Fatal work injuries totaled 178 in 2013 for Pennsylvania, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Sheila Watkins, the Bureau’s regional commissioner, noted that while the 2013 count was preliminary, the number of work-related fatalities in Pennsylvania declined by 16 over the year. Fatal occupational injuries in the state have ranged from a high of 354 in 1994 to the 2009 low of 168. (See chart 1.)

Nationwide, a preliminary total of 4,405 fatal work injuries were recorded in 2013, lower than the revised count of 4,628 fatal work injuries in 2012, according to the results from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) program. Final 2013 data from CFOI will be released in the late spring of 2015.

 

Of the 178 fatal work injuries reported in Pennsylvania in 2013, 70 resulted from transportation incidents and 31 from contact with objects and equipment; together, these two major categories accounted for 57 percent of all workplace fatalities. (Note that transportation counts presented in this release are expected to rise when updated 2013 data are released in the late spring of 2015 because key source documentation detailing specific transportation-related incidents has not yet been received.) Worker deaths from transportation incidents and contact with objects and equipment were lower in 2013 than in 2012 when 72 and 36 fatalities, respectively, were recorded. The third-most frequent event in 2013 was violence and other injuries by persons or animals with 29 fatalities, the same count as the prior year. Falls, slips, or trips caused 25 work-related deaths, down from 32 in 2012. (See table 1.)

Within transportation incidents, roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicles was the most frequent type of workplace fatality with 45 deaths, accounting for a quarter of all on-the-job fatalities in the state. The second-largest event in transportation incidents, nonroadway incidents involving motorized land vehicles, accounted for 13 fatalities. In the contact with objects and equipment category, 22 workers were killed by being struck by an object or equipment. Homicides were responsible for 15 (52 percent) of the worker deaths in the violence and other injuries by persons or animals category, while suicides accounted for the remainder. Falls to a lower level accounted for 22, or 88 percent, of the falls, slips, or trips fatalities.

In the United States, transportation incidents was also the most frequent fatal workplace event in 2013, accounting for 40 percent of fatal work injuries. Pennsylvania’s share of on-the-job fatalities due to this event was 39 percent. (See chart 2.) Violence and other injuries by persons or animals was the second-most frequent type of event nationally, with 17 percent of work-related fatalities; the share in Pennsylvania was 16 percent. Contact with objects and equipment and falls, slips, or trips each accounted for 16 percent of the nation’s workplace fatalities, while in the state, these events were responsible for 17 and 14 percent of workplace fatalities, respectively.

Additional key characteristics in Pennsylvania:

• The transportation and warehousing industry sector had the largest number of fatalities in the state with 35, up from 31 in the previous year. (See table 2.) Over a third (12) of those fatally injured in this sector were in the specialized freight trucking industry. Fifty-four percent of the fatalities in the transportation and warehousing sector were heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers.
• Construction had the next largest fatality count with 25, a decrease of 4 over the year. Seventeen of the fatalities in this industry were specialty trade contractors. Falls to a lower level was the most frequent fatal event in the construction sector with 10.
• Transportation and material moving occupations and construction and extraction occupations had the highest number of workplace fatalities with 52 and 26, respectively. (See table 3.) The majority of the fatalities within the transportation and material moving group were heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (28). Construction trades workers accounted for 15 of the 26 fatalities among construction and extraction workers.
• Men accounted for 92 percent of the work-related fatalities in the state, similar to the national share of 93 percent. (See table 4.) Transportation incidents made up 41 percent of the fatalities for men in Pennsylvania. Violence and other injuries by persons or animals accounted for 5 of the 14 total workplace fatalities for women in the state in 2013.
• In Pennsylvania, 88 percent of those who died from a workplace injury were white non-Hispanics. Nationwide, this group accounted for 68 percent of work-related deaths.
• Workers 25-54 years old—the prime working age group—accounted for 61 percent of the state’s work-related fatalities in 2013, compared to 60 percent of on-the-job fatalities nationally. In Pennsylvania, workers 45-54 years old recorded 28 percent of the state’s fatal work injuries, more than any other age group.
• Of the 178 fatally-injured workers in Pennsylvania, 78 percent worked for wages and salaries; the remainder were self-employed. The most frequent fatal event for both groups of workers was transportation incidents.
• In 2011, CFOI began identifying if a fatally-injured worker was working as a contractor and recording the industry of both the worker and the contracting firm. 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 of the fatal injury. In 2013, Pennsylvania had 24 fatally-injured workers identified as fitting the contractor criteria; 22 of these deaths occurred at private sector contracting firms and 2 at government operations. Eleven of the contractor fatalities were specialty trade contractors. Transportation incidents and falls to a lower level each caused seven of all contractor deaths; together they accounted for over half of the contractor fatalities in the state.

Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200. Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339.

Technical Note

Background of the program. The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), part of the BLS Occupational Safety and Health Statistics (OSHS) program, compiles a count of all fatal work injuries occurring in the U.S. during the calendar year. The CFOI program uses diverse state, federal, and independent data sources to identify, verify, and describe fatal work injuries. This assures counts are as complete and accurate as possible.

For technical information and definitions for the CFOI program, please go to the BLS Handbook of Methods on the BLS web site at www.bls.gov/opub/hom/pdf/homch9.pdf.

Federal/State agency coverage. The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries includes data for all fatal work injuries, whether the decedent was working in a job covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) or other federal or state agencies or was outside the scope of regulatory coverage. Thus, any comparison between the BLS fatality census counts and those released by other agencies should take into account the different coverage requirements and definitions being used by each agency.

Acknowledgments. BLS thanks the Pennsylvania Department of Health 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.

 

 Table 1. Fatal occupational injuries by selected event or exposure, Pennsylvania, 2012-2013

Event or exposure(1)	2012(2)	2013(p)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	194	178	100
Violence and other injuries by persons or animals	29	29	16
Intentional injury by person	27	29	16
Homicides	18	15	8
Suicides	9	14	8
Transportation incidents	72	70	39
Aircraft incidents	2	2	1
Pedestrian struck by aircraft or propeller	-	1	1
Other in-flight crash	-	1	1
Pedestrian vehicular incident	18	9	5
Pedestrian struck by vehicle in work zone	4	3	2
Pedestrian struck by vehicle in roadway	3	1	1
Pedestrian struck by vehicle on side of road	3	1	1
Pedestrian struck by vehicle in nonroadway area	7	4	2
Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicle	36	45	25
Roadway collision with other vehicle	21	26	15
Roadway collision with object other than vehicle	13	18	10
Nonroadway incidents involving motorized land vehicle	12	13	7
Nonroadway collision with other vehicle	-	1	1
Nonroadway noncollision incident	9	12	7
Fires and explosions	6	4	2
Fires	2	2	1
Collapsing building, structure, or structural element during fire	2	2	1
Explosions	4	2	1
Explosion of nonpressurized vapors, gases, or liquids	3	2	1
Falls, slips, trips	32	25	14
Falls on same level	11	3	2
Falls to lower level	21	22	12
Fall from collapsing structure or equipment	4	3	2
Fall through surface or existing opening	-	3	2
Other fall to lower level	15	16	9
Exposure to harmful substances or environments	19	19	11
Exposure to electricity	10	11	6
Direct exposure to electricity	5	6	3
Indirect exposure to electricity	5	5	3
Exposure to other harmful substances	6	6	3
Nonmedical use of drugs or alcohol--unintentional overdose	3	5	3
Contact with objects and equipment	36	31	17
Struck by object or equipment	28	22	12
Struck by powered vehicle--nontransport	9	8	4
Struck by falling object or equipment--other than powered vehicle	15	14	8
Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects	7	6	3
Caught in running equipment or machinery	5	5	3
Struck, caught, or crushed in collapsing structure, equipment, or material	1	3	2
Struck, caught, or crushed in other collapsing structure or equipment	-	3	2
Footnotes: (1) Based on the BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) 2.01 implemented for 2011 data forward. (2) Data for 2012 are revised and final. (p) Data for 2013 are preliminary. Revised and final 2013 data are scheduled to be released in spring 2015.
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.

 Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by selected industry, Pennsylvania, 2012-2013

Industry(1)	2012(2)	2013(p)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	194	178	100
Private industry	178	164	92
Natural resources and mining	26	20	11
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting	22	18	10
Crop production	6	7	4
Animal production	10	4	2
Forestry and logging	3	6	3
Support activities for agriculture and forestry	3	1	1
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction(3)	4	2	1
Mining (except oil and gas)	1	2	1
Construction	29	25	14
Construction	29	25	14
Construction of buildings	5	6	3
Specialty trade contractors	19	17	10
Manufacturing	15	19	11
Manufacturing	15	19	11
Wood product manufacturing	1	6	3
Printing and related support activities	1	1	1
Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing	-	4	2
Fabricated metal product manufacturing	-	4	2
Trade, transportation, and utilities	47	57	32
Wholesale trade	8	3	2
Merchant wholesalers, durable goods	5	3	2
Retail trade	8	16	9
Motor vehicle and parts dealers	-	1	1
Furniture and home furnishings stores	-	1	1
Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers	-	3	2
Health and personal care stores	-	2	1
Sporting goods, hobby, book, and music stores	-	1	1
Nonstore retailers	-	3	2
Transportation and warehousing	31	35	20
Air transportation	2	1	1
Truck transportation	19	22	12
Transit and ground passenger transportation	5	6	3
Scenic and sightseeing transportation	1	1	1
Utilities	-	3	2
Utilities	-	3	2
Information	-	1	1
Other information services	-	1	1
Professional and business services	30	18	10
Professional, scientific, and technical services	6	4	2
Professional, scientific, and technical services	6	4	2
Administrative and waste services	24	14	8
Administrative and support services	21	12	7
Educational and health services	7	4	2
Educational services	-	2	1
Educational services	-	2	1
Leisure and hospitality	11	9	5
Arts, entertainment, and recreation	4	4	2
Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries	-	1	1
Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries	2	3	2
Accommodation and food services	7	5	3
Food services and drinking places	7	3	2
Other services, except public administration	8	9	5
Other services, except public administration	8	9	5
Repair and maintenance	5	5	3
Personal and laundry services	1	3	2
Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations	2	1	1
Government(4)	16	14	8
State government	3	1	1
Local government	13	11	6
Footnotes: (1) Industry data are based on the North American Industry Classification System, 2007. Total may include other industries not shown. (2) Data for 2012 are revised and final. (3) Includes fatal injuries at all establishments categorized as Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (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. (4) Includes fatal injuries to workers employed by governmental organizations regardless of industry. (p) Data for 2013 are preliminary. Revised and final 2013 data are scheduled to be released in spring 2015.
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.

 Table 3. Fatal occupational injuries by selected occupation, Pennsylvania, 2012-2013

Occupation(1)	2012(2)	2013(p)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	194	178	100
Management occupations	20	21	12
Other management occupations	16	16	9
Community and social services occupations	5	1	1
Religious workers	-	1	1
Education, training, and library occupations	-	1	1
Librarians, curators, and archivists	-	1	1
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations	1	3	2
Art and design workers	-	1	1
Entertainers and performers, sports and related workers	1	2	1
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations	2	6	3
Health diagnosing and treating practitioners	1	3	2
Health technologists and technicians	1	3	2
Protective service occupations	13	7	4
Supervisors of protective service workers	2	2	1
Fire fighting and prevention workers	2	1	1
Law enforcement workers	6	3	2
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations	17	12	7
Supervisors of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers	3	3	2
Grounds maintenance workers	10	7	4
Sales and related occupations	7	9	5
Supervisors of sales workers	5	5	3
Retail sales workers	2	3	2
Other sales and related workers	-	1	1
Office and administrative support occupations	-	3	2
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations	11	9	5
Supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers	-	1	1
Forest, conservation, and logging workers	5	6	3
Construction and extraction occupations	34	26	15
Supervisors of construction and extraction workers	6	8	4
Construction trades workers	21	15	8
Extraction workers	3	1	1
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	13	13	7
Supervisors of installation, maintenance, and repair workers	-	5	3
Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers	7	4	2
Other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	4	4	2
Production occupations	10	10	6
Metal workers and plastic workers	3	4	2
Transportation and material moving occupations	46	52	29
Air transportation workers	2	2	1
Motor vehicle operators	36	41	23
Material moving workers	6	8	4
Footnotes: (1) Occupation data are based on the Standard Occupational Classification system, 2010. Total may include occupations not shown. (2) Data for 2012 are revised and final. (p) Data for 2013 are preliminary. Revised and final 2013 data are scheduled to be released in spring 2015.
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.

Table 4. Fatal occupational injuries by worker characteristics, Pennsylvania, 2012-2013

Worker characteristics	2012(1)	2013(p)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	194	178	100
Employee status
Wage and salary workers(2)	164	138	78
Self-employed(3)	30	40	22
Gender
Men	177	164	92
Women	17	14	8
Age(4)
16 to 17 years	-	2	1
20 to 24 years	9	5	3
25 to 34 years	27	38	21
35 to 44 years	32	21	12
45 to 54 years	50	49	28
55 to 64 years	40	40	22
65 and over	32	23	13
Race or ethnic origin(5)
White (non-Hispanic)	163	157	88
Black or African-American (non-Hispanic)	14	12	7
Hispanic or Latino	13	4	2
Asian (non-Hispanic)	4	5	3
Footnotes: (1) Data for 2012 are revised and final. (2) May include volunteers and workers receiving other types of compensation. (3) Includes self-employed workers, owners of unincorporated businesses and farms, paid and unpaid family workers, and may include some owners of incorporated businesses or members of partnerships. (4) Information may not be available for all age groups. (5) Persons identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. The race categories shown exclude Hispanic and Latino workers. (p) Data for 2013 are preliminary. Revised and final 2013 data are scheduled to be released in spring 2015.
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.