Fatal work injuries totaled 114 in 2012 for Wisconsin, 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 Wisconsin rose by 25 over the year. Fatal occupational injuries in the state have ranged from a high of 138 in 1993 to a low of 77 in 2008. (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 114 fatal work injuries reported in Wisconsin in 2012, 37 resulted from transportation incidents, 27 from violence and other injuries by persons or animals, and 26 from contact with objects and equipment. These three major categories accounted for more than three-quarters of all fatal work injuries. Other major event categories each reported 16 or fewer deaths. (See table 1.)

Within transportation incidents, roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicles was the most frequent type of workplace fatality with 22 deaths. In the violence and other injuries by persons or animals category, 24 deaths occurred from intentional injury by a person. In the contact with objects and equipment category, 18 fatalities resulted from workers being struck by objects or equipment. (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. Wisconsin’s 32-percent share of fatalities due to this event was smaller 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. This was less than the 24-percent share in Wisconsin. 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 sector had the largest number of fatalities in the state with 30, up from 22 the previous year. (See table 2.) Within this industry, contact with objects and equipment accounted for 12 worker deaths, while 11 fatalities were due to transportation incidents.
• The manufacturing industry had the second highest fatality count with 16, up from 12 fatalities in 2011. Contact with objects and equipment accounted for eight worker deaths in this sector.
• Management and transportation and material moving occupations had the highest numbers of fatal work injuries with 27 and 23 fatalities, respectively. (See table 3.) The majority of these fatalities were farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers (18) within the management group and heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (12) within the transportation and material moving occupational group.
• Men accounted for 103, or 90 percent, of the work-related fatalities in the state. (See table 4.) Transportation incidents made up one-third of these fatalities.
• In Wisconsin, 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 58 individuals, 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 114 persons that suffered fatal work injuries in Wisconsin, 63 percent worked for wages and salaries; the remaining were self-employed. The most frequent fatal event for wage and salary workers was transportation incidents (25) while for self-employed workers there were 12 fatalities each resulting from transportation incidents and contact with objects and equipment.

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, 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, in particular the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene.

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

Event or exposure(1)	2011	2012(p)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	89	114	100
Violence and other injuries by persons or animals	13	27	24
Intentional injury by person	8	24	21
Intentional injury by other person	3	16	14
Shooting by other person--intentional	2	16	14
Self-inflicted injury--intentional	5	8	7
Shooting--intentional self-harm	3	5	4
Animal and insect related incidents	3	3	3
Struck by animal	1	3	3
Transportation incidents	33	37	32
Pedestrian vehicular incident	5	5	4
Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicle	19	22	19
Roadway collision with other vehicle	13	12	11
Roadway collision--moving perpendicularly	3	6	5
Roadway collision with object other than vehicle	--	6	5
Vehicle struck object or animal on side of roadway	--	6	5
Roadway noncollision incident	4	4	4
Jack-knifed or overturned, roadway	3	4	4
Nonroadway incident involving motorized land vehicles	7	9	8
Nonroadway noncollision incident	6	8	7
Jack-knifed or overturned, nonroadway	3	7	6
Fires and Explosions	--	3	3
Fires	--	3	3
Falls, slips, trips	12	16	14
Falls to lower level	7	14	12
Other fall to lower level	4	12	11
Other fall to lower level 16 to 20 feet	--	3	3
Exposure to harmful substances or environments	9	5	4
Exposure to electricity	4	1	1
Indirect exposure to electricity	--	1	1
Indirect exposure to electricity, greater than 220 volts	--	1	1
Contact with objects and equipment	22	26	23
Struck by object or equipment	12	18	16
Struck by powered vehicle--nontransport	4	10	9
Caught between rolling powered vehicle and other object	--	1	1
Struck or run over by rolling powered vehicle	--	4	4
Struck by falling object or equipment--other than powered vehicle	8	4	4
Struck by object falling from vehicle or machinery--other than vehicle part	2	3	3
Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects	8	6	5
Caught in running equipment or machinery	8	6	5
Caught in running equipment or machinery during maintenance, cleaning	6	3	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, Wisconsin, 2011-2012

Industry(1)	2011	2012(p)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	89	114	100
Private industry	81	106	93
Natural resources and mining	22	30	26
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting	22	30	26
Crop production	10	13	11
Fruit and tree nut farming	1	1	1
Noncitrus fruit and tree nut farming	1	1	1
Animal production	11	13	11
Cattle ranching and farming	11	10	9
Dairy cattle and milk production	10	10	9
Forestry and logging	--	3	3
Logging	--	3	3
Logging	--	3	3
Construction	7	11	10
Construction	7	11	10
Specialty trade contractors	--	7	6
Foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors	--	3	3
Site preparation contractors	--	1	1
Manufacturing	12	16	14
Manufacturing	12	16	14
Primary metal manufacturing	1	3	3
Foundries	1	3	3
Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing	--	1	1
Trade, transportation, and utilities	27	27	24
Wholesale trade	10	8	7
Merchant wholesalers, durable goods	9	4	4
Machinery, equipment, and supplies merchant wholesalers	2	3	3
Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods	--	4	4
Grocery and related product wholesalers	--	1	1
General line grocery merchant wholesalers	--	1	1
Miscellaneous nondurable goods merchant wholesalers	--	1	1
Farm supplies merchant wholesalers	--	1	1
Retail trade	6	8	7
Electronics and appliance stores	--	2	2
Electronics and appliance stores	--	2	2
Food and beverage stores	1	2	2
Grocery stores	1	2	2
Supermarkets and other grocery (except convenience) stores	1	2	2
Gasoline stations	--	3	3
Gasoline stations	--	3	3
Gasoline stations with convenience stores	--	3	3
Transportation and warehousing	11	11	10
Truck transportation	9	9	8
General freight trucking	8	6	5
Specialized freight trucking	--	3	3
Specialized freight (except used goods) trucking, local	--	1	1
Specialized freight (except used goods) trucking, long-distance	--	2	2
Information	--	1	1
Information	--	1	1
Publishing industries (except internet)	--	1	1
Newspaper, periodical, book, and directory publishers	--	1	1
Newspaper publishers	--	1	1
Professional and business services	1	5	4
Professional and technical services	--	1	1
Professional, scientific, and technical services	--	1	1
Advertising and related services	--	1	1
Administrative and waste services	--	4	4
Administrative and support services	1	4	4
Services to buildings and dwellings	1	4	4
Landscaping services	1	4	4
Educational and health services	3	3	3
Health care and social assistance	3	3	3
Nursing and residential care facilities	--	1	1
Community care facilities for the elderly	--	1	1
Community care facilities for the elderly	--	1	1
Other services, except public administration	5	10	9
Other services, except public administration	5	10	9
Repair and maintenance	4	3	3
Government(2)	8	8	7
Local government	4	6	5
Footnotes: (1) Industry data are based on the North American Industry Classification System, 2007. Total may include other industries not shown. (2) Includes fatal injuries to workers employed by governmental organizations regardless of industry. (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 3. Fatal occupational injuries by occupation, Wisconsin, 2011-2012

Occupation(1)	2011	2012(p)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	89	114	100
Management occupations	22	27	24
Advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations, and sales managers	--	3	3
Other management occupations	21	21	18
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers	19	18	16
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers	19	18	16
Property, real estate, and community association managers	--	1	1
Property, real estate, and community association managers	--	1	1
Business and financial operations occupations	--	3	3
Protective service occupations	2	3	3
Fire fighting and prevention workers	--	1	1
Firefighters	--	1	1
Firefighters	--	1	1
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations	--	5	4
Supervisors of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers	--	2	2
First-line supervisors of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers	--	2	2
First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers	--	2	2
Grounds maintenance workers	--	3	3
Grounds maintenance workers	--	3	3
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers	--	3	3
Sales and related occupations	9	7	6
Supervisors of sales workers	5	3	3
First-line supervisors of sales workers	5	3	3
First-line supervisors of retail sales workers	3	3	3
Retail sales workers	--	3	3
Retail salespersons	--	1	1
Retail salespersons	--	1	1
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing	--	1	1
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing	--	1	1
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products	--	1	1
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations	3	12	11
Agricultural workers	2	9	8
Miscellaneous agricultural workers	2	9	8
Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse	--	4	4
Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals	2	5	4
Forest, conservation, and logging workers	--	3	3
Logging workers	--	3	3
Fallers	--	3	3
Construction and extraction occupations	8	13	11
Supervisors of construction and extraction workers	--	5	4
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers	--	5	4
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers	--	5	4
Construction trades workers	6	6	5
Construction laborers	3	3	3
Construction laborers	3	3	3
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	9	4	4
Supervisors of installation, maintenance, and repair workers	1	1	1
First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers	1	1	1
First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers	1	1	1
Other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	--	3	3
Production occupations	8	8	7
Metal workers and plastic workers	2	4	4
Transportation and material moving occupations	17	23	20
Motor vehicle operators	13	17	15
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers	13	15	13
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers	12	12	11
Material moving workers	4	6	5
Laborers and material movers, hand	--	6	5
Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand	--	6	5
Footnotes: (1) Occupation data are based on the Standard Occupational Classification system, 2010. Total may include occupations 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. 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, Wisconsin, 2011-2012

Worker characteristics	2011	2012(p)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	89	114	100
Employee status
Wage and salary(1)	58	72	63
Self-employed(2)	31	42	37
Gender
Men	78	103	90
Women	11	11	10
Age(3)
Under 16 years	--	3	3
18 to 19 years	1	1	1
20 to 24 years	9	3	3
25 to 34 years	10	13	11
35 to 44 years	12	14	12
45 to 54 years	21	31	27
55 to 64 years	23	26	23
65 years and over	13	23	20
Race or ethnic origin(4)
White, non-Hispanic	79	100	88
Hispanic or Latino	4	7	6
Asian, non-Hispanic	--	7	6
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.