Fatal work injuries totaled 80 in 2021 for Maryland, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Alexandra Hall Bovee noted that the number of work-related fatalities in Maryland was up from the previous year. (See chart 1.) Fatal occupational injuries in the state have ranged from a high of 106 in 2006 to a low of 59 in 2020. Nationwide, a total of 5,190 fatal work injuries were recorded in 2021, a 9-percent increase from 4,764 in 2020, according to the results from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI).

Fatal event or exposure

In Maryland, violence and other injuries by persons or animals resulted in 23 fatal work injuries, transportation incidents accounted for 21 fatalities, and exposure to harmful substances or environments led to 19 fatal workplace injuries. These three major categories accounted for 79 percent of all fatal workplace injuries in the state. (See chart 2 and table 1.) Worker fatalities due to transportation incidents were up from 18 over the year and fatal work injuries from exposure to harmful substances or environments were up from 11 in 2020.

Nationally, transportation incidents was the most frequent fatal event in 2021, accounting for 38 percent of fatal work injuries. Falls, slips, and trips was the second-most common fatal event (16 percent), followed by both exposure to harmful substances or environments and violence and other injuries by persons or animals (15 percent each) and contact with objects and equipment (14 percent).

Industry

The private construction industry sector had the highest number of worker fatalities in Maryland with 14, down from 21 in the previous year. (See table 2.) Transportation incidents and exposure to harmful substances or environments both resulted in 4 of the 14 work-related fatalities. The specialty trade contractors subsector accounted for 11 of the 14 fatal workplace injuries in the construction industry.

The private administrative and support and waste management and remediation services industry sector had 13 fatal occupational injuries in 2021, up from 7 in 2020. Landscaping services within the administrative and support services sector accounted for 6 of the 13 work-related fatalities, or 46 percent of the industry sector.

The private transportation and warehousing industry sector had 10 fatal workplace injuries, no change from the prior year. The support activities for transportation subsector reported 4 of the 10 work-related fatalities, while the couriers and messengers subsector accounted for 3 of the 10.

Occupation

The transportation and material moving occupational group had the highest number of fatal workplace injuries with 15. (See table 3.) Motor vehicle operators accounted for 9 of the 15 fatalities among transportation and moving material workers, or 60 percent. Of those, 7 were driver/sales workers and truck drivers.

The protective service occupational group and the construction and extraction occupational group had the second-highest number of fatal workplace injuries, both with 10. Roofers represented 4 of the 10 fatalities within the construction and extraction worker group.

Additional highlights

• Men accounted for 89 percent of the work-related fatalities in Maryland, similar to the 91 percent national share. (See table 4.) Transportation incidents made up 27 percent of the fatalities for men in Maryland.

• White non-Hispanics accounted for 48 percent of those who died from a workplace injury. Nationwide, this group accounted for 60 percent of work-related deaths.

• Workers 35-64 years old accounted for 68 percent of the state’s work-related fatalities in 2021, compared to 62 percent of on-the-job fatalities nationally.

• Of the 80 fatal work injuries in Maryland, 69 percent worked for wages and salaries; the remainder were self-employed. The most frequent fatal events for wage and salary workers were transportation incidents and violence and other injuries by person or animals; violence and other injuries by persons or animals was the most frequent fatal event for self-employed workers.

Technical Note

Background of the program. The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), part of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Safety and Health Statistics (OSHS) program, is a count of all fatalities resulting from workplace injuries occurring in the U.S. during the calendar year. The CFOI uses a variety of state, federal, and independent data sources to identify, verify, and describe fatal work injuries. This ensures counts are as complete and accurate as possible. For the 2021 national data, over 23,900 unique source documents were reviewed as part of the data collection process. For technical information and definitions for the CFOI, see the BLS Handbook of Methods at www.bls.gov/opub/hom/cfoi/home.htm and the CFOI definitions at www.bls.gov/iif/definitions/occupational-safety-and-health-definitions.htm.

Federal/State agency coverage. The CFOI includes data for all fatal work injuries, some of which may be outside the scope of other agencies or regulatory coverage. Comparisons between CFOI counts and those released by other agencies should account for the different coverage requirements and definitions used by each agency. For more information on the scope of CFOI, see www.bls.gov/iif/overview/cfoi-scope.htm and www.bls.gov/opub/hom/cfoi/concepts.htm.

Latency Cases. Latent fatal occupational injury cases occur when the date of injury differs from the date of death. In some cases, the death occurs in a different year than the occupational injury and are known as cross-year latent cases. In 2021, there were 197 cases nationally where this occurred, and 174 of these latent cases occurred more than 30 days prior to the start of 2021. For more information on latent cases, see www.bls.gov/opub/btn/volume-10/latency-in-fatal-occupational-injuries.htm.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic and the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. CFOI reports fatal workplace injuries only. These may include fatal workplace injuries complicated by an illness such as COVID-19. Fatal workplace illnesses not precipitated by an injury are not in scope for CFOI. CFOI does not report any illness related information, including COVID-19. Additional information is available at www.bls.gov/covid19/effects-of-covid-19-on-workplace-injuries-and-illnesses-compensation-and-occupational-requirements.htm.

Acknowledgments. BLS thanks the Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Labor and Industry 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 provided 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 industrial relations and workers' compensation agencies; state and local police departments; and state farm bureaus.

Information in this release will be made available to individuals with sensory impairments upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Telecommunications Relay Service: 7-1-1.

Table 1. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, Maryland, 2020–21

Event or exposure (1)	2020	2021
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	59	80	100
Violence and other injuries by persons or animals	--	23	29
Intentional injury by person	--	23	29
Intentional injury by other person	--	21	26
Shooting by other person--intentional	--	19	24
Transportation incidents	18	21	26
Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicle	8	11	14
Roadway noncollision incident	--	4	5
Jack-knifed or overturned, roadway	--	3	4
Fall or jump from and struck by same vehicle in normal operation, roadway	--	1	1
Fires and explosions	--	--	--
Falls, slips, trips	12	6	8
Falls to lower level	9	6	8
Other fall to lower level	--	6	8
Other fall to lower level 11 to 15 feet	--	1	1
Other fall to lower level more than 30 feet	--	2	3
Exposure to harmful substances or environments	11	19	24
Exposure to electricity	--	5	6
Indirect exposure to electricity	--	5	6
Indirect exposure to electricity, greater than 220 volts	--	5	6
Exposure to other harmful substances	8	11	14
Nonmedical use of drugs or alcohol--unintentional overdose	5	11	14
Contact with objects and equipment	8	8	10
Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects	--	4	5
Caught in running equipment or machinery	--	3	4
Caught in running equipment or machinery during maintenance, cleaning	--	1	1
Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation	--	1	1
Overexertion and bodily reaction	--	--	--
Footnotes: (1) Based on the BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) 2.01 implemented for 2011 data forward.
NOTE: Data for all years are final. Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. For complete information on how the data are coded and presented see our definitions page at https://www.bls.gov/iif/definitions/census-of-fatal-occupational-injuries-definitions.htm. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria. CFOI fatal injury counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event.

Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by industry, Maryland, 2020–21

Industry (1)	2020	2021
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	59	80	100
Private industry (2)	53	71	89
Goods producing	--	--	--
Natural resources and mining	--	3	4
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting	--	3	4
Construction	21	14	18
Construction	21	14	18
Construction of buildings	--	3	4
Residential building construction	--	3	4
Residential building construction	--	3	4
Specialty trade contractors	13	11	14
Building equipment contractors	6	3	4
Other specialty trade contractors	--	4	5
Manufacturing	--	3	4
Manufacturing	--	3	4
Service providing (3)	--	--	--
Trade, transportation, and utilities	15	--	--
Utilities	--	1	1
Utilities	--	1	1
Electric power generation, transmission and distribution	--	1	1
Electric power transmission, control, and distribution	--	1	1
Retail trade	2	5	6
Food and beverage stores	1	2	3
Grocery stores	1	2	3
Supermarkets and other grocery (except convenience) stores	--	1	1
Convenience stores	1	1	1
Nonstore retailers	--	1	1
Direct selling establishments	--	1	1
Fuel dealers	--	1	1
Transportation and warehousing	10	10	13
Support activities for transportation	3	4	5
Couriers and messengers	--	3	4
Information	--	--	--
Financial activities	--	--	--
Professional and business services	7	--	--
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services	7	13	16
Administrative and support services	--	9	11
Investigation and security services	--	1	1
Investigation, guard, and armored car services	--	1	1
Security guards and patrol services	--	1	1
Services to buildings and dwellings	--	7	9
Janitorial services	--	1	1
Landscaping services	--	6	8
Other support services	--	1	1
Waste management and remediation services	1	4	5
Waste collection	1	4	5
Waste collection	1	4	5
Solid waste collection	--	4	5
Educational and health services	--	5	6
Health care and social assistance	--	5	6
Nursing and residential care facilities	--	2	3
Continuing care retirement communities and assisted living facilities for the elderly	--	2	3
Continuing care retirement communities and assisted living facilities for the elderly	--	2	3
Assisted living facilities for the elderly	--	2	3
Leisure and hospitality	3	5	6
Accommodation and food services	3	5	6
Other services, except public administration	4	7	9
Other services, except public administration	4	7	9
Government (4)	--	9	11
Federal government	--	--	--
State government	2	3	4
Local government	3	6	8
Footnotes: (1) CFOI has used several versions of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) since 2003 to define industry. For complete information on the version of NAICS used in this year, see our definitions page at https://www.bls.gov/iif/definitions/census-of-fatal-occupational-injuries-definitions.htm. Cases where ownership is unknown are included in private industry counts. Cases where industry is unknown are included in the service sector counts. (2) Cases where ownership is unknown are included in private industry counts. (3) Cases where industry is unknown are included in the service sector counts. (4) Includes fatal injuries to workers employed by governmental organizations regardless of industry. Cases classified as foreign government and other government are included in all government counts, but not displayed separately.
NOTE: Data for all years are final. Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. For complete information on how the data are coded and presented see our definitions page at https://www.bls.gov/iif/definitions/census-of-fatal-occupational-injuries-definitions.htm. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria. CFOI fatal injury counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event.

Table 3. Fatal occupational injuries by occupation, Maryland, 2020–21

Occupation (1)	2020	2021
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	59	80	100
Management occupations	--	4	5
Advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations, and sales managers	--	1	1
Marketing and sales managers	--	1	1
Business and financial operations occupations	--	--	--
Computer and mathematical occupations	--	--	--
Architecture and engineering occupations	--	--	--
Life, physical, and social science occupations	--	--	--
Community and social service occupations	--	--	--
Legal occupations	--	--	--
Educational instruction and library occupations	--	--	--
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations	--	--	--
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations	--	--	--
Healthcare support occupations	--	2	3
Nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides	--	2	3
Home health and personal care aides; and nursing assistants, orderlies, and psychiatric aides	--	2	3
Home health and personal care aides	--	2	3
Personal care aides	--	2	3
Protective service occupations	--	10	13
Food preparation and serving related occupations	--	--	--
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations	5	7	9
Supervisors of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers	--	2	3
First-line supervisors of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers	--	2	3
First-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial workers	--	1	1
First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers	--	1	1
Grounds maintenance workers	5	5	6
Grounds maintenance workers	5	5	6
Personal care and service occupations	--	5	6
Entertainment attendants and related workers	--	1	1
Personal appearance workers	--	2	3
Barbers, hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists	--	2	3
Barbers	--	2	3
Sales and related occupations	--	4	5
Office and administrative support occupations	--	--	--
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations	--	4	5
Construction and extraction occupations	16	10	13
Construction trades workers	13	10	13
Roofers	--	4	5
Roofers	--	4	5
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	7	7	9
Supervisors of installation, maintenance, and repair workers	--	3	4
First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers	--	3	4
First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers	--	3	4
Production occupations	--	4	5
Transportation and material moving occupations	18	15	19
Supervisors of transportation and material moving workers	--	2	3
First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers	--	2	3
First-line supervisors of material-moving machine and vehicle operators	--	1	1
Motor vehicle operators	13	9	11
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers	--	7	9
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers	--	4	5
Passenger vehicle drivers	--	2	3
Taxi drivers	--	1	1
Material moving workers	--	4	5
Footnotes: (1) CFOI has used several versions of the Standard Occupation Classification (SOC) system since 2003 to define occupation. For complete information on the version of SOC used in this year, see our definitions page at https://www.bls.gov/iif/definitions/census-of-fatal-occupational-injuries-definitions.htm. Cases where occupation is unknown are included in the total.
NOTE: Data for all years are final. Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. For complete information on how the data are coded and presented see our definitions page at https://www.bls.gov/iif/definitions/census-of-fatal-occupational-injuries-definitions.htm. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria. CFOI fatal injury counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event.

Table 4. Fatal occupational injuries by selected demographic characteristics, Maryland, 2020–21

Worker characteristics	2020	2021
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	59	80	100
Employee status
Wage and salary workers (1)	51	55	69
Self-employed (2)	8	25	31
Gender
Men	50	71	89
Women	9	9	11
Age (3)
25 to 34 years	15	12	15
35 to 44 years	11	19	24
45 to 54 years	12	18	23
55 to 64 years	10	17	21
65 years and over	7	12	15
Race or ethnic origin (4)
White, non-Hispanic	22	38	48
Black or African-American, non-Hispanic	14	26	33
Hispanic or Latino	19	12	15
Footnotes: (1) May include volunteers and workers receiving other types of compensation. Cases where employment status is unknown are included in the counts of wage and salary workers. (2) 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. (3) Information may not be available for all age groups. (4) Persons identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. The race categories shown exclude data for Hispanics and Latinos. Cases where ethnicity is unknown are included in counts of non-Hispanic workers.
NOTE: Data for all years are final. Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. For complete information on how the data are coded and presented see our definitions page at https://www.bls.gov/iif/definitions/census-of-fatal-occupational-injuries-definitions.htm. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria. CFOI fatal injury counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event.