Technical information: (202) 691-6170 USDL 09-0979
Media information: (202) 691-5902 FOR RELEASE: 10 a.m. EDT
Internet address: http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm Thursday, August 20, 2009
NATIONAL CENSUS OF FATAL OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES IN 2008
A total of 5,071 fatal work injuries were recorded in the United States in 2008, down from a total
of 5,657 fatal work injuries reported for 2007. While the 2008 results are preliminary, this figure represents
the smallest annual preliminary total since the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) program
was first conducted in 1992. Final results for 2008 will be released in April 2010.
Based on these preliminary counts, the rate of fatal injury for U.S. workers in 2008 was 3.6 fatal work
injuries per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers, down from the final rate of 4.0 in 2007. Please see the
text box at the bottom of this page which describes an important change in the way the Bureau of Labor
Statistics (BLS) calculated rates this year.
Key findings of the 2008 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries:
- Fatal work injuries in the private construction sector in 2008 declined by 20 percent from the updated
2007 total, twice the all-worker decline of 10 percent.
- Fatal workplace falls, which had risen to a series high in 2007, also declined by 20 percent in 2008.
- Workplace suicides were up 28 percent to a series high of 251 cases in 2008, but workplace homicides
declined 18 percent in 2008.
- The number and rate of fatal work injuries among 16 to 17 year-old workers were higher in 2008.
- Fatal occupational injuries involving Hispanic or Latino workers in 2008 were 17 percent lower than in 2007.
Fatalities among non-Hispanic Black or African American workers were down 16 percent.
- The number of fatal workplace injuries in farming, fishing, and forestry occupations rose 6 percent
in 2008 after declining in 2007.
- Transportation incidents, which accounted for approximately two-fifths of all the workplace
fatalities in 2008, fell 13 percent from the previous series low of 2,351 cases reported in 2007.
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| In June of 2009, the Bureau of Labor Statistics introduced improved fatality rates for the Census of Fatal |
| Occupational Injuries (CFOI). The new rates, based on hours worked as opposed to employment, are considered |
| to be more accurate in measuring the risk of dying from an injury on the job. Further information on the rates |
| is available at: http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshnotice10.htm. Hours-based rates for years 2006 through 2008 |
| and employment-based rates for years 1992 through 2007 can be found at: http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm. |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Economic factors likely played a role in the fatality decrease. Average hours worked at the national level
fell by one percent in 2008, and some industries that have historically accounted for a significant share of worker
fatalities, such as construction, experienced larger declines in employment or hours worked.
In addition to the impact of declining employment, another factor that should be considered when reviewing
these preliminary results is how the economy may have impacted the government agencies that provide source documents
used in the compilation of CFOI data. Budget constraints at some of these governmental agencies may have delayed
the receipt and processing of the documents that are used by our State partners to classify and code CFOI cases.
The average net increase in CFOI cases as a result of updates over the past two years has been 153 cases, but the
updated 2008 counts scheduled for release in April 2010 have the potential to be larger because of these delays.
Profile of 2008 fatal work injuries by type of incident
Most types of transportation fatalities saw decreases in 2008 relative to 2007, including highway
incidents (down 19 percent); railway incidents (down 31 percent); workers struck by vehicle or mobile
equipment (down 7 percent); and nonhighway incidents such as tractor overturns (down 4 percent). Aircraft-related
fatalities were higher in 2008 (189 incidents in 2008, up from 174 incidents in 2007), as were water vehicle incidents.
The 680 fatal falls in 2008 represent a 20 percent decline from the series high of 847 fatal falls in 2007.
Fatal falls to a lower level, which accounted for 85 percent of all falls, were down 23 percent in 2008. Fatal falls
from roofs were down 26 percent and falls from ladders decreased by 14 percent. The number of fatal falls on same
level (to a floor or walkway or against an object) increased slightly in 2008.
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. Suicides among protective service occupations rose from 14 in 2007 to 25
in 2008. Workplace homicides fell by 18 percent in 2008. Overall, the 2008 preliminary workplace homicide
count (517 workplace homicides) represents a decline of 52 percent from the high of 1,080 homicides reported in 1994.
The number of fatal work injuries involving fires and explosions was up 14 percent in 2008; fatalities
involving contact with objects or equipment were also up slightly in 2008.
Profile of fatal work injuries by industry
Overall, 90 percent of the fatal work injuries involved workers in private industry. Service-providing
industries in the private sector recorded 46 percent of all fatal work injuries in 2008, while goods-producing
industries recorded 43 percent. Ten percent of the fatal work injury cases in 2008 involved government workers.
The number of fatal work injuries in the private sector decreased 11 percent in 2008, and fatalities among
government workers, including resident military personnel, decreased 4 percent. Fatality rates were lower
in 2008 for both goods-producing industries and service-providing industries, but remained unchanged for
civilian government workers.
While workers in construction incurred the most fatalities of any industry in the private sector in 2008,
the number of fatalities in construction declined 20 percent, from 1,204 cases in 2007 to 969 cases in 2008.
Fatalities involving workers in the construction of buildings were down 21 percent from 2007, with most of the
decrease occurring in residential building construction (down 28 percent to 93 cases). Heavy and civil engineering
construction was down 14 percent, and the subsector with the largest number of fatalities, specialty trade
contractors, had 19 percent fewer fatalities in 2008 than in 2007.
Fatalities rose by 11 percent among private sector workers in the agriculture, forestry, fishing, and
hunting industry sector in 2008 after declining in 2007. Fatalities to workers in crop production led the
increase, rising 18 percent, while fatalities to workers in animal production declined 8 percent. Fishing and
logging, two of the industries with the highest fatality rates, had higher numbers of fatalities in 2008.
Fatalities were also slightly higher in manufacturing (404 in 2008, up from 400 fatalities in 2007).
Included in the manufacturing total are the 14 workers who perished in a sugar refinery explosion in Georgia
in February 2008.
Among service-providing industries, workers in the transportation and warehousing sector
incurred 762 fatalities, a 14 percent decrease. Truck transportation, the largest subsector in transportation
and warehousing, had a 20 percent decrease in fatalities in 2008. Among other transportation sectors, workers in
air and water transportation industries incurred fewer fatalities in 2008, but the number of fatal work injuries
in rail transportation increased.
Both wholesale and retail trade had fewer fatal work injuries in 2008 than in 2007. Fatalities were
down 17 percent in retail trade and 15 percent in wholesale trade in 2008.
Other service-providing industry sectors with large declines in 2008 included the information
industry (down 43 percent), professional and business services (down 18 percent), the leisure and hospitality
industry (down 10 percent), and educational and health services (down 8 percent). Fatalities in the finance and
insurance sector were down nearly 50 percent in 2008, from 46 to 24 fatalities.
Fatalities among government workers were down 4 percent. While fatalities incurred by federal and local
government workers decreased in 2008, fatalities among state government workers were at the highest level
since 1998 (115 fatal work injuries in 2008).
Profile of fatal work injuries by occupation
About one-fourth of all occupational fatalities in 2008 involved workers in transportation and material
moving occupations, though fatalities among these workers declined by 12 percent in 2008. Driver/sales workers
and truck drivers, the largest occupation group in this sector, led the decline with 16 percent fewer fatal work
injuries in 2008 than in 2007. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver fatalities were lower by 13 percent.
Fatalities in construction and extraction occupations, which accounted for nearly one-fifth of all
fatalities in 2008, decreased by 18 percent from the previous year. Construction laborer fatalities were
down 31 percent (from 345 in 2007 to 239 in 2008). Carpenters, brick masons, electricians, roofers, pipe layers,
plumbers, and extraction workers were among the other groups that saw declines in 2008.
First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers, construction equipment operators,
and painters/paperhangers were among the occupational groups in construction and extraction that had higher numbers
of fatal injuries in 2008.
Fatal work injuries among protective service occupations fell by 13 percent in 2008 after rising 22 percent
from 2006 to 2007. Fewer fatalities among law enforcement workers (down 15 percent), fire fighting and prevention
workers (down 14 percent), and security guards (down 23 percent) led the decline in this occupational group.
Among the occupation groups with a higher number of fatalities in 2008 were farming, fishing, and
forestry (up 6 percent) and management occupations (up 2 percent). Four occupations with particularly high fatality
rates in 2008 were fishers and related fishing workers with a fatality rate of 128.9 per 100,000 FTE’s, logging
workers (115.7), aircraft pilots and flight engineers (72.4), and structural iron and steel workers (46.4).
Profile of fatal work injuries by demographic characteristics
While the number of fatal work injuries among White, non-Hispanic workers fell 8 percent in 2008, greater
declines were observed among non-Hispanic Black or African American workers (down 16 percent) and Hispanic or Latino
workers (down 17 percent).
The decline in fatal work injuries among Hispanic or Latino workers in 2008 primarily involved foreign-born
Hispanic or Latino workers. Fatalities among foreign-born Hispanic or Latino workers were lower
by 24 percent (from 634 in 2007 to 480 in 2008), but among native-born Hispanics, the decline was only 3 percent.
Overall, 795 fatal work injuries were incurred by workers who were born outside of the United States - a decline
of 21 percent from 2007. Fatalities involving foreign-born workers accounted for 16 percent of all fatal work
injuries in the U.S. Of the foreign-born workers who were fatally-injured in the U.S. in 2008, the largest
share (42 percent) was born in Mexico.
The number of fatalities declined for all age categories in 2008 except for 16 to 17 year-old workers.
Fatality rates for 16 to 17 year-old workers rose from 1.9 in 2007 to 2.5 in 2008.
Self-employed workers had a 4 percent drop in fatalities, while fatalities among wage and salary workers fell
by 12 percent. Workplace fatalities among both male and female workers decreased in 2008.
Profile of fatal work injuries by State
Thirty-five States and the District of Columbia reported lower numbers of fatal work injuries in 2008 than
in 2007, 14 States reported higher numbers, and one State was unchanged. For more detailed State results, contact
the individual State agency responsible for the collection of CFOI data in that State. Although data for Puerto Rico
and the Virgin Islands are not included in the national totals for this release, results for Puerto Rico and the
Virgin Islands are available. Participating agencies and their telephone numbers are listed in Table 6.
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. during the 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 the 2008 data, over 20,000 unique source documents
were reviewed as part of the data collection process.
Another BLS program, the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, presents frequency counts and incidence
rates by industry and also detailed case circumstances and worker characteristics of nonfatal workplace injuries and
illnesses that result in days away from work. Incidence rates for 2008 by industry will be published in
October 2009, and information on 2008 case circumstances and worker characteristics will be available in November 2009.
For additional data, access the BLS Internet site: http://www.bls.gov/iif/.
For technical information about the CFOI program, please go to the BLS Handbook of Methods on the BLS web
site here: http://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.
Table 1. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure,
2007-2008
_________________________________________________________________
|
| Fatalities
|_____________________________
| |
Event or exposure(1) | 2007(2) | 2008(p)
|_________|___________________
| |
| Number | Percent
___________________________________|_____________________________
| | |
Total............................| 5,657 | 5,071 | 100
| | |
Transportation incidents...........| 2,351 | 2,053 | 40
Highway..........................| 1,414 | 1,149 | 23
Collision between vehicles, | | |
mobile equipment..............| 687 | 562 | 11
Moving in same direction.....| 164 | 144 | 3
Moving in opposite | | |
directions, oncoming........| 281 | 191 | 4
Moving in intersection.......| 125 | 123 | 2
Vehicle struck object on side | | |
of road.......................| 368 | 303 | 6
Noncollision...................| 308 | 264 | 5
Jack-knifed or overturned-no | | |
collision...................| 271 | 230 | 5
Nonhighway (farm, industrial | | |
premises).......................| 296 | 283 | 6
Overturned...................| 166 | 151 | 3
Worker struck by a vehicle.......| 345 | 322 | 6
Railway accident.................| 49 | 34 | 1
Water vehicle accident...........| 71 | 75 | 1
Aircraft accident................| 174 | 189 | 4
| | |
Assaults and violent acts..........| 864 | 794 | 16
Homicides........................| 628 | 517 | 10
Shooting.......................| 503 | 413 | 8
Stabbing.......................| 45 | 32 | 1
Self-inflicted injuries..........| 196 | 251 | 5
| | |
Contact with objects and equipment | 920 | 923 | 18
Struck by object or equipment....| 504 | 508 | 10
Struck by falling object or | | |
equipment.....................| 328 | 349 | 7
Struck by flying object or | | |
equipment.....................| 58 | 50 | 1
Caught in or compressed by | | |
equipment or objects............| 296 | 299 | 6
Caught in running equipment or | | |
machinery.....................| 140 | 109 | 2
Caught in or crushed in | | |
collapsing materials............| 108 | 101 | 2
| | |
Falls..............................| 847 | 680 | 13
Fall to lower level..............| 746 | 576 | 11
Fall from ladder...............| 135 | 116 | 2
Fall from roof.................| 163 | 121 | 2
Fall from scaffold, staging....| 89 | 68 | 1
Fall on same level...............| 81 | 84 | 2
| | |
Exposure to harmful substances or | | |
environments......................| 497 | 432 | 9
Contact with electric current....| 212 | 192 | 4
Contact with overhead power | | |
lines.........................| 94 | 102 | 2
Contact with temperature extremes| 40 | 35 | 1
Exposure to caustic, noxious, or | | |
allergenic substances...........| 161 | 127 | 3
Inhalation of substance........| 64 | 56 | 1
Oxygen deficiency................| 82 | 77 | 2
Drowning, submersion...........| 62 | 59 | 1
| | |
Fires and explosions...............| 152 | 173 | 3
___________________________________|_________|_________|_________
1 Based on the 2007 BLS Occupational Injury and Illness
Classification Manual. Includes other events and exposures, such
as bodily reaction, in addition to those shown separately.
2 Totals for 2007 are revised and final. The BLS news release
issued August 20, 2008, reported a total of 5,488 fatal work
injuries for calendar year 2007. Since then, an additional 169
job-related fatalities were identified, bringing the total
job-related fatality count for 2007 to 5,657.
p Data for 2008 are preliminary. Revised and final 2008 data
are scheduled to be released in April 2010.
NOTE: Totals for major categories may include subcategories not
shown separately. Percentages may not add to totals because of
rounding.
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 industry and selected event or exposure, 2008(p)
__________________________________________________________________________________________
| |
| Fatalities | Selected event or exposure(2)
| | (percent of total for industry)
Industry(1) |___________________|_______________________________________
| | | | | |
| Number | Percent | Highway |Homicides| Falls |Struck by
| | | (3) | | | object
______________________________|_________|_________|_________|_________|_________|_________
| | | | | |
Total.....................| 5,071 | 100 | 23 | 10 | 13 | 10
| | | | | |
Private industry.............| 4,549 | 90 | 22 | 10 | 14 | 11
| | | | | |
Goods producing.............| 2,199 | 43 | 12 | 2 | 20 | 15
| | | | | |
Natural resources and | | | | | |
mining....................| 826 | 16 | 13 | 2 | 5 | 21
Agriculture, forestry, | | | | | |
fishing and hunting......| 651 | 13 | 10 | 2 | 5 | 22
Crop production.........| 304 | 6 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 18
Animal production.......| 152 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 11 | 11
Forestry and logging....| 98 | 2 | 8 | 3 | - | 67
Mining(4).................| 175 | 3 | 24 | - | 7 | 18
Mining, except oil and | | | | | |
gas....................| 50 | 1 | 10 | - | - | 18
Support activities for | | | | | |
mining.................| 104 | 2 | 31 | - | 9 | 17
Construction...............| 969 | 19 | 11 | 2 | 34 | 11
Construction..............| 969 | 19 | 11 | 2 | 34 | 11
Construction of | | | | | |
buildings..............| 197 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 41 | 13
Heavy and civil | | | | | |
engineering | | | | | |
construction...........| 189 | 4 | 15 | - | 11 | 13
Specialty trade | | | | | |
contractors............| 556 | 11 | 12 | 1 | 40 | 10
Manufacturing..............| 404 | 8 | 14 | 5 | 14 | 11
Manufacturing.............| 404 | 8 | 14 | 5 | 14 | 11
Food manufacturing......| 70 | 1 | 26 | - | 9 | 6
Fabricated metal product| | | | | |
manufacturing..........| 51 | 1 | 10 | - | 10 | 18
| | | | | |
Service providing...........| 2,350 | 46 | 31 | 17 | 9 | 7
| | | | | |
Trade, transportation, and | | | | | |
utilities.................| 1,263 | 25 | 41 | 15 | 6 | 6
Wholesale trade...........| 175 | 3 | 38 | 8 | 9 | 10
Merchant wholesalers, | | | | | |
durable goods..........| 89 | 2 | 30 | 4 | 9 | 16
Merchant wholesalers, | | | | | |
nondurable goods.......| 75 | 1 | 48 | 12 | 7 | 4
Retail trade..............| 290 | 6 | 18 | 40 | 10 | 7
Motor vehicle and parts | | | | | |
dealers................| 55 | 1 | 27 | 22 | 9 | 11
Food and beverage stores| 54 | 1 | 11 | 74 | 6 | -
Transportation and | | | | | |
warehousing..............| 762 | 15 | 52 | 7 | 4 | 5
Truck transportation....| 469 | 9 | 71 | 1 | 5 | 4
Transit and ground | | | | | |
passenger | | | | | |
transportation.........| 76 | 1 | 43 | 49 | - | -
Utilities.................| 36 | 1 | - | - | - | -
Information................| 45 | 1 | 33 | 13 | 16 | -
Financial activities.......| 103 | 2 | 25 | 32 | 16 | 3
Finance and insurance.....| 24 | (5) | 25 | 50 | - | -
Real estate and rental and| | | | | |
leasing..................| 79 | 2 | 25 | 27 | 20 | 4
Professional and business | | | | | |
services..................| 389 | 8 | 22 | 7 | 16 | 11
Professional and technical| | | | | |
services.................| 66 | 1 | 24 | - | 17 | -
Administrative and waste | | | | | |
services.................| 321 | 6 | 21 | 7 | 16 | 13
Educational and health | | | | | |
services..................| 137 | 3 | 13 | 12 | 7 | -
Educational services......| 27 | 1 | - | - | - | -
Health care and social | | | | | |
assistance...............| 110 | 2 | 15 | 15 | 7 | -
Leisure and hospitality....| 233 | 5 | 7 | 40 | 8 | 4
Arts, entertainment, and | | | | | |
recreation...............| 88 | 2 | 5 | 15 | 11 | 8
Accommodation and food | | | | | |
services.................| 145 | 3 | 9 | 56 | 6 | -
Other services, except | | | | | |
public administration.....| 172 | 3 | 19 | 19 | 11 | 13
| | | | | |
Government(6)................| 522 | 10 | 31 | 14 | 7 | 5
| | | | | |
Federal government..........| 100 | 2 | 21 | 8 | 6 | 3
State government............| 115 | 2 | 37 | 7 | 9 | 3
Local government............| 306 | 6 | 31 | 19 | 8 | 6
______________________________|_________|_________|_________|_________|_________|_________
1 Based on the North American Industry Classification System, 2002.
2 Based on the 2007 BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification Manual. The
figure shown is the percent of the total fatalities for that industry group.
3 "Highway" includes deaths to vehicle occupants resulting from traffic incidents that
occur on the public roadway, shoulder, or surrounding area. It excludes incidents
occurring entirely off the roadway, such as in parking lots and on farms; incidents
involving trains; and deaths to pedestrians or other nonpassengers.
4 Includes fatalities at all establishments categorized as Mining (Sector 21) in the
North American Industry Classification System, 2002, including establishments not governed
by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) rules and reporting, such as those in
Oil and Gas Extraction.
5 Less than or equal to 0.5 percent.
6 Includes fatalities to workers employed by governmental organizations regardless of
industry.
p Data for 2008 are preliminary. Revised and final 2008 data are scheduled to be
released in April 2010.
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.
There were 8 fatalities for which there was insufficient information to determine a
specific industry classification, although a distinction between private and government
was made for each.
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 occupation and selected event or exposure, 2008(p)
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
| |
| Fatalities | Selected event or exposure(2)
| | (percent of total for occupation)
Occupation(1) |___________________|_______________________________________
| | | | | |
| Number | Percent | Highway |Homicides| Falls |Struck by
| | | (3) | | | object
___________________________________|_________|_________|_________|_________|_________|_________
| | | | | |
Total............................| 5,071 | 100 | 23 | 10 | 13 | 10
| | | | | |
Management occupations.............| 538 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 14
Top executives...................| 28 | 1 | 11 | 21 | - | -
Operations specialties managers..| 23 | (4) | 22 | 17 | - | -
Other management occupations.....| 480 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 15
Business and financial operations | | | | | |
occupations.......................| 24 | (4) | 46 | - | 12 | -
Computer and mathematical | | | | | |
occupations.......................| 7 | (4) | - | - | - | -
Architecture and engineering | | | | | |
occupations.......................| 39 | 1 | 49 | - | 18 | -
Engineers........................| 29 | 1 | 41 | - | 24 | -
Life, physical, and social science | | | | | |
occupations.......................| 22 | (4) | 18 | - | - | -
Community and social services | | | | | |
occupations.......................| 31 | 1 | 52 | 13 | 13 | -
Legal occupations..................| 15 | (4) | 33 | 20 | - | -
Education, training, and library | | | | | |
occupations.......................| 25 | (4) | 28 | - | - | -
Arts, design, entertainment, | | | | | |
sports, and media occupations.....| 55 | 1 | 16 | 22 | 13 | -
Entertainers and performers, | | | | | |
sports and related workers......| 28 | 1 | - | - | 14 | -
Healthcare practitioners and | | | | | |
technical occupations.............| 60 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 5 | -
Health diagnosing and treating | | | | | |
practitioners...................| 36 | 1 | 11 | 8 | - | -
Health technologists and | | | | | |
technicians.....................| 23 | (4) | - | - | 13 | -
Healthcare support occupations.....| 18 | (4) | 44 | - | - | -
Protective service occupations.....| 300 | 6 | 27 | 31 | 5 | 3
Fire fighting and prevention | | | | | |
workers.........................| 44 | 1 | 25 | - | - | -
Law enforcement workers..........| 144 | 3 | 38 | 33 | 3 | 2
Other protective service workers | 81 | 2 | 5 | 46 | 7 | -
Food preparation and serving | | | | | |
related occupations...............| 65 | 1 | 8 | 54 | 9 | -
Supervisors, food preparation and| | | | | |
serving workers.................| 24 | (4) | 12 | 62 | - | -
Building and grounds cleaning and | | | | | |
maintenance occupations...........| 227 | 4 | 12 | 6 | 23 | 15
Building cleaning and pest | | | | | |
control workers.................| 64 | 1 | 20 | 17 | 31 | -
Grounds maintenance workers......| 128 | 3 | 9 | - | 20 | 20
Personal care and service | | | | | |
occupations.......................| 53 | 1 | 13 | 25 | 9 | -
Sales and related occupations......| 266 | 5 | 17 | 49 | 6 | 6
Supervisors, sales workers.......| 124 | 2 | 8 | 52 | 6 | 9
Retail sales workers.............| 90 | 2 | 8 | 58 | 6 | 6
Sales representatives, services..| 12 | (4) | 42 | 33 | - | -
Sales representatives, wholesale | | | | | |
and manufacturing...............| 16 | (4) | 94 | - | - | -
Office and administrative support | | | | | |
occupations.......................| 88 | 2 | 35 | 27 | 15 | -
Material recording, scheduling, | | | | | |
dispatching, and distributing | | | | | |
workers.........................| 39 | 1 | 64 | 8 | 10 | -
Farming, fishing, and forestry | | | | | |
occupations.......................| 274 | 5 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 27
Agricultural workers.............| 133 | 3 | 19 | 4 | 4 | 8
Fishing and hunting workers......| 50 | 1 | - | - | - | -
Forest, conservation, and logging| | | | | |
workers.........................| 82 | 2 | - | - | - | 73
Construction and extraction | | | | | |
occupations.......................| 966 | 19 | 10 | 1 | 32 | 12
Supervisors, construction and | | | | | |
extraction workers..............| 108 | 2 | 14 | 3 | 24 | 15
Construction trades workers......| 720 | 14 | 9 | 1 | 37 | 10
Extraction workers...............| 81 | 2 | 14 | - | 9 | 25
Installation, maintenance, and | | | | | |
repair occupations................| 345 | 7 | 11 | 3 | 19 | 17
Vehicle and mobile equipment | | | | | |
mechanics, installers, and | | | | | |
repairers.......................| 110 | 2 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 30
Other installation, maintenance, | | | | | |
and repair occupations..........| 187 | 4 | 11 | 3 | 25 | 11
Production occupations.............| 261 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 12
Supervisors, production workers..| 34 | 1 | - | 9 | - | 9
Metal workers and plastic workers| 102 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 15
Transportation and material moving | | | | | |
occupations.......................| 1,330 | 26 | 47 | 6 | 6 | 7
Air transportation workers.......| 91 | 2 | - | - | - | -
Motor vehicle operators..........| 908 | 18 | 66 | 6 | 4 | 6
Water transportation workers.....| 35 | 1 | - | - | - | 11
Material moving workers..........| 248 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 14 | 12
Military occupations...............| 53 | 1 | 8 | - | 6 | -
___________________________________|_________|_________|_________|_________|_________|_________
1 Based on the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification system.
2 Based on the 2007 BLS Injury and Illness Classification Manual. The figure shown is the
percent of the total fatalities for that occupation group.
3 "Highway" includes deaths to vehicle occupants resulting from traffic incidents that occur
on the public roadway, shoulder, or surrounding area. It excludes incidents occurring entirely
off the roadway, such as in parking lots and on farms; incidents involving trains; and deaths
to pedestrians or other non passengers.
4 Less than or equal to 0.5 percent.
p Data for 2008 are preliminary. Revised and final 2008 data are scheduled to be released in
April 2010.
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.
There were 9 fatalities for which there was insufficient information to determine a specific
occupation classification.
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 and selected
event or exposure, 2008(p)
__________________________________________________________________________________________
| |
| | Selected event or exposure(1)
| Fatalities | (percent of total for characteristic
| | category)
Characteristic |___________________|_______________________________________
| | | | | |
| Number | Percent | Highway |Homicides| Falls |Struck by
| | | (2) | | | object
______________________________|_________|_________|_________|_________|_________|_________
| | | | | |
Total.........................| 5,071 | 100 | 23 | 10 | 13 | 10
| | | | | |
Employee status | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Wage and salary(3)............| 4,071 | 80 | 25 | 9 | 14 | 9
Self-employed(4)..............| 1,000 | 20 | 12 | 14 | 11 | 15
| | | | | |
Sex | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Men...........................| 4,703 | 93 | 22 | 9 | 14 | 11
Women.........................| 368 | 7 | 28 | 26 | 11 | 3
| | | | | |
Age(5) | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Under 16 years................| 11 | (6) | - | - | - | -
16-17 years...................| 23 | (6) | 30 | 13 | - | -
18-19 years...................| 63 | 1 | 25 | 16 | 8 | 8
20-24 years...................| 339 | 7 | 20 | 9 | 11 | 11
25-34 years...................| 840 | 17 | 24 | 12 | 10 | 11
35-44 years...................| 1,084 | 21 | 24 | 12 | 12 | 9
45-54 years...................| 1,257 | 25 | 23 | 9 | 14 | 9
55-64 years...................| 887 | 17 | 25 | 8 | 15 | 11
65 years and older............| 559 | 11 | 17 | 7 | 21 | 12
| | | | | |
Race or ethnic origin(7) | | | | | |
| | | | | |
White.........................| 3,560 | 70 | 23 | 7 | 13 | 11
Black or African-American.....| 514 | 10 | 28 | 23 | 7 | 8
Hispanic or Latino............| 774 | 15 | 18 | 11 | 20 | 10
American Indian or Alaska | | | | | |
Native.......................| 30 | 1 | 40 | - | - | 10
Asian.........................| 131 | 3 | 12 | 35 | 11 | 5
Native Hawaiian or Pacific | | | | | |
Islander.....................| 6 | (6) | 50 | - | - | -
Multiple races................| 6 | (6) | - | - | - | -
Other or not reported.........| 50 | 1 | 20 | 16 | 8 | -
______________________________|_________|_________|_________|_________|_________|_________
1 Based on the 2007 BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification Manual. The
figure shown is the percent of the total fatalities for that demographic group.
2 "Highway" includes deaths to vehicle occupants resulting from traffic incidents that
occur on the public roadway, shoulder, or surrounding area. It excludes incidents
occurring entirely off the roadway, such as in parking lots and on farms; incidents
involving trains; and deaths to pedestrians or other nonpassengers.
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, members of partnerships, and may include owners of incorporated
businesses.
5 There were 8 fatalities for which there was insufficient information to determine the
age of the decedent.
6 Less than or equal to 0.5 percent.
7 Persons identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. The race categories
shown exclude Hispanic and Latino workers.
p Data for 2008 are preliminary. Revised and final 2008 data are scheduled to be
released in April 2010.
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.
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 state and event or exposure, 2007-2008
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
| |
|Total fatalities(1)| Event or exposure(4)
| | 2008
|___________________|___________________________________________________________ | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Exposure|
State of injury | | | | | Contact | | to |
| | |Transpor-| Assaults| with | | harmful |Fires and
| 2007(2) | 2008(3),| tation | and | objects | Falls | sub- |explosions
|(revised)| (p) |incidents| violent | and | | stances |
| | | (5) | acts(6) |equipment| | or |
| | | | | | | environ-|
| | | | | | | ments |
__________________________|_________|_________|_________|_________|_________|_________|_________|_________ | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Total...................| 5,657 | 5,071 | 2,053 | 794 | 923 | 680 | 432 | 173
Alabama...................| 108 | 97 | 48 | 8 | 22 | 3 | 14 | -
Alaska....................| 30 | 33 | 23 | - | 4 | - | 3 | -
Arizona...................| 97 | 86 | 37 | 14 | 7 | 16 | 11 | -
Arkansas..................| 89 | 85 | 40 | 12 | 13 | 5 | 10 | 5
California................| 461 | 404 | 153 | 84 | 63 | 56 | 42 | 6
Colorado..................| 126 | 102 | 47 | 13 | 17 | 11 | 10 | 4
Connecticut...............| 38 | 28 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | -
Delaware..................| 10 | 11 | 5 | - | - | - | - | -
District of Columbia......| 13 | 9 | - | - | - | 5 | - | -
Florida...................| 363 | 290 | 107 | 56 | 41 | 39 | 38 | 6
Georgia...................| 193 | 171 | 62 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 11 | 16
Hawaii....................| 23 | 18 | 7 | - | 5 | - | - | -
Idaho.....................| 31 | 36 | 23 | - | 7 | 3 | - | -
Illinois..................| 185 | 193 | 62 | 38 | 34 | 29 | 23 | 7
Indiana...................| 127 | 132 | 61 | 12 | 34 | 12 | 10 | -
Iowa......................| 89 | 93 | 47 | 6 | 23 | 10 | 5 | -
Kansas....................| 101 | 73 | 38 | 9 | 12 | 7 | 6 | -
Kentucky..................| 112 | 105 | 45 | 19 | 22 | 9 | 8 | -
Louisiana.................| 139 | 134 | 77 | 9 | 23 | 11 | 13 | -
Maine.....................| 21 | 24 | 16 | - | 4 | - | - | -
Maryland..................| 82 | 59 | 17 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 10 | -
Massachusetts.............| 75 | 61 | 18 | 8 | 8 | 15 | 10 | -
Michigan..................| 120 | 123 | 43 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 8 | 6
Minnesota.................| 72 | 65 | 28 | 3 | 26 | 3 | 4 | -
Mississippi...............| 93 | 80 | 34 | 7 | 17 | 13 | 4 | 5
Missouri..................| 156 | 147 | 58 | 34 | 23 | 18 | 8 | 5
Montana...................| 54 | 39 | 18 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 3 | -
Nebraska..................| 63 | 53 | 21 | 8 | 12 | 9 | - | 3
Nevada....................| 71 | 40 | 14 | 4 | 12 | 5 | 3 | -
New Hampshire.............| 14 | 7 | 3 | - | - | - | - | -
New Jersey................| 106 | 91 | 39 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 6 | 3
New Mexico................| 52 | 31 | 15 | 5 | - | 5 | - | -
New York (including | | | | | | | |
N.Y.C.)..................| 220 | 212 | 38 | 48 | 51 | 47 | 18 | 9
New York City...........| 81 | 90 | 10 | 26 | 15 | 29 | 4 | 6
North Carolina............| 167 | 160 | 63 | 34 | 28 | 22 | 7 | 6
North Dakota..............| 25 | 27 | 12 | - | 8 | 3 | - | -
Ohio......................| 165 | 167 | 65 | 31 | 24 | 25 | 11 | 10
Oklahoma..................| 104 | 102 | 55 | 5 | 18 | 5 | 9 | 10
Oregon....................| 69 | 54 | 23 | 9 | 13 | - | 5 | 3
Pennsylvania..............| 220 | 240 | 83 | 37 | 50 | 36 | 23 | 8
Rhode Island..............| 5 | 6 | - | - | - | - | - | -
South Carolina............| 122 | 85 | 36 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 11 | -
South Dakota..............| 22 | 30 | 14 | - | 6 | 6 | - | -
Tennessee.................| 154 | 134 | 51 | 22 | 27 | 24 | 6 | 4
Texas.....................| 528 | 457 | 200 | 76 | 69 | 57 | 32 | 23
Utah......................| 78 | 65 | 34 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 8 | -
Vermont...................| 10 | 10 | 3 | - | 4 | - | - | -
Virginia..................| 146 | 154 | 52 | 37 | 27 | 20 | 14 | 4
Washington................| 90 | 83 | 33 | 13 | 20 | 12 | 3 | -
West Virginia.............| 61 | 53 | 22 | 5 | 12 | 6 | 5 | -
Wisconsin.................| 104 | 77 | 33 | 6 | 18 | 11 | 3 | 5
Wyoming...................| 48 | 33 | 17 | 4 | 7 | 3 | - | -
__________________________|_________|_________|_________|_________|_________|_________|_________|_________
1 State totals include other events and exposures, such as bodily reaction, in addition to those shown
separately.
2 Totals for 2007 are revised and final. The BLS news release issued August 20, 2008, reported a total
of 5,488 fatal work injuries for calendar year 2007. Since then, an additional 169 job-related fatalities
were identified, bringing the total job-related fatality count for 2007 to 5,657. Includes 5 fatalities
that occurred within the territorial boundaries of the United States, but a State of incident could not be
determined.
3 Includes 2 fatalities that occurred within the territorial boundaries of the United States, but a
State of incident could not be determined.
4 Based on the 2007 BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification Manual.
5 Includes highway, nonhighway, air, water, rail fatalities, and fatalities resulting from being struck
by a vehicle.
6 Includes violence by persons, self-inflicted injuries, and attacks by animals.
p Data for 2008 are preliminary. Revised and final 2008 data are scheduled to be released in April 2010.
NOTE: Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria.
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 6. CFOI participating agencies and telephone numbers
State Agency Telephone number
Alabama Department of Labor (334) 242-3463
Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development (907) 465-4539
Arizona Industrial Commission of Arizona (602) 542-3739
Arkansas Department of Labor (501) 682-4542
California Department of Industrial Relations (510) 286-0702
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (303) 692-2093
Connecticut Labor Department (860) 263-6933
Delaware Department of Labor (302) 761-8217
Dist. of Columbia State Center for Health Statistics (202) 442-9010
Florida Department of Financial Services (850) 413-1611
Georgia Department of Labor (404) 679-1656
Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (808) 586-9001
Idaho Industrial Commission (208) 334-6090
Illinois Department of Public Health (217) 558-0500
Indiana Department of Labor (317) 232-2668
Iowa Division of Labor Services (515) 281-5151
Kansas Department of Labor (785) 296-1640
Kentucky Labor Cabinet (502) 564-4136
Louisiana Louisiana Workforce Commission (225) 342-3126
Maine Bureau of Labor Standards (207) 623-7907
Maryland Division of Labor and Industry (410) 767-2356
Massachusetts Department of Public Health (617) 624-5679
Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth (517) 322-1851
Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (651) 284-5568
Mississippi Department of Health (601) 576-7186
Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (573) 751-2454
Montana Department of Labor and Industry (406) 444-3297
Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court (402) 471-3547
Nevada Division of Industrial Relations (775) 684-7081
New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Administration (603) 271-4647
New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (908) 584-5367
New Mexico Occupational Health and Safety Bureau (505) 476-8740
New York State Department of Health (518) 402-7900
New York City Department of Health (212) 788-4584
North Carolina Department of Labor (919) 733-0337
North Dakota Bureau of Labor Statistics (312) 353-7200 ext. 410
Ohio Department of Health (614) 728-4116
Oklahoma Department of Labor (405) 521-6855
Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (503) 947-7364
Pennsylvania Department of Health (717) 265-8761
Rhode Island Department of Health (401) 222-2812
South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation (803) 896-7673
South Dakota Bureau of Labor Statistics (312) 353-7200 ext. 410
Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (615) 741-1749
Texas Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation (512) 804-4651
Utah Utah Occupational Safety and Health Statistics (801) 530-6823
Vermont Department of Labor (802) 828-5076
Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (804) 786-1035
Washington Department of Labor and Industries (360) 902-5512
West Virginia Division of Labor (304) 558-7890 ext. 121
Wisconsin Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (608) 221-6289
Wyoming Department of Employment (307) 473-3819
Puerto Rico Negociado de Estadisticas (787) 754-5300 ext. 3058
TECHNICAL NOTES
Identification and verification of work-related fatalities
In 2008, there were 27 cases included for which work relationship could not be independently verified;
however, the information on the initiating source document for these cases was sufficient to determine that the
incident was likely to be job-related. Data for these fatalities are included in the Census of Fatal
Occupational Injuries counts. An additional 78 fatalities submitted by States were not included because the
source documents had insufficient information to determine work relationship and could not be verified by either
an independent source document or a follow-up questionnaire.
States may identify additional fatal work injuries after data collection closeout for a reference year.
In addition, other fatalities excluded from the published count because of insufficient information to determine
work relationship may subsequently be verified as work related. States have up to seven months from this release
to update their initial published State counts. This procedure ensures that fatality data are disseminated as
quickly as possible and that legitimate cases are not excluded from the final counts. Thus, each year's initial
release of data should be considered preliminary. Final data are released in the Spring of the following year.
Revised counts for 2008 will be available in April 2010.
Over the last 5 years, increases in the published counts based on additional information have
averaged 83 fatalities per year or less than 1.5 percent of the revised total. There was a larger-than-normal update
last year. The BLS news release issued August 20, 2008 reported a total of 5,488 fatal work injuries for 2007.
With the April 2009 release of final data, an additional 169 net fatal work injuries were added, bringing the total
for 2007 to 5,657.
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.
Acknowledgements
BLS thanks the participating States, New York City, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the
Virgin Islands 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.
United States Department of Labor
