Fatal work injuries totaled 202 in 2015 for Ohio, 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 Ohio was up from 185 the previous year. Fatal occupational injuries in the state have ranged from a high of 222 in 1999 to a low of 137 in 2009. (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 Ohio, transportation incidents resulted in 92 fatal work injuries and falls, slips, or trips and contact with objects or equipment each accounted for 29 fatalities. These three major categories accounted for 74 percent of all workplace fatalities in the state. (See table 1.) The number of worker deaths from transportation incidents increased from 63 over the year. Worker fatalities due to falls, slips, or trips declined by 5, while contact with objects or equipment declined by 6 from 2014.

Violence and other injuries by persons or animals was the third-most frequent with 27 work-related deaths, down from 31 in the prior year. Exposure to harmful substances or environments resulted in 23 work-related deaths, up from 17 in 2014.

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 construction industry sector had the largest number of fatalities in Ohio with 37, little changed from previous year. (See table 2.) Transportation incidents was the most frequent fatal event in the construction sector with 14 worker deaths, followed by falls, slips, and trips with 11 fatalities. Fifty-seven percent those fatally injured in this sector worked in specialty trade contracting.

The private transportation and warehousing sector had 36 workplace fatalities, up from 23 in the previous year. General freight trucking-long distance accounted for 12, or 33 percent, of the fatal injuries in this industry.

Occupation

Transportation and material moving occupations and construction and extraction occupations had the highest number of workplace fatalities with 63 and 33, respectively. (See table 3.) The majority of the fatalities within the transportation and material moving occupations were heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (35). Construction trades workers accounted for most of the 33 fatalities among construction and extraction workers with 26 fatalities.

Additional highlights

• Men accounted for 89 percent of the work-related fatalities in Ohio, slightly lower than the 93-percent national share. (See table 4.) Transportation incidents made up 44 percent of the fatalities for men in Ohio.
• White non-Hispanics accounted for 84 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 60 percent of the state’s work-related fatalities in 2015, compared to 57 percent of on-the-job fatalities nationally.
• Of the 202 fatal work injuries in Ohio, 75 percent worked for wages and salaries; the remainder were self-employed. The most frequent fatal event for both groups of workers was transportation incidents.

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 Ohio BWC Division of Safety and Hygiene 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, Ohio, 2014–15

Event or exposure (1)	2014	2015
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	185	202	100
Violence and other injuries by persons or animals	31	27	13
Intentional injury by person	28	25	12
Homicides (Intentional injury by other person)	18	17	8
Shooting by other person--intentional	17	14	7
Suicides (Self-inflicted injury--intentional)	10	8	4
Shooting--intentional self-harm	4	4	2
Transportation incidents	63	92	46
Aircraft incidents	1	10	5
Aircraft crash during takeoff or landing	--	9	4
Aircraft crash during takeoff or landing--into structure, object, or ground	--	9	4
Pedestrian vehicular incident	11	14	7
Pedestrian struck by vehicle in roadway	3	4	2
Pedestrian struck by forward-moving vehicle in roadway	--	4	2
Pedestrian struck by vehicle in nonroadway area	3	5	2
Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicle	34	55	27
Roadway collision with other vehicle	19	33	16
Roadway collision--moving in same direction	6	8	4
Roadway collision--moving in opposite directions, oncoming	4	9	4
Roadway collision--moving perpendicularly	5	4	2
Roadway collision--moving and standing vehicle in roadway	--	8	4
Roadway collision with object other than vehicle	10	18	9
Vehicle struck object or animal on side of roadway	10	18	9
Nonroadway incident involving motorized land vehicles	15	10	5
Nonroadway noncollision incident	12	7	3
Jack-knifed or overturned, nonroadway	8	4	2
Fires and explosions	5	2	1
Falls, slips, trips	34	29	14
Falls on same level	9	5	2
Falls to lower level	23	21	10
Other fall to lower level	18	17	8
Exposure to harmful substances or environments	17	23	11
Exposure to electricity	2	7	3
Direct exposure to electricity	2	7	3
Direct exposure to electricity, greater than 220 volts	2	5	2
Exposure to other harmful substances	14	15	7
Nonmedical use of drugs or alcohol--unintentional overdose	10	11	5
Inhalation of harmful substance	2	4	2
Inhalation of harmful substance--single episode	2	4	2
Contact with objects and equipment	35	29	14
Struck by object or equipment	20	23	11
Struck by powered vehicle--nontransport	8	11	5
Struck or run over by rolling powered vehicle	3	6	3
Struck by falling object or equipment--other than powered vehicle	10	11	5
Struck by object falling from vehicle or machinery--other than vehicle part	--	4	2
Struck, caught, or crushed in collapsing structure, equipment, or material	5	4	2
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. 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, Ohio, 2014–15

Industry (1)	2014	2015
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	185	202	100
Private industry	171	191	95
Natural resources and mining	33	22	11
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting	29	18	9
Crop production	26	13	6
Mining (2)	4	4	2
Construction	38	37	18
Construction	38	37	18
Construction of buildings	8	5	2
Residential building construction	8	4	2
Residential building construction	8	4	2
Heavy and civil engineering construction	7	11	5
Land subdivision	--	7	3
Land subdivision	--	7	3
Specialty trade contractors	23	21	10
Foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors	4	9	4
Roofing contractors	3	6	3
Building equipment contractors	4	7	3
Electrical contractors	3	4	2
Manufacturing	21	19	9
Manufacturing	21	19	9
Fabricated metal product manufacturing	4	8	4
Architectural and structural metals manufacturing	1	4	2
Machine shops; turned product; and screw, nut, and bolt manufacturing	--	4	2
Machine shops	--	4	2
Trade, transportation, and utilities	42	55	27
Wholesale trade	8	7	3
Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods	1	4	2
Retail trade	11	11	5
Transportation and warehousing	23	36	18
Truck transportation	14	25	12
General freight trucking	10	15	7
General freight trucking, long-distance	7	12	6
General freight trucking, long-distance, truckload	1	5	2
Specialized freight trucking	3	8	4
Specialized freight (except used goods) trucking, long-distance	--	4	2
Information	--	1	0
Financial activities	3	6	3
Real estate and rental and leasing	--	6	3
Real estate	--	4	2
Professional and business services	9	16	8
Administrative and waste services	7	14	7
Administrative and support services	7	11	5
Services to buildings and dwellings	5	7	3
Landscaping services	5	6	3
Educational and health services	7	9	4
Health care and social assistance	5	9	4
Leisure and hospitality	11	13	6
Arts, entertainment, and recreation	4	4	2
Accommodation and food services	7	9	4
Food services and drinking places	6	8	4
Restaurants and other eating places	4	6	3
Restaurants and other eating places	4	6	3
Limited-service restaurants	--	5	2
Other services, except public administration	7	13	6
Other services, except public administration	7	13	6
Repair and maintenance	4	7	3
Automotive repair and maintenance	2	6	3
Government (3)	14	11	5
Federal government	1	3	1
State government	2	1	0
Local government	11	7	3
Footnotes: (1) Industry data are based on the North American Industry Classification System, 2012. (2) Includes fatal injuries at all establishments categorized as Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (Sector 21) in the North American Industry Classification System, 2012, including establishments not governed by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) rules and reporting, such as those in Oil and Gas Extraction. (3) 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, Ohio, 2014–15

Occupation (1)	2014	2015
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	185	202	100
Management occupations	26	22	11
Other management occupations	25	22	11
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers	21	13	6
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers	21	13	6
Property, real estate, and community association managers	--	6	3
Property, real estate, and community association managers	--	6	3
Business and financial operations occupations	--	--	--
Computer and mathematical occupations	1	--	--
Architecture and engineering occupations	--	--	--
Life, physical, and social science occupations	--	--	--
Community and social services occupations	1	4	2
Legal occupations	1	--	--
Education, training, and library occupations	2	--	--
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations	1	2	1
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations	4	8	4
Health diagnosing and treating practitioners	1	4	2
Healthcare support occupations	1	1	0
Protective service occupations	4	8	4
Food preparation and serving related occupations	2	2	1
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations	9	10	5
Grounds maintenance workers	6	4	2
Grounds maintenance workers	6	4	2
Personal care and service occupations	1	3	1
Sales and related occupations	8	13	6
Supervisors of sales workers	7	7	3
First-line supervisors of sales workers	7	7	3
First-line supervisors of retail sales workers	4	6	3
Office and administrative support occupations	4	2	1
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations	8	5	2
Agricultural workers	6	4	2
Construction and extraction occupations	32	33	16
Supervisors of construction and extraction workers	4	5	2
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers	4	5	2
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers	4	5	2
Construction trades workers	26	26	13
Carpenters	--	5	2
Carpenters	--	5	2
Construction laborers	12	5	2
Construction laborers	12	5	2
Electricians	3	4	2
Electricians	3	4	2
Roofers	--	5	2
Roofers	--	5	2
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	19	12	6
Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers	3	5	2
Automotive technicians and repairers	--	4	2
Other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	10	4	2
Production occupations	11	13	6
Metal workers and plastic workers	7	6	3
Welding, soldering, and brazing workers	3	4	2
Transportation and material moving occupations	46	63	31
Motor vehicle operators	36	51	25
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers	29	47	23
Driver/sales workers	2	10	5
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers	23	35	17
Material moving workers	7	10	5
Laborers and material movers, hand	--	7	3
Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand	1	6	3
Military specific occupations (2)	--	1	0
Footnotes: (1) Occupation data are based on the Standard Occupational Classification system, 2010. (2) Includes fatal injuries to persons identified as resident armed forces regardless of individual occupation listed.
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, Ohio, 2014–15

Worker characteristics	2014	2015
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	185	202	100
Employee status
Wage and salary workers (1)	131	152	75
Self-employed (2)	54	50	25
Gender
Men	169	180	89
Women	16	22	11
Age (3)
20 to 24 years	4	13	6
25 to 34 years	33	27	13
35 to 44 years	31	37	18
45 to 54 years	46	57	28
55 to 64 years	35	39	19
65 years and over	35	27	13
Race or ethnic origin (4)
White, non-Hispanic	163	170	84
Black or African-American, non-Hispanic	16	16	8
Hispanic or Latino	3	11	5
Asian, non-Hispanic	3	4	2
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.