Fatal work injuries totaled 60 in 2015 for Iowa, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Charlene Peiffer noted that the number of work-related fatalities in Iowa was down from 91 in the previous year. Fatal occupational injuries in the state have ranged from a high of 110 in 1992 to a low of 54 in 1995. (See chart 1.)

Nationwide, a total of 4,836 fatal work injuries were recorded in 2015, a slight increase from the 4,821 fatal injuries in 2014, according to the results from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) program.

Type of incident

In Iowa, transportation incidents resulted in 19 fatal work injuries. Contact with objects or equipment and falls, slips, or trips accounted for 17 and 16 fatal work injuries, respectively. These three major categories accounted for 87 percent of all workplace fatalities in the state. (See table 1.) The number of worker deaths from transportation incidents was down from 33 the previous year. Fatalities from contact with objects or equipment were little changed from the previous year, while fatalities from falls, slips, or trips were down by nine.

Nationally, transportation incidents were the most frequent fatal workplace event in 2015, accounting for approximately 42 percent of fatal work injuries. (See chart 2.) Falls, slips, or trips was the second-most frequent type of event (17 percent), followed by contact with objects and equipment (15 percent) and violence and other injuries by persons or animals (15 percent).

Industry

The private agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting industry sector had the largest number of fatalities in Iowa with 16, down from 28 the previous year. (See table 2.) Transportation incidents was the most frequent fatal event in the agriculture sector with seven worker deaths, followed by contact with objects and equipment with five fatalities. Forty-four percent of those fatally injured in this sector worked in cattle ranching and farming.

The private construction sector had 12 workplace fatalities, down from 20 the previous year. Specialty trade contractors accounted for 10, or 83 percent, of the fatal injuries in this industry.

Occupation

Management occupations had the highest number of workplace fatalities with 14. All of the fatalities within this group were farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers. The construction and extraction occupations and transportation and material moving occupations had 10 and 9 fatalities, respectively. (See table 3.) Construction laborers accounted for 5 of the 10 fatalities among construction and extraction workers. The majority of the fatalities within the transportation and material moving group were heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (seven).

Additional highlights

• Men accounted for 97 percent of the work-related fatalities in Iowa, higher than the 93-percent national share. (See table 4.) Transportation incidents made up 33 percent of the fatalities for men in Iowa.
• White non-Hispanics accounted for 90 percent of those who died from a workplace injury. Nationwide, this group accounted for 67 percent of work-related deaths.
• Workers 25-54 years old accounted for 47 percent of the state’s work-related fatalities in 2015, compared to 57 percent of on-the-job fatalities nationally.
• Of the 60 fatal work injuries in Iowa, 70 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 falls, slips, and trips; transportation incidents and contact with objects and equipment were the most frequent fatal events for self-employed workers.

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 ensures counts are as complete and accurate as possible. For the 2015 data, over 21,400 unique source documents were reviewed as part of the data collection process. For technical information and definitions for CFOI, 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 Iowa Workforce Development 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 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, Iowa, 2014–15

Event or exposure (1)	2014	2015
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	91	60	100
Violence and other injuries by persons or animals	6	1	2
Intentional injury by person	--	1	2
Homicides (Intentional injury by other person)	1	1	2
Shooting by other person--intentional	--	1	2
Transportation incidents	33	19	32
Aircraft incidents	1	1	2
Pedestrian struck by aircraft or propeller	--	1	2
Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicle	17	12	20
Roadway collision with other vehicle	7	8	13
Roadway collision--moving in opposite directions, oncoming	--	3	5
Roadway collision--moving perpendicularly	2	4	7
Roadway noncollision incident	5	3	5
Ran off roadway	--	1	2
Nonroadway incident involving motorized land vehicles	10	6	10
Nonroadway noncollision incident	7	5	8
Jack-knifed or overturned, nonroadway	4	5	8
Fires and explosions	3	4	7
Explosions	1	3	5
Explosion of pressure vessel, piping, or tire	1	2	3
Falls, slips, trips	25	16	27
Falls on same level	4	7	12
Fall on same level due to tripping	--	1	2
Falls to lower level	21	9	15
Fall through surface or existing opening	1	--	--
Fall through surface or existing opening 26 to 30 feet	--	1	2
Other fall to lower level	19	7	12
Other fall to lower level 11 to 15 feet	6	1	2
Other fall to lower level 21 to 25 feet	2	1	2
Other fall to lower level 26 to 30 feet	--	1	2
Exposure to harmful substances or environments	5	--	--
Exposure to other harmful substances	--	2	3
Inhalation of harmful substance	1	2	3
Inhalation of harmful substance--single episode	1	2	3
Contact with objects and equipment	19	17	28
Struck by object or equipment	10	8	13
Struck by powered vehicle--nontransport	6	5	8
Struck or run over by rolling powered vehicle	3	1	2
Struck by falling part of powered vehicle still attached	--	3	5
Struck by other falling powered vehicle	2	1	2
Struck by discharged or flying object	--	1	2
Struck by discharged object or substance	--	1	2
Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects	4	--	--
Caught in running equipment or machinery	4	--	--
Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation	2	1	2
Struck, caught, or crushed in collapsing structure, equipment, or material	5	7	12
Excavation or trenching cave-in	--	2	3
Engulfment in other collapsing material	--	4	7
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. Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding. CFOI fatality counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria.

Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by industry, Iowa, 2014–15

Industry (1)	2014	2015
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	91	60	100
Private industry	87	57	95
Natural resources and mining	29	16	27
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting	28	16	27
Crop production	14	5	8
Oilseed and grain farming	4	2	3
Corn farming	3	2	3
Animal production and aquaculture	13	10	17
Cattle ranching and farming	5	7	12
Hog and pig farming	1	2	3
Hog and pig farming	1	2	3
Support activities for agriculture and forestry	1	1	2
Support activities for crop production	1	1	2
Support activities for crop production	1	1	2
Soil preparation, planting, and cultivating	1	1	2
Construction	20	12	20
Construction	20	12	20
Heavy and civil engineering construction	3	1	2
Land subdivision	--	1	2
Land subdivision	--	1	2
Specialty trade contractors	14	10	17
Foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors	11	7	12
Framing contractors	2	2	3
Residential framing contractors	1	1	2
Roofing contractors	2	2	3
Nonresidential roofing contractors	--	1	2
Other foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors	--	1	2
Building equipment contractors	--	2	3
Plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors	--	2	3
Residential plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors	--	1	2
Nonresidential plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors	--	1	2
Manufacturing	5	5	8
Manufacturing	5	5	8
Food manufacturing	--	--	--
Other food manufacturing	--	2	3
All other food manufacturing	--	2	3
Chemical manufacturing	1	1	2
Pesticide, fertilizer, and other agricultural chemical manufacturing	1	1	2
Fertilizer manufacturing	--	1	2
Nitrogenous fertilizer manufacturing	--	1	2
Trade, transportation, and utilities	17	14	23
Wholesale trade	9	5	8
Merchant wholesalers, durable goods	4	1	2
Machinery, equipment, and supplies merchant wholesalers	2	1	2
Farm and garden machinery and equipment merchant wholesalers	1	1	2
Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods	5	4	7
Farm product raw material merchant wholesalers	--	4	7
Grain and field bean merchant wholesalers	--	4	7
Retail trade	2	4	7
Motor vehicle and parts dealers	--	--	--
Automobile dealers	--	1	2
New car dealers	--	1	2
Transportation and warehousing	6	5	8
Truck transportation	4	3	5
Specialized freight trucking	--	1	2
Specialized freight (except used goods) trucking, long-distance	--	1	2
Support activities for transportation	--	1	2
Support activities for road transportation	--	1	2
Motor vehicle towing	--	1	2
Professional and business services	5	5	8
Professional and technical services	--	1	2
Professional, scientific, and technical services	--	1	2
Scientific research and development services	--	1	2
Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences	--	1	2
Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences (except biotechnology)	--	1	2
Administrative and waste services	5	4	7
Administrative and support services	4	4	7
Employment services	1	1	2
Temporary help services	1	1	2
Services to buildings and dwellings	3	3	5
Landscaping services	2	3	5
Leisure and hospitality	4	1	2
Arts, entertainment, and recreation	2	1	2
Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions	--	1	2
Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions	--	1	2
Museums	--	1	2
Other services, except public administration	--	3	5
Other services, except public administration	--	3	5
Repair and maintenance	--	2	3
Automotive repair and maintenance	--	2	3
Automotive mechanical and electrical repair and maintenance	--	1	2
General automotive repair	--	1	2
Automotive body, paint, interior, and glass repair	--	1	2
Automotive body, paint, and interior repair and maintenance	--	1	2
Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations	--	1	2
Religious organizations	--	1	2
Religious organizations	--	1	2
Government (2)	4	3	5
Local government	3	1	2
Footnotes: (1) Industry data are based on the North American Industry Classification System, 2012. (2) Includes fatal injuries to workers employed by governmental organizations regardless of industry.
NOTE: Data for all years are final. 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. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria.

Table 3. Fatal occupational injuries by occupation, Iowa, 2014–15

Occupation (1)	2014	2015
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	91	60	100
Management occupations	25	14	23
Other management occupations	25	14	23
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers	25	14	23
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers	25	14	23
Business and financial operations occupations	--	2	3
Business operations specialists	--	2	3
Buyers and purchasing agents	--	2	3
Buyers and purchasing agents, farm products	--	2	3
Life, physical, and social science occupations	--	1	2
Life scientists	--	1	2
Agricultural and food scientists	--	1	2
Soil and plant scientists	--	1	2
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations	1	1	2
Entertainers and performers, sports and related workers	1	1	2
Athletes, coaches, umpires, and related workers	1	1	2
Coaches and scouts	--	1	2
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations	3	5	8
Supervisors of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers	1	1	2
First-line supervisors of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers	1	1	2
First-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial workers	--	1	2
Grounds maintenance workers	1	4	7
Grounds maintenance workers	1	4	7
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers	--	3	5
Tree trimmers and pruners	1	1	2
Sales and related occupations	5	3	5
Retail sales workers	1	1	2
Retail salespersons	1	1	2
Retail salespersons	1	1	2
Office and administrative support occupations	3	--	--
Information and record clerks	--	1	2
Customer service representatives	--	1	2
Customer service representatives	--	1	2
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations	2	3	5
Agricultural workers	2	3	5
Miscellaneous agricultural workers	2	3	5
Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse	1	3	5
Construction and extraction occupations	17	10	17
Construction trades workers	11	10	17
Carpenters	2	1	2
Carpenters	2	1	2
Construction laborers	3	5	8
Construction laborers	3	5	8
Roofers	--	2	3
Roofers	--	2	3
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	6	7	12
Supervisors of installation, maintenance, and repair workers	--	1	2
First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers	--	1	2
First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers	--	1	2
Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers	3	4	7
Automotive technicians and repairers	--	1	2
Automotive body and related repairers	--	1	2
Miscellaneous vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers	--	1	2
Tire repairers and changers	--	1	2
Other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	3	--	--
Control and valve installers and repairers	--	1	2
Transportation and material moving occupations	22	9	15
Motor vehicle operators	15	7	12
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers	15	7	12
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers	11	7	12
Material moving workers	6	2	3
Conveyor operators and tenders	--	1	2
Conveyor operators and tenders	--	1	2
Laborers and material movers, hand	4	1	2
Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand	3	1	2
Footnotes: (1) Occupation data are based on the Standard Occupational Classification system, 2010.
NOTE: Data for all years are final. 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. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria.

Table 4. Fatal occupational injuries by worker characteristics, Iowa, 2014–15

Worker characteristics	2014	2015
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	91	60	100
Employee status
Wage and salary workers (1)	50	42	70
Self-employed (2)	41	18	30
Gender
Men	86	58	97
Women	5	--	--
Age (3)
25 to 34 years	10	11	18
35 to 44 years	18	8	13
45 to 54 years	11	9	15
55 to 64 years	21	15	25
65 years and over	27	15	25
Race or ethnic origin (4)
White, non-Hispanic	85	54	90
Black or African-American, non-Hispanic	3	3	5
Hispanic or Latino	3	--	--
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.
NOTE: Data for all years are final. 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. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria.