For release 10:00 a.m. (EDT) Thursday, August 22, 2013 USDL-13-1699
Technical information: (202) 691-6170 - iifstaff@bls.gov - www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 - PressOffice@bls.gov
NATIONAL CENSUS OF FATAL OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES IN 2012
(PRELIMINARY RESULTS)
A preliminary total of 4,383 fatal work injuries were recorded in the United States in 2012, down from a revised count
of 4,693 fatal work injuries in 2011, according to results from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI)
conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The 2012 total represents the second lowest preliminary total
since CFOI was first conducted in 1992. The rate of fatal work injury for U.S. workers in 2012 was
3.2 per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers, down from a rate of 3.5 per 100,000 in 2011.
Over the last 5 years, net increases to the preliminary count have ranged from 84 in 2011 to 211 in 2009.
The revised 2011 figure represented a 2 percent increase over the preliminary total, while the 2009 figure was
a 5 percent increase. Revised 2012 data from CFOI will be released in the late Spring of 2014.
Key preliminary findings of the 2012 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries:
- Fatal work injuries in the private construction sector increased 5 percent to 775 in 2012 from 738 in 2011.
Total hours worked in the private construction industry increased one percent in 2012. The increase in fatal
occupational injuries in 2012 follows five consecutive years of declining fatal injury counts in the
construction sector. Fatal construction injuries are down 37 percent since 2006.
- Since 2011, CFOI has identified whether fatally-injured workers were working as contractors at the time of
the fatal incident. In 2012, 708 decedents were identified as contractors, many of whom worked in construction
and transportation occupations.
- Fatal work injuries declined among non-Hispanic white workers (down 10 percent) and Hispanic or Latino workers
(down 5 percent) in 2012. Fatal work injuries were higher among non-Hispanic black or African-American workers
and non-Hispanic Asian workers.
- Fatal work injuries involving workers under 16 years of age nearly doubled, rising from 10 in 2011 to
19 in 2012the highest total since 2005. Fatal work injuries in the other age groups declined in 2012.
Fatal work injuries among workers 55 years of age and older declined for the second straight year.
- Work-related suicides declined 10 percent from 2011 totals, but violence accounted for about 17 percent
of all fatal work injuries in 2012.
- Fatal work injuries in the private mining sector rose in 2012, led by an increase in fatal injuries to workers
in oil and gas extraction industries. Fatal work injuries in oil and gas extraction industries rose 23 percent
to 138 in 2012, reaching a new high for the series.
Worker characteristics
The number of fatal work injuries involving non-Hispanic white workers declined 10 percent in 2012, but rose
by 13 percent for non-Hispanic Asian workers. Despite the increase, Asian workers still recorded a lower rate of
fatal injury than the rate for workers overall (1.8 per 100,000 FTE workers for non-Hispanic Asians versus
3.2 per 100,000 FTE workers for workers overall).
Fatal work injuries among Hispanic or Latino workers dropped to 708 in 2012 from 749 in 2011, a decrease of 5 percent.
Of the 708 fatal work injuries incurred by Hispanic or Latino workers, 454 (or 64 percent) involved foreign-born
workers. Overall, there were 777 fatal work injuries involving foreign-born workers in 2012, of which the
greatest share (299 or 38 percent) were born in Mexico.
Fatal work injuries increased for workers under 16 years of age, rising to 19 in 2012 from 10 in 2011, reaching
its highest level since 2005. Fourteen of these young decedents were employed as agricultural workers. Fatal work
injuries involving men fell from 4,308 in 2011 to 4,045 in 2012the lowest total since the inception of the
fatality census in 1992.
Fatal injuries to both wage and salary workers and self-employed workers declined in 2012.
For more detailed information on fatal injuries by worker characteristics, see the 2012 tables
at www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm.
Type of incident
Transportation incidents accounted for more than 2 out of every 5 fatal work injuries in 2012. (See chart 1.)
Of the 1,789 transportation-related fatal injuries, about 58 percent (1,044 cases) were roadway incidents involving
motorized land vehicles. Nonroadway incidents, such as a tractor overturn in a farm field, accounted for another
13 percent of the transportation-related fatal injuries. About 16 percent of fatal transportation incidents in 2012
involved pedestrians who were struck by vehicles. Of the 283 fatal work injuries involving pedestrians struck
by vehicles, 65 occurred in work zones. (Note that transportation counts presented in this release are expected
to rise when updated 2012 data are released in Spring 2014 because key source documentation detailing specific
transportation-related incidents has not yet been received.)
Fatal work injuries among those fatally injured in aircraft incidents in 2012 declined by 14 percent from 2011,
accounting for 125 fatalities or about 7 percent of the transportation total.
Overall, 767 workers were killed as a result of violence and other injuries by persons or animals, including
463 homicides and 225 suicides. The work-related suicide total for 2012 declined 10 percent from the 2011 total
and the homicide total was also slightly lower. Shootings were the most frequent manner of death in both
homicides (81 percent) and suicides (48 percent). Of the 338 fatal work injuries involving female workers,
29 percent involved homicides.
Fatal falls, slips, or trips took the lives of 668 workers in 2012, down slightly from 2011. Falls to a lower level
accounted for 544 or about 81 percent of those fatalities. In 2012, the height of the fall was reported in 437 of the
fatal falls to a lower level. Of those cases, about one in four occurred after a fall of 10 feet or less. Another
one-fourth of the fatal fall cases occurred from falls of over 30 feet.
While the total number of fatal work injuries involving contact with objects and equipment in 2012 remained about
the same as in 2011, the number of workers fatally injured after being struck by objects or equipment increased by
7 percent (to 509 fatal work injuries in 2012 from 476 in 2011). This total includes 233 workers struck by
falling objects or equipment and 199 struck by powered vehicles or mobile equipment not in normal operation.
There were 142 multiple-fatality incidents in 2012 (incidents in which more than one worker was killed)
in which 341 workers died.
For more detailed information on fatal injuries by incident, see the 2012 tables at www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm.
Industry
In the private sector, there were 3,945 fatal work injuries in 2012, down 6 percent to a new series low. Both
goods-producing industries and service-providing industries showed declines.
Among goods-producing sectors, the number of fatal work injuries in the private construction sector increased
5 percent in 2012. Total hours worked were higher by one percent in 2012. The increase in 2012 was the first
in construction fatalities since 2006. Construction fatalities are down 37 percent over that time. Construction
accounted for the highest number of fatal work injuries of any industry sector in 2012. (See chart 2.)
Fatal work injuries in the private mining sector increased 14 percent to 177 in 2012 from 155 in 2011the highest
level since 2007. The number of fatal work injury cases in oil and gas extraction industries rose to 138 in 2012
from 112 in 2011; the 2012 figure represents a series high. Fatal work injuries in coal mining increased slightly,
and fatal work injuries in support activities for mining increased 9 percent. CFOI has used the North American
Industry Classification System (NAICS) to define industry since 2003, and data on oil and gas extraction industries
in CFOI comprise NAICS 21111 Oil and gas extraction, NAICS 213111 Drilling oil and gas wells, and
NAICS 213112 Support activities for oil and gas operations.
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting fatalities decreased 16 percent to 475 in 2012 from 566 in 2011.
This follows a 9 percent drop in agriculture fatalities in 2011. Fatal injuries in the crop production,
animal production, forestry and logging, and fishing sectors were all lower in 2012. Despite the declines in
fatal work injuries in this sector over the last two years, agriculture recorded the highest fatal injury rate
of any industry sector at 21.2 fatal injuries per 100,000 FTE workers in 2012.
Among service-providing industries in the private sector, fatal work injuries in transportation and warehousing
accounted for 677 fatal work injuries in 2012, a decrease of 10 percent over the revised 2011 count (749 fatalities).
The number of fatal injuries in truck transportation, the largest subsector within transportation and warehousing
in terms of employment, decreased 6 percent in 2012. (As noted, transportation counts presented in this release
are expected to rise when updated 2012 data are released in Spring 2014.) Among other transportation subsectors,
fatal work injuries in air transportation were slightly higher, but fatalities in water and rail transportation
were lower in 2012.
Fatal work injuries in the financial activities sector declined 17 percent in 2012 to 81. The professional and
business services sector also reported lower numbers of fatal injuries in 2012, down 10 percent from 2011.
Fatal occupational injuries among government workers decreased 13 percent from 2011 to 438 fatal work injuries,
the lowest fatal work injury total since the start of the fatality census. Both state government and
local government showed declines (19 percent and 16 percent, respectively), though fatal injuries among
federal government workers remained about the same.
For more detailed information on fatal injuries by industry, see the 2012 tables at www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm.
Occupation
Fatal work injuries in construction and extraction occupations rose for the second year in a row to 838a 5 percent
increase from 2011. Hours worked increased one percent in this occupation group during that period. Fatal injuries
among construction trades workers rose in 2012 to 577 after 5 years of decline. This marked an 8 percent increase
over the series low of 533 in 2011, but a 41 percent drop from the high of 977 reported in 2006. Fatal work injuries
to construction laborers, the subgroup in this category with the highest number of fatalities, increased 10 percent
to 210 in 2012, following a series low of 191 in 2011. Fatal injuries to roofers, another subgroup within
construction trades workers, rose to 70 in 2012, a 17 percent rise from 2011 marking the highest count in 5 years.
Fatal work injuries in transportation and material moving occupations were down 7 percent to 1,150 in 2012.
Fatal work injuries in this occupational group accounted for about one quarter of all fatal occupational injuries.
Drivers/sales workers and truck drivers was the subgroup within transportation and material moving occupations with
the highest number of fatal injuries. Dropping 4 percent, this subgroup recorded 741 fatalities in 2012. Fatal
injuries to taxi drivers and chauffeurs were down 28 percent to a series low of 46. (As noted, transportation and
material moving counts presented in this release are expected to rise when updated 2012 data are released
in Spring 2014.)
The number of fatal work injuries among protective service occupations decreased 21 percent in 2012
to 224 fatalitiesreaching the lowest count since the occupational series began in 2003. The decline was led
by lower numbers of fatal injuries to police and sheriffs patrol officers, which dropped 20 percent to 104 in 2012
to continue a two-year downward trend. Fatal injuries to both security guards and firefighters reached series lows
with 48 and 17 fatalities, respectively.
Fatal work injuries to workers in management occupations declined 8 percent to 429 in 2012the lowest level
in the series. This decrease was driven primarily by the 19 percent decline in fatal injuries to farmers, ranchers,
and other agricultural managers from 268 in 2011 to 216 in 2012.
Fatalities among farming, fishing, and forestry occupations declined 6 percent to 245 in 2012. This was led by the
24 percent drop in fatalities to fishers and related fishing workers from 42 in 2011 to a series low of 32 in 2012.
Fatal injuries to logging workers have remained somewhat level for the last three years, decreasing slightly
to 62 in 2012.
Fatal injuries to resident military personnel reached a series low in 2012, dropping 25 percent from
57 fatalities in 2011 to 43.
For more detailed information on fatal injuries by occupation, see the 2012 tables at www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm.
Contract workers
In addition to identifying the industry in which a decedent was employed, CFOI began in 2011 to identify whether
a worker was a contractor. A contractor is defined as a worker employed by one firm but working at the behest of
another firm that exercises overall responsibility for the operations at the site where the decedent was
fatally injured. This information helps to identify the location and type of work being performed when
the fatal work injury occurred.
In 2012, the number of fatal occupational injuries incurred by contractors was 708, or 16 percent of all
fatal injuries, compared to 542 reported in 2011. Falls to a lower level accounted for 30 percent of contractor
deaths while struck by object or equipment (18 percent) and pedestrian vehicular (11 percent) incidents also were
frequent events among contractors.
Fatally-injured contractors were most often contracted by a government entity (151 or 21 percent of all contractors)
and by firms in the private construction (133 or 19 percent); mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
(68 or 10 percent); and manufacturing (67 or 9 percent) industry sectors.
The majority of contractors (381 or 54 percent) were working in construction and extraction occupations when fatally
injured. Decedents in this occupation group were most often employed as construction laborers (101), first-line
supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers (42), electricians (39), and roofers (32). Among contractors
who were employed outside the construction and extraction occupations group, the largest number of fatal occupational
injuries was incurred by heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (50); tree trimmers and pruners (16);
security guards (15); landscaping and groundskeeping workers (14); welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers (14);
and athletes and sports competitors (13).
For more detailed information on fatal injuries incurred by contract workers, see the 2012 charts
at www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm.
State and metropolitan statistical area (MSA)
Sixteen states and the District of Columbia reported higher numbers of fatal work injuries in 2012 than in 2011,
while 32 states reported lower numbers. Two states reported the same number as in 2011. 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, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam are not included in the national totals for this release,
results for these jurisdictions are available. Participating agencies and their telephone numbers are listed
in Table 6.
Counts for over 300 MSAs are also available for 2012 from CFOI and detailed data are available for more than 50 MSAs.
The MSAs with the most fatal occupational injuries in 2012 were New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island (NY-NJ-PA)
with 178, Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown (TX) with 90, Chicago-Joliet-Naperville (IL-IN-WI) with 81, and Los Angeles-Long
Beach-Santa Ana (CA) with 81.
For more detailed information on fatal injuries by state and MSA, see the 2012 tables at www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm.
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 the 2012 data, over 19,000 unique source documents
were reviewed as part of the data collection process.
The Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), another component of the OSHS program, presents frequency
counts and incidence rates by industry and also by detailed case circumstances and worker characteristics for
nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses for cases that result in days away from work. Incidence rates for 2012
by industry and case type will be published in October 2013, and information on 2012 case circumstances and worker
characteristics will be available in November 2013. For additional data, access the
BLS Internet site: www.bls.gov/iif/. For technical information and definitions for the CFOI program,
please go to the BLS Handbook of Methods on the BLS website at www.bls.gov/opub/hom/pdf/homch9.pdf.
Table 1. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, 2011-2012
___________________________________________________________________________
| |
| 2011(2) | 2012p
Event or exposure(1) |_________|___________________
| |
| Number | Percent
_____________________________________________|___________________|_________
| | |
Total......................................| 4,693 | 4,383 | 100
| | |
Violence and other injuries by persons or | | |
animals.....................................| 791 | 767 | 17
Homicides - intentional injury by other | | |
person....................................| 468 | 463 | 11
Shooting by other person - intentional...| 365 | 375 | 9
Stabbing, cutting, slashing, piercing....| 42 | 32 | 1
Self-inflicted injury - intentional........| 250 | 225 | 5
| | |
Transportation incidents.....................| 1,937 | 1,789 | 41
Roadway incidents involving motorized land | | |
vehicle...................................| 1,103 | 1,044 | 24
Roadway collision with other vehicle.....| 525 | 512 | 12
Roadway collision - moving in same | | |
direction.............................| 150 | 110 | 3
Roadway collision - moving in opposite | | |
directions, oncoming..................| 172 | 186 | 4
Roadway collision - moving | | |
perpendicularly.......................| 111 | 124 | 3
Roadway collision with object other than | | |
vehicle.................................| 313 | 300 | 7
Vehicle struck object or animal on side| | |
of roadway............................| 292 | 282 | 6
Roadway noncollision incident............| 262 | 228 | 5
Jack-knifed or overturned, roadway.....| 208 | 187 | 4
Nonroadway incidents involving motorized | | |
land vehicles.............................| 222 | 227 | 5
Jack-knifed or overturned, nonroadway..| 113 | 111 | 3
Pedestrian vehicular incident..............| 316 | 283 | 6
Pedestrian struck by vehicle in work zone| 63 | 65 | 1
Rail vehicle incidents.....................| 50 | 33 | 1
Water vehicle incidents....................| 72 | 64 | 1
Aircraft incidents.........................| 145 | 125 | 3
| | |
Fires and explosions.........................| 144 | 116 | 3
| | |
Falls, slips, trips..........................| 681 | 668 | 15
Falls to lower level.......................| 553 | 544 | 12
Fall from collapsing structure or | | |
equipment...............................| 38 | 35 | 1
Fall through surface or existing opening | 60 | 71 | 2
Fall on same level.........................| 111 | 108 | 2
| | |
Exposure to harmful substances or | | |
environments................................| 419 | 320 | 7
Exposure to electricity....................| 174 | 156 | 4
Exposure to temperature extremes...........| 63 | 40 | 1
Exposure to other harmful substances.......| 144 | 94 | 2
Inhalation of harmful substance..........| 57 | 40 | 1
| | |
Contact with objects and equipment...........| 710 | 712 | 16
Struck by object or equipment..............| 476 | 509 | 12
Struck by falling object or equipment - | | |
other than powered vehicle..............| 219 | 233 | 5
Struck by discharged or flying object....| 24 | 27 | 1
Caught in or compressed by equipment or | | |
objects...................................| 145 | 122 | 3
Caught in running equipment or machinery | 118 | 92 | 2
Struck, caught, or crushed in collapsing | | |
structure, equipment, or material.........| 84 | 74 | 2
_____________________________________________|_________|_________|_________
1 Based on the BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System
(OIICS) 2.01 implemented for 2011 data forward.
2 Totals for 2011 are revised and final. The BLS news release issued
September 20, 2012, reported a total of 4,609 fatal work injuries for
calendar year 2011. Since then, an additional 84 job-related fatal
injuries were identified, bringing the total job-related fatal injury count
for 2011 to 4,693.
p Data for 2012 are preliminary. Revised and final 2012 data are
scheduled to be released in Spring 2014.
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 industry and selected event or exposure, 2012p
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
| |
| Fatal injuries | Selected event or exposure(2)
| | (percent of total for industry)
|_______________________|_______________________________________________
Industry(1) | | | | | |
| | | | | Falls, | Struck by
| Number | Percent | Homicides | Roadway(3)| slips, | object or
| | | | | trips | equipment
________________________________________|___________|___________|___________|___________|___________|___________
| | | | | |
Total...............................| 4,383 | 100 | 11 | 24 | 15 | 12
| | | | | |
Private industry.......................| 3,945 | 90 | 10 | 24 | 16 | 12
| | | | | |
Goods producing.......................| 1,741 | 40 | 1 | 15 | 21 | 17
| | | | | |
Natural resources and mining.........| 652 | 15 | | 17 | 8 | 23
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and | | | | | |
hunting............................| 475 | 11 | | 12 | 7 | 25
Crop production...................| 204 | 5 | | 13 | 5 | 23
Animal production.................| 141 | 3 | | 16 | 9 | 16
Forestry and logging..............| 62 | 1 | | | 5 | 74
Mining(4)...........................| 177 | 4 | | 30 | 13 | 18
Mining, except oil and gas........| 38 | 1 | | 8 | 13 | 24
Support activities for mining.....| 114 | 3 | | 38 | 11 | 16
Construction.........................| 775 | 18 | 1 | 14 | 36 | 10
Construction........................| 775 | 18 | 1 | 14 | 36 | 10
Construction of buildings.........| 133 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 50 | 8
Heavy and civil engineering | | | | | |
construction.....................| 169 | 4 | | 25 | 11 | 15
Specialty trade contractors.......| 456 | 10 | (5) | 11 | 41 | 9
Manufacturing........................| 314 | 7 | 6 | 15 | 12 | 19
Manufacturing.......................| 314 | 7 | 6 | 15 | 12 | 19
Food manufacturing................| 41 | 1 | 10 | 24 | 17 | 10
Fabricated metal product | | | | | |
manufacturing....................| 43 | 1 | 2 | | 7 | 33
| | | | | |
Service providing.....................| 2,204 | 50 | 16 | 30 | 12 | 9
| | | | | |
Trade, transportation, and utilities | 1,152 | 26 | 14 | 42 | 9 | 8
Wholesale trade.....................| 191 | 4 | 6 | 34 | 15 | 17
Merchant wholesalers, durable | | | | | |
goods............................| 103 | 2 | 8 | 32 | 13 | 22
Merchant wholesalers, nondurable | | | | | |
goods............................| 83 | 2 | | 35 | 18 | 11
Retail trade........................| 262 | 6 | 40 | 18 | 15 | 7
Motor vehicle and parts dealers...| 43 | 1 | 23 | 23 | | 12
Food and beverage stores..........| 63 | 1 | 65 | 6 | 11 | 2
Transportation and warehousing......| 677 | 15 | 7 | 54 | 5 | 6
Truck transportation..............| 456 | 10 | 1 | 71 | 4 | 6
Transit and ground passenger | | | | | |
transportation...................| 54 | 1 | 63 | 26 | |
Utilities...........................| 22 | 1 | | 23 | | 18
Information..........................| 38 | 1 | 13 | 47 | |
Financial activities.................| 81 | 2 | 23 | 16 | 25 | 7
Finance and insurance...............| 20 | (5) | | | 30 |
Real estate and rental and leasing..| 61 | 1 | 26 | 18 | 23 | 8
Professional and business services...| 388 | 9 | 7 | 18 | 19 | 16
Professional and technical services | 54 | 1 | | 28 | 17 |
Administrative and waste services...| 332 | 8 | 8 | 17 | 19 | 19
Educational and health services......| 139 | 3 | 15 | 22 | 14 | 2
Educational services................| 33 | 1 | | | 18 |
Health care and social assistance...| 106 | 2 | 18 | 28 | 13 | 3
Leisure and hospitality..............| 220 | 5 | 35 | 12 | 11 | 4
Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 78 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 14 | 8
Accommodation and food services.....| 142 | 3 | 50 | 13 | 10 |
Other services, except public | | | | | |
administration......................| 183 | 4 | 26 | 13 | 7 | 15
| | | | | |
Government(6)..........................| 438 | 10 | 17 | 26 | 10 | 4
| | | | | |
Federal government....................| 97 | 2 | 7 | 16 | 7 |
State government......................| 87 | 2 | 15 | 29 | 11 | 3
Local government......................| 250 | 6 | 22 | 30 | 10 | 5
________________________________________|___________|___________|___________|___________|___________|___________
1 Industry data are based on the North American Industry Classification System, 2007.
2 Based on the BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) 2.01 implemented for 2011
data forward. The figure shown is the percent of the total fatal injuries for that industry group.
3 "Roadway" 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 fatal injuries at all establishments categorized as Mining (Sector 21) in the North American
Industry Classification System, 2007, 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 fatal injuries to workers employed by governmental organizations regardless of industry.
p Data for 2012 are preliminary. Revised and final 2012 data are scheduled to be released in Spring 2014.
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. There were three
fatal injuries for which there was insufficient information to determine a specific industry 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 3. Fatal occupational injuries by occupation and selected event or exposure, 2012p
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
| |
| Fatal injuries | Selected event or exposure(2)
| | (percent of total for occupation)
|_______________________|_______________________________________________
Occupation(1) | | | | | |
| | | | | Falls, | Struck by
| Number | Percent | Homicides | Roadway(3)| slips, | object or
| | | | | trips | equipment
_____________________________________________|___________|___________|___________|___________|___________|___________
| | | | | |
Total......................................| 4,383 | 100 | 11 | 24 | 15 | 12
| | | | | |
Management occupations.......................| 429 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 13
Top executives.............................| 30 | 1 | 10 | 33 | |
Operations specialties managers............| 23 | 1 | 13 | 26 | |
Other management occupations...............| 365 | 8 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 15
Business and financial operations occupations| 22 | 1 | 18 | 45 | 14 |
Computer and mathematical occupations........| 8 | (4) | 12 | | |
Architecture and engineering occupations.....| 33 | 1 | | 33 | 12 | 9
Engineers..................................| 22 | 1 | | 32 | |
Life, physical, and social science | | | | | |
occupations.................................| 19 | (4) | 11 | 32 | |
Community and social services occupations....| 37 | 1 | 38 | 22 | |
Legal occupations............................| 8 | (4) | | | |
Education, training, and library occupations | 24 | 1 | | | 25 |
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and | | | | | |
media occupations...........................| 44 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 16 |
Entertainers and performers, sports and | | | | | |
related workers...........................| 27 | 1 | | | |
Healthcare practitioners and technical | | | | | |
occupations.................................| 49 | 1 | | 31 | 14 |
Health diagnosing and treating | | | | | |
practitioners.............................| 29 | 1 | | 17 | 14 |
Health technologists and technicians.......| 17 | (4) | | 59 | |
Healthcare support occupations...............| 10 | (4) | | 40 | 30 |
Protective service occupations...............| 224 | 5 | 40 | 22 | 4 | 3
Fire fighting and prevention workers.......| 18 | (4) | 11 | 33 | 6 |
Law enforcement workers....................| 119 | 3 | 41 | 29 | 3 |
Other protective service workers...........| 68 | 2 | 49 | 6 | 7 |
Food preparation and serving related | | | | | |
occupations.................................| 53 | 1 | 34 | 13 | 19 |
Supervisors, food preparation and serving | | | | | |
workers...................................| 14 | (4) | 50 | | |
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance| | | | | |
occupations.................................| 245 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 27 | 22
Building cleaning and pest control workers | 49 | 1 | 16 | 16 | 29 |
Grounds maintenance workers................| 156 | 4 | | 8 | 28 | 29
Personal care and service occupations........| 64 | 1 | 33 | 14 | 8 |
Sales and related occupations................| 216 | 5 | 51 | 12 | 11 | 2
Supervisors, sales workers.................| 106 | 2 | 57 | 6 | 7 | 3
Retail sales workers.......................| 63 | 1 | 63 | 5 | 16 |
Sales representatives, services............| 10 | (4) | | 30 | 30 |
Sales representatives, wholesale and | | | | | |
manufacturing.............................| 15 | (4) | | 60 | |
Office and administrative support occupations| 82 | 2 | 23 | 24 | 16 | 5
Material recording, scheduling, | | | | | |
dispatching, and distributing workers.....| 47 | 1 | 11 | 30 | 15 | 6
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations...| 245 | 6 | | 12 | 5 | 31
Agricultural workers.......................| 139 | 3 | | 18 | 6 | 17
Fishing and hunting workers................| 34 | 1 | | 3 | 6 |
Forest, conservation, and logging workers..| 64 | 1 | | | 5 | 75
Construction and extraction occupations......| 838 | 19 | 1 | 13 | 35 | 10
Supervisors, construction and extraction | | | | | |
workers...................................| 117 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 33 | 12
Construction trades workers................| 577 | 13 | 1 | 10 | 40 | 8
Extraction workers.........................| 86 | 2 | | 26 | 15 | 22
Installation, maintenance, and repair | | | | | |
occupations.................................| 326 | 7 | 5 | 16 | 13 | 24
Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, | | | | | |
installers, and repairers.................| 104 | 2 | 6 | 12 | 3 | 46
Other installation, maintenance, and repair| | | | | |
occupations...............................| 179 | 4 | 3 | 15 | 18 | 13
Production occupations.......................| 211 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 16
Supervisors, production workers............| 22 | 1 | | | |
Metal workers and plastic workers..........| 82 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 12 | 18
Transportation and material moving | | | | | |
occupations.................................| 1,150 | 26 | 6 | 50 | 6 | 9
Air transportation workers.................| 71 | 2 | | | |
Motor vehicle operators....................| 817 | 19 | 7 | 67 | 5 | 6
Water transportation workers...............| 13 | (4) | | | |
Material moving workers....................| 207 | 5 | 4 | 12 | 14 | 21
Military occupations(5)......................| 43 | 1 | 7 | 7 | |
_____________________________________________|___________|___________|___________|___________|___________|___________
1 Occupation data are based on the Standard Occupational Classification system, 2010.
2 Based on the BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) 2.01 implemented for 2011 data
forward. The figure shown is the percent of the total fatal injuries for that occupation group.
3 "Roadway" 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.
5 Includes fatal injuries to persons identified as resident armed forces regardless of individual occupation
listed.
p Data for 2012 are preliminary. Revised and final 2012 data are scheduled to be released in Spring 2014.
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. There were three fatal injuries 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, 2012p
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
| |
| Fatal injuries | Selected event or exposure(1)
| | (percent of total for characteristic category)
|_______________________|_______________________________________________
Characteristic | | | | | |
| | | | | Falls, | Struck by
| Number | Percent | Homicides | Roadway(2)| slips, | object or
| | | | | trips | equipment
______________________________|___________|___________|___________|___________|___________|___________
| | | | | |
Total.........................| 4,383 | 100 | 11 | 24 | 15 | 12
| | | | | |
Employee status | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Wage and salary(3)............| 3,396 | 77 | 10 | 27 | 15 | 11
Self-employed(4)..............| 987 | 23 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 15
| | | | | |
Gender | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Men...........................| 4,045 | 92 | 9 | 24 | 15 | 12
Women.........................| 338 | 8 | 29 | 21 | 16 | 4
| | | | | |
Age(5) | | | | | |
| | | | | |
Under 16 years................| 19 | (6) | | 5 | | 16
16-17 years...................| 9 | (6) | | 33 | 11 |
18-19 years...................| 58 | 1 | 12 | 24 | 12 | 12
20-24 years...................| 275 | 6 | 11 | 25 | 7 | 11
25-34 years...................| 703 | 16 | 14 | 23 | 11 | 9
35-44 years...................| 792 | 18 | 12 | 25 | 13 | 11
45-54 years...................| 1,102 | 25 | 10 | 25 | 17 | 10
55-64 years...................| 869 | 20 | 9 | 23 | 17 | 13
65 years and over.............| 552 | 13 | 6 | 22 | 23 | 16
| | | | | |
Race or ethnic origin(7) | | | | | |
| | | | | |
White, non-Hispanic...........| 3,002 | 68 | 8 | 25 | 15 | 12
Black or African-American, | | | | | |
non-Hispanic.................| 446 | 10 | 22 | 26 | 9 | 9
Hispanic or Latino............| 708 | 16 | 9 | 22 | 21 | 14
American Indian or Alaska | | | | | |
Native, non-Hispanic.........| 34 | 1 | | 15 | 9 | 15
Asian, non-Hispanic...........| 137 | 3 | 36 | 12 | 18 | 5
Native Hawaiian or Pacific | | | | | |
Islander, non-Hispanic.......| 7 | (6) | | | |
Multiple races, non-Hispanic..| 5 | (6) | 20 | | |
Other or not reported, | | | | | |
non-Hispanic.................| 44 | 1 | 20 | 23 | 14 |
______________________________|___________|___________|___________|___________|___________|___________
1 Based on the BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) 2.01 implemented
for 2011 data forward. The figure shown is the percent of the total fatal injuries for that
demographic characteristic.
2 "Roadway" 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, and may include some owners of incorporated businesses or members of partnerships.
5 There were four fatal injuries 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 2012 are preliminary. Revised and final 2012 data are scheduled to be released in Spring
2014.
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 state and event or exposure, 2011-2012
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
| |
|Total fatal injuries(1)| Event or exposure(4)
| | 2012
|_______________________|_______________________________________________________________________
| | | | | | | |
State of injury | | | Violence | | | |Exposure to|
| | | and other | Transpor- | | Falls, | harmful | Contact
| 2011(2) | 2012(3)p |injuries by| tation | Fires and | slips, | substances| with
| (revised) | | persons or|incidents | explosions| trips | or |objects and
| | | animals(5)| (6) | | | environ- | equipment
| | | | | | | ments |
__________________________|___________|___________|___________|___________|___________|___________|___________|___________
| | | | | | | |
Total...................| 4,693 | 4,383 | 767 | 1,789 | 116 | 668 | 320 | 712
| | | | | | | |
Alabama...................| 75 | 81 | 20 | 28 | | 8 | 4 | 20
Alaska....................| 39 | 30 | 9 | 16 | | | | 4
Arizona...................| 69 | 37 | 11 | 14 | | | | 7
Arkansas..................| 93 | 63 | 13 | 23 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 9
California................| 390 | 339 | 67 | 129 | 6 | 54 | 22 | 60
Colorado..................| 92 | 80 | 15 | 32 | 4 | 15 | 3 | 10
Connecticut...............| 37 | 36 | 13 | 9 | 1 | 7 | | 5
Delaware..................| 10 | 14 | 4 | 6 | | | |
District of Columbia......| 9 | 11 | 5 | | | 4 | |
Florida...................| 226 | 209 | 44 | 65 | 6 | 42 | 23 | 28
Georgia...................| 111 | 76 | 19 | 24 | 3 | 15 | 6 | 9
Hawaii....................| 26 | 19 | 3 | 3 | | 8 | | 4
Idaho.....................| 37 | 18 | | 11 | | | | 4
Illinois..................| 177 | 145 | 32 | 52 | 8 | 24 | 10 | 17
Indiana...................| 125 | 113 | 13 | 56 | | 15 | 6 | 21
Iowa......................| 93 | 84 | 5 | 44 | | 9 | 4 | 19
Kansas....................| 78 | 75 | 7 | 49 | 3 | 2 | | 13
Kentucky..................| 93 | 84 | 16 | 40 | | 8 | 3 | 15
Louisiana.................| 111 | 106 | 16 | 47 | 5 | 13 | 11 | 14
Maine.....................| 26 | 19 | | 8 | | 4 | 3 | 4
Maryland..................| 71 | 70 | 14 | 23 | | 14 | 8 | 11
Massachusetts.............| 68 | 33 | 7 | 13 | | 7 | 1 | 5
Michigan..................| 141 | 127 | 40 | 42 | | 21 | 4 | 17
Minnesota.................| 60 | 70 | 11 | 28 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 14
Mississippi...............| 63 | 60 | 13 | 22 | | 7 | 3 | 13
Missouri..................| 132 | 83 | 10 | 42 | | 15 | 7 | 8
Montana...................| 49 | 34 | 2 | 13 | | 7 | 3 | 7
Nebraska..................| 39 | 48 | | 25 | | 6 | 5 | 10
Nevada....................| 38 | 42 | 15 | 15 | | 6 | | 6
New Hampshire.............| 9 | 13 | | 3 | 1 | | | 4
New Jersey................| 99 | 90 | 22 | 34 | 1 | 11 | 8 | 14
New Mexico................| 52 | 35 | 3 | 16 | | 6 | 5 | 4
New York (including | | | | | | | |
N.Y.C.)..................| 206 | 196 | 40 | 61 | 5 | 47 | 11 | 32
New York City...........| 72 | 75 | 26 | 13 | | 21 | 6 | 7
North Carolina............| 148 | 138 | 32 | 52 | | 18 | 13 | 22
North Dakota..............| 44 | 64 | 3 | 39 | 5 | 7 | | 8
Ohio......................| 155 | 154 | 22 | 52 | 3 | 32 | 10 | 35
Oklahoma..................| 86 | 94 | 7 | 51 | 4 | 9 | 11 | 12
Oregon....................| 58 | 43 | 11 | 20 | | 6 | | 5
Pennsylvania..............| 186 | 163 | 22 | 63 | 6 | 23 | 14 | 35
Rhode Island..............| 7 | 8 | | 3 | | | |
South Carolina............| 81 | 62 | 12 | 28 | | 8 | 8 | 6
South Dakota..............| 31 | 31 | 3 | 17 | | 4 | 2 | 5
Tennessee.................| 120 | 100 | 24 | 34 | | 18 | 5 | 16
Texas.....................| 433 | 531 | 66 | 258 | 22 | 75 | 44 | 65
Utah......................| 39 | 39 | 7 | 16 | | 4 | 3 | 7
Vermont...................| 8 | 10 | 1 | 3 | | | 4 |
Virginia..................| 127 | 146 | 18 | 62 | | 28 | 8 | 29
Washington................| 60 | 64 | 6 | 26 | | 14 | 7 | 11
West Virginia.............| 43 | 47 | 6 | 18 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 12
Wisconsin.................| 89 | 114 | 27 | 37 | 3 | 16 | 5 | 26
Wyoming...................| 32 | 35 | 5 | 17 | | 4 | | 7
__________________________|___________|___________|___________|___________|___________|___________|___________|___________
1 State totals include other events and exposures, such as bodily reaction, in addition to those shown separately.
2 Totals for 2011 are revised and final. Preliminary 2011 data issued September 20, 2012, reported a total of 4,609
fatal work injuries for calendar year 2011. Since then, an additional 84 job-related fatal injuries were identified,
bringing the total job-related fatal injury count for 2011 to 4,693. Includes two fatal injuries that occurred within the
territorial boundaries of the United States, but a State of incident could not be determined.
3 Includes zero fatal injuries that occurred within the territorial boundaries of the United States, but a State of
incident could not be determined.
4 Based on the BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) 2.01 implemented for 2011 data forward.
5 Includes violence by persons, self-inflicted injuries, and attacks by animals.
6 Includes roadway, nonroadway, air, water, and rail fatal injuries, and fatal injuries resulting from being struck by a
vehicle.
p Data for 2012 are preliminary. Revised and final 2012 data are scheduled to be released in Spring 2014.
NOTE: 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 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 (602) 542-3737
Arkansas Department of Labor (501) 682-4542
California Department of Industrial Relations (626) 472-0446 ext. 5443
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (303) 691-4938
Connecticut Department of Labor (860) 263-6933
Delaware Department of Labor (302) 761-8219
Dist. of Columbia Department of Health (202) 442-9010
Florida Bureau of Labor Statistics - Atlanta Region (404) 893-8339
Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner (404) 463-0737
Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (808) 586-9002
Idaho Department of Labor (208) 332-3570 ext. 3220
Illinois Department of Public Health (312) 814-8194
Indiana Department of Labor (317) 232-2668
Iowa Division of Labor Services (515) 281-5151
Kansas Department of Labor (785) 296-5000 ext. 2595
Kentucky Labor Cabinet (502) 564-4136
Louisiana Workforce Commission (225) 342-3126
Maine Bureau of Labor Standards (207) 623-7905
Maryland Division of Labor and Industry (410) 527-4463
Massachusetts Department of Public Health (617) 624-5679
Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (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) 751-0807
Montana Department of Labor and Industry (406) 444-3297
Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court (402) 471-3547
Nevada Division of Industrial Relations (702) 486-9197
New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Administration (603) 271-4647
New Jersey Department of Health (609) 826-4984
New Mexico Occupational Health and Safety Bureau (505) 476-8740
New York State Department of Health and Injury Prevention (518) 402-7900
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (646) 632-6729
North Carolina Department of Labor (919) 733-0337
North Dakota Bureau of Labor Statistics - Chicago Region (312) 353-7253
Ohio Department of Health (614) 644-0135
Oklahoma Department of Labor (405) 521-6858
Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (503) 947-7364
Pennsylvania Department of Health (717) 783-2548
Rhode Island Department of Health (401) 222-8051
South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation (803) 896-7673
South Dakota Bureau of Labor Statistics - Chicago Region (312) 353-7253
Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (615) 741-1749
Texas Dept. of Insurance, Div. of Workers' Compensation (512) 804-4658
Utah Labor Commission, Statistics Program (801) 530-6823
Vermont Department of Labor (802) 828-5985
Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (804) 786-1035
Washington Department of Labor and Industries (360) 902-5510
West Virginia Bureau of Labor Statistics - Philadelphia Region (215) 861-5637
Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (608) 221-6293
Wyoming Department of Workforce Services (307) 473-3810
Guam Department of Labor (671) 475-7056
Puerto Rico Negociado de Estadisticas (787) 754-5300 ext. 3056
U.S. Virgin Islands Occupational Safety and Health Statistics (340) 776-3700 ext. 2019
TECHNICAL NOTES
Identification and verification of work-related fatalities
In 2012, there were 12 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 (CFOI) counts. An additional 69 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 7 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 revised
counts. Thus, each year's initial release of data should be considered preliminary. Revised data are
released in the Spring of the following year; revised counts for 2012 will be available in 2014.
Over the last 3 years, increases in the published counts based on additional information have averaged
146 fatalities per year or about 3 percent of the revised total. The BLS news release issued September
20, 2012, reported a total of 4,609 fatal work injuries for 2011. With the April 2013 release of revised
data, an additional 84 net fatal work injuries were added, bringing the total for 2011 to 4,693.
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.
Acknowledgements
BLS thanks the participating states, New York City, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S.
Virgin Islands, and Guam 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.
Information in this release is available to sensory-impaired individuals. Voice phone: (202) 606-7828;
TDD phone: (202) 606-5897; TDD message referral phone: 1-800-326-2577.
United States Department of Labor
