Fatal work injuries totaled 31 in 2012 for South Dakota, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Charlene Peiffer noted that while the 2012 count was preliminary, the number of work-related fatalities in South Dakota was unchanged from the previous year. Fatal occupational injuries in the state have ranged from a high of 46 in 1999 to a low of 22 in 2007. (See chart 1.)

Nationwide, a preliminary total of 4,383 fatal work injuries were recorded in 2012, down from a revised count of 4,693 fatalities in 2011, according to results from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) program. Final 2012 CFOI data will be released in spring 2014.

Of the 31 fatal work injuries reported in South Dakota in 2012, 17 resulted from transportation incidents, accounting for 55 percent of all fatal work injuries. (See table 1.) Other major event categories each reported five or fewer deaths. Within transportation incidents, roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicles was the most frequent type of workplace fatality with 10 deaths. This category accounted for nearly one-third of all on-the-job fatalities in the state. The second-largest event in transportation incidents, aircraft incidents, accounted for four fatalities. (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.)

In the United States, transportation incidents were also the most frequent fatal workplace event in 2012, accounting for 41 percent of fatal work injuries. South Dakota’s 55-percent share of fatalities due to this event was larger than the nationwide share. (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, 7 percentage points higher than the share in South Dakota. Contact with objects or equipment (16 percent) and falls, slips, and trips (15 percent) were the third and fourth most frequent events, respectively, in the nation.

Additional key characteristics:

• The agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting industry had the largest number of fatalities in the state with 10. Transportation incidents and contact with objects and equipment each accounted for four worker deaths within this sector. The construction industry had the second highest fatality count with seven. (See table 2.) 
• Construction and extraction occupations had the highest number of fatal work injuries with seven. (See table 3.) Management; farming, fishing, and forestry; and military occupations followed with five deaths each.
• Men accounted for 28, or 90 percent, of the work-related fatalities in the state. (See table 4.) Transportation incidents made up 57 percent of these fatalities.
• In South Dakota, 87 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 16, or just over half of the state’s work-related fatalities in 2012. Nationally, workers in this group accounted for 59 percent of on-the-job fatalities.
• Of the 31 fatal work injuries in South Dakota, 71 percent worked for wages and salaries; the remainder was self-employed. The most frequent fatal event for both groups was transportation incidents.

Technical Note

Background of the program. The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, part of the BLS occupational safety and health statistics program, compiles a count of all fatal work injuries occurring in the United States 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 technical information about the CFOI program, please go to the BLS Handbook of Methods on the BLS web site at www.bls.gov/opub/hom/soii/home.htm.

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. The Bureau of Labor Statistics appreciates the efforts of all federal, state, local, and private sector entities that submitted source documents used to identify fatal work injuries.

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.

Table 1. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, South Dakota, 2011-2012

Event or exposure(1)	2011	2012(p)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	31	31	100
Violence and other injuries by persons or animals	5	3	10
Intentional injury by person	5	3	10
Intentional injury by other person	3	2	6
Shooting by other person--intentional	2	1	3
Stabbing, cutting, slashing, piercing	--	1	3
Self-inflicted injury--intentional	--	1	3
Shooting--intentional self-harm	1	1	3
Transportation incidents	14	17	55
Aircraft incidents	6	4	13
Other in-flight crash	6	4	13
Other in-flight crash into structure, object, or ground	5	4	13
Rail vehicle incidents	--	1	3
Collision between rail vehicle and another vehicle	--	1	3
Collision between rail and roadway vehicles	--	1	3
Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicle	5	10	32
Roadway collision with other vehicle	--	4	13
Roadway collision--moving in same direction	--	1	3
Roadway collision--moving in opposite directions, oncoming	--	1	3
Roadway collision--moving perpendicularly	--	1	3
Roadway collision--moving and standing vehicle in roadway	--	1	3
Roadway noncollision incident	--	6	19
Jack-knifed or overturned, roadway	--	6	19
Fall or jump from and struck by same vehicle in normal operation, nonroadway	--	1	3
Falls, slips, trips	--	4	13
Falls to lower level	--	3	10
Other fall to lower level	--	3	10
Other fall to lower level more than 30 feet	--	1	3
Exposure to harmful substances or environments	--	2	6
Exposure to other harmful substances	--	2	6
Inhalation of harmful substance	--	2	6
Inhalation of harmful substance--single episode	--	2	6
Contact with objects and equipment	7	5	16
Struck by object or equipment	3	3	10
Struck by discharged or flying object	--	1	3
Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects	3	1	3
Caught in running equipment or machinery	--	1	3
Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation	--	1	3
Footnotes: (1) Based on the BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) 2.01 implemented for 2011 data forward. Total may include other events not shown. (p) Data 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, South Dakota, 2011-2012

Industry(1)	2011	2012(p)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	31	31	100
Private industry	22	26	84
Natural resources and mining	8	10	32
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting	8	10	32
Crop production	4	5	16
Oilseed and grain farming	--	1	3
Wheat farming	--	1	3
Other crop farming	--	1	3
Hay farming	--	1	3
Animal production	--	3	10
Cattle ranching and farming	--	3	10
Beef cattle ranching and farming, including feedlots	--	1	3
Forestry and logging	--	2	6
Logging	--	2	6
Logging	--	2	6
Construction	4	7	23
Construction	4	7	23
Construction of buildings	1	1	3
Nonresidential building construction	1	1	3
Commercial and institutional building construction	1	1	3
Heavy and civil engineering construction	--	3	10
Land subdivision	--	1	3
Land subdivision	--	1	3
Highway, street, and bridge construction	--	2	6
Highway, street, and bridge construction	--	2	6
Specialty trade contractors	3	3	10
Building equipment contractors	1	3	10
Plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors	--	3	10
Residential plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors	--	2	6
Nonresidential plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors	--	1	3
Manufacturing	--	1	3
Manufacturing	--	1	3
Fabricated metal product manufacturing	--	1	3
Architectural and structural metals manufacturing	--	1	3
Plate work and fabricated structural product manufacturing	--	1	3
Fabricated structural metal manufacturing	--	1	3
Trade, transportation, and utilities	3	3	10
Retail trade	1	2	6
Furniture and home furnishings stores	--	1	3
Furniture stores	--	1	3
Furniture stores	--	1	3
General merchandise stores	--	1	3
Other general merchandise stores	--	1	3
Warehouse clubs and supercenters	--	1	3
Transportation and warehousing	1	1	3
Truck transportation	--	1	3
General freight trucking	--	1	3
General freight trucking, local	--	1	3
Professional and business services	--	4	13
Administrative and waste services	--	4	13
Administrative and support services	--	4	13
Investigation and security services	--	1	3
Investigation, guard, and armored car services	--	1	3
Armored car services	--	1	3
Services to buildings and dwellings	--	3	10
Exterminating and pest control services	--	1	3
Janitorial services	--	1	3
Other services, except public administration	--	1	3
Other services, except public administration	--	1	3
Personal and laundry services	--	1	3
Personal care services	--	1	3
Hair, nail, and skin care services	--	1	3
Beauty salons	--	1	3
Government(2)	9	5	16
Federal government	--	5	16
Footnotes: (1) Industry data are based on the North American Industry Classification System, 2007. Total may include other industries not shown. (p) Data are preliminary. Revised and final 2012 data are scheduled to be released in Spring 2014. (2) Includes fatal injuries to workers employed by governmental organizations regardless of industry.
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 3. Fatal occupational injuries by occupation, South Dakota, 2011-2012

Occupation(1)	2011	2012(p)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	31	31	100
Management occupations	5	5	16
Other management occupations	5	5	16
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers	4	5	16
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers	4	5	16
Protective service occupations	6	1	3
Other protective service workers	--	1	3
Security guards and gaming surveillance officers	--	1	3
Security guards	--	1	3
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations	--	3	10
Building cleaning and pest control workers	--	2	6
Building cleaning workers	--	1	3
Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners	--	1	3
Pest control workers	--	1	3
Pest control workers	--	1	3
Personal care and service occupations	--	1	3
Supervisors of personal care and service workers	--	1	3
First-line supervisors of personal service workers	--	1	3
First-line supervisors of personal service workers	--	1	3
Office and administrative support occupations	--	2	6
Material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing workers	--	2	6
Stock clerks and order fillers	--	2	6
Stock clerks and order fillers	--	2	6
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations	--	5	16
Agricultural workers	--	3	10
Miscellaneous agricultural workers	--	3	10
Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse	1	2	6
Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals	--	1	3
Forest, conservation, and logging workers	--	2	6
Logging workers	--	2	6
Fallers	--	2	6
Construction and extraction occupations	4	7	23
Supervisors of construction and extraction workers	--	3	10
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers	--	3	10
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers	--	3	10
Construction trades workers	4	4	13
Construction equipment operators	--	2	6
Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators	--	2	6
Pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters	--	2	6
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters	--	2	6
Production occupations	--	1	3
Metal workers and plastic workers	--	1	3
Welding, soldering, and brazing workers	--	1	3
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers	--	1	3
Transportation and material moving occupations	7	1	3
Motor vehicle operators	3	1	3
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers	1	1	3
Light truck or delivery services drivers	1	1	3
Military occupations(2)	--	5	16
Footnotes: (1) Occupation data are based on the Standard Occupational Classification system, 2010. Total may include occupations not shown. (2) Includes fatal injuries to persons identified as resident armed forces regardless of individual occupation listed. (p) Data 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 4. Fatal occupational injuries by worker characteristics, South Dakota, 2011-2012

Worker characteristics	2011	2012(p)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	31	31	100
Employee status
Wage and salary(1)	24	22	71
Self-employed(2)	7	9	29
Gender
Men	30	28	90
Women	1	3	10
Age(3)
20 to 24 years	5	4	13
25 to 34 years	5	6	19
35 to 44 years	--	5	16
45 to 54 years	6	5	16
55 to 64 years	9	5	16
65 years and over	5	6	19
Race or ethnic origin(4)
White, non-Hispanic	29	27	87
Footnotes: (1) May include volunteers and workers receiving other types of compensation. (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 Hispanic and Latino workers. (p) Data 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.