exposure(2) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation incidents(3) | Assaults and violent acts(4) | Contact with objects and equipment | Falls | Exposure to harmful substances or environments | Fires and explosions | ||
Total |
73 | 38 | 9 | 12 | 7 | 6 | -- |
Management occupations |
24 | 12 | -- | 9 | -- | -- | -- |
Other management occupations |
23 | 11 | -- | 9 | -- | -- | -- |
Agricultural managers |
21 | 10 | -- | 9 | -- | -- | -- |
Farmers and ranchers |
21 | 10 | -- | 9 | -- | -- | -- |
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations |
3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Sales and related occupations |
3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations |
3 | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Agricultural workers |
3 | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Miscellaneous agricultural workers |
3 | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Construction and extraction occupations |
13 | 4 | -- | 3 | -- | 4 | -- |
Construction trades workers |
10 | 4 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Construction equipment operators |
3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators |
3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations |
3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations |
3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Production occupations |
4 | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Transportation and material moving occupations |
11 | 9 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Motor vehicle operators |
5 | 5 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers |
5 | 5 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer |
4 | 4 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
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Footnotes: |
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NOTE: Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Dashes indicate no data reported or data do not meet publication criteria. Data for 2008 are preliminary. |
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Last Modified Date: November 8, 2012