Fatal work injuries totaled 67 in 2013 for Minnesota, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Charlene Peiffer noted that while the 2013 count was preliminary, the number of work-related fatalities in Minnesota was down from the 70 recorded in 2012. Fatal occupational injuries in the state have ranged from a high of 113 in 1993 to a low of 60 in 2011. (See chart 1.)

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

Of the 67 fatal work injuries reported in Minnesota in 2013, 32 resulted from transportation incidents, 12 from contact with objects and equipment, and 11 from falls, slips and trips. These three major categories accounted for just over four-fifths of all fatal work injuries. Other major event categories each reported six or fewer deaths. 

Within transportation incidents, roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicles was the most frequent type of workplace fatality with 15 deaths, accounting for 22 percent of all on-the-job fatalities in the state. (See table 1.) The second-largest event in transportation incidents, non-roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicles, accounted for six fatalities. In the contact with objects and equipment category, 11 fatalities resulted from workers being struck by objects or equipment. In the falls, slips, and trips category, all 11 deaths occurred from falls. (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.)

In the United States, transportation incidents were also the most frequent fatal workplace event in 2013, accounting for 40 percent of fatal work injuries. Minnesota’s 48-percent share of on-the-job fatalities due to this event was higher than the nationwide share. (See chart 2.) Violence and other injuries was the second most frequent type of event nationally with 17 percent of work-related fatalities; the share in Minnesota for this event was 9 percent. Contact with objects or equipment and falls, slips, and trips each accounted for 16 percent of the nation’s workplace fatalities, while in Minnesota, these events accounted for 18 and 16 percent of the workplace fatalities, respectively.

 

Additional key characteristics:

• The agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting industry sector had the largest number of fatalities in the state with 15, down from the 21 recorded in 2012. (See table 2.) Within this industry sector, transportation incidents accounted for eight worker deaths.  
• Construction recorded 11 fatalities, compared to 13 in 2012. Falls, slips, and trips accounted for five on-the-job fatalities in construction. 
• Transportation and material moving occupations had the highest number of fatal work injuries with 17. (See table 3.) Nine of these fatalities were heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers. Workers in management occupations had the next highest fatality count at 14.
• Men accounted for 63, or 94 percent, of the work-related fatalities in the state. (See table 4.) Transportation incidents made up nearly one-half (30) of these fatalities.
• In Minnesota, 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 30 fatalities, or 45 percent, of the state’s work-related deaths in 2013. Workers in this group nationally accounted for 60 percent of on-the-job fatalities.
• Of the 67 persons that suffered fatal work injuries in Minnesota, 76 percent worked for wages and salaries; the remaining were 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, in particular the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry.

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, Minnesota, 2012-2013

Event or exposure(1)	2012(2)	2013(p)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	70	67	100
Violence and other injuries by persons or animals	11	6	9
Intentional injury by person	11	3	4
Transportation incidents	28	32	48
Rail vehicle incidents	--	3	4
Collision between rail vehicle and another vehicle	--	3	4
Collision between rail and roadway vehicles	--	3	4
Pedestrian vehicular incident	--	5	7
Pedestrian struck by vehicle in nonroadway area	--	5	7
Pedestrian struck by forward-moving vehicle in nonroadway area	--	3	4
Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicle	14	15	22
Roadway collision with other vehicle	9	9	13
Roadway collision--moving in opposite directions, oncoming	--	4	6
Roadway collision--moving perpendicularly	4	4	6
Roadway noncollision incident	4	6	9
Jack-knifed or overturned, roadway	4	6	9
Nonroadway incident involving motorized land vehicles	9	6	9
Nonroadway noncollision incident	8	6	9
Jack-knifed or overturned, nonroadway	7	5	7
Falls, slips, trips	8	11	16
Falls on same level	--	3	4
Falls to lower level	7	8	12
Other fall to lower level	7	7	10
Exposure to harmful substances or environments	6	4	6
Exposure to oxygen deficiency, n.e.c.	--	3	4
Choking on object or substance	--	3	4
Contact with objects and equipment	14	12	18
Struck by object or equipment	8	11	16
Struck by powered vehicle--nontransport	3	4	6
Struck by falling object or equipment--other than powered vehicle	4	5	7
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. (2) Data for 2012 are revised and final (p) Data are preliminary. Revised and final 2013 data are scheduled to be released in the late spring 2015.
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.

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

Industry(1)	2012(2)	2013(p)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	70	67	100
Private Industry	67	63	94
Natural resources and mining	21	15	22
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting	21	15	22
Crop production	16	11	16
Animal production	3	3	4
Support activities for agriculture and forestry	--	1	1
Construction	13	11	16
Construction	13	11	16
Specialty trade contractors	7	8	12
Manufacturing	12	7	10
Manufacturing	12	7	10
Food manufacturing	--	3	4
Trade, transportation, and utilities	14	14	21
Wholesale trade	4	5	7
Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods	--	3	4
Transportation and warehousing	8	8	12
Truck transportation	4	5	7
Support activities for transportation	--	3	4
Professional and business services	--	4	6
Professional and technical services	--	--	--
Architectural, engineering, and related services	--	1	1
Educational and health services	3	6	9
Health care and social assistance	3	4	6
Leisure and hospitality	--	3	4
Arts, entertainment, and recreation	--	--	--
Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries	--	1	1
Other services, except public administration	1	3	4
Other services, except public administration	1	3	4
Government(3)	--	4	6
Federal government	--	1	1
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 (p) Data are preliminary. Revised and final 2013 data are scheduled to be released in the late spring 2015 (3) Includes fatal injuries to workers employed by governmental organizations regardless of industry.
NOTE: Total 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 may not meet publication criteria. CFOI fatality counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury or event.

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

Occupation(1)	2012(2)	2013(p)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	70	67	100
Management occupations	13	14	21
Other management occupations	11	14	21
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers	11	12	18
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers	11	12	18
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations	--	1	1
Entertainers and performers, sports and related workers	--	1	1
Athletes, coaches, umpires, and related workers	--	1	1
Athletes and sports competitors	--	1	1
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations	--	6	9
Building cleaning and pest control workers	--	4	6
Building cleaning workers	--	4	6
Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners	--	4	6
Office and administrative support occupations	--	1	1
Material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing workers	--	1	1
Postal service workers	--	1	1
Postal service mail carriers	--	1	1
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations	9	3	4
Agricultural workers	7	3	4
Miscellaneous agricultural workers	7	3	4
Construction and extraction occupations	13	6	9
Construction trades workers	11	5	7
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	3	3	4
Production occupations	7	6	9
Transportation and material moving occupations	15	17	25
Motor vehicle operators	11	10	15
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers	9	9	13
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers	6	9	13
Material moving workers	3	5	7
Crane and tower operators	--	4	6
Crane and tower operators	--	4	6
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 are preliminary. Revised and final 2013 data are scheduled to be released in the late 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, Minnesota, 2012-2013

Worker characteristics	2012(1)	2013(p)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	70	67	100
Employee status
Wage and salary(2)	48	51	76
Self-employed(3)	22	16	24
Gender
Men	65	63	94
Women	5	4	6
Age(4)
20 to 24 years	--	3	4
25 to 34 years	12	7	10
35 to 44 years	13	8	12
45 to 54 years	14	15	22
55 to 64 years	15	21	31
65 years and over	10	13	19
Race or ethnic origin(5)
White, non-Hispanic	66	59	88
Black or African-American, non-Hispanic	--	3	4
Footnotes: (1) Data for 2012 are revised and final (p) Data are preliminary. Revised and final 2013 data are scheduled to be released in the late spring 2015. (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.
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.