Fatal work injuries totaled 162 in 2016 for Michigan, 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 Michigan was up from 134 in the previous year. Fatal occupational injuries in the state have ranged from a high of 182 in 1999 to a low of 94 in 2009. (See chart 1.)

Nationwide, a total of 5,190 fatal work injuries were recorded in 2016, a 7-percent increase from the 4,836 fatal injuries in 2015, according to the results from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) program. This was the third consecutive increase in annual workplace fatalities and the first time more than 5,000 fatalities have been recorded since 2008.

Type of incident

In Michigan, transportation incidents resulted in 50 fatal work injuries and violence or other injuries by persons or animals accounted for 37 fatalities. These two major categories accounted for 54 percent of all workplace fatalities in the state. (See table 1.) The number of worker deaths from transportation incidents were up from 45 over the year and worker fatalities due to violence or other injuries by persons or animals were little changed.

Falls, slips, or trips was the third-most frequent fatal work event with 31 fatalities, up from 19 in the prior year. Exposure to harmful substances or environments resulted in 23 work-related deaths, up from 10 in 2015.

Nationally, transportation incidents were the most frequent fatal workplace event in 2016, accounting for 40 percent of fatal work injuries. (See chart 2.) Violence and other injuries by persons or animals was the second-most common fatal event (17 percent), followed by falls, slips, or trips (16 percent).

Industry

The private construction industry sector had the highest number of fatalities in Michigan with 40, up from 22 in the previous year. (See table 2.) The most frequent fatal event was transportation incidents with 16 worker deaths, followed by falls, slips, or trips with 15 fatalities. Seventy-eight percent of those fatally injured in this sector worked in the specialty trade contractor industry.

The private agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting sector had 19 workplace fatalities, down from 23 in the previous year. Crop production accounted for 12, or 63 percent, of the fatal injuries in this sector.

Occupation

The construction and extraction and transportation and material moving occupational groups had the highest number of workplace fatalities with 38 and 34, respectively. (See table 3.) Construction trades workers accounted for 28 of the 38 fatalities among construction and extraction occupations. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers suffered 14 of the work-related deaths within the transportation and material moving group.

Additional highlights

• Men accounted for 94 percent of the work-related fatalities in Michigan, similar to the 93-percent national share. (See table 4.) Transportation incidents made up 33 percent of the fatalities for men in Michigan.
• White non-Hispanics accounted for 78 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 62 percent of the state’s work-related fatalities in 2016, compared to 57 percent of on-the-job fatalities nationally.
• Of the 162 fatally-injured workers in Michigan, 72 percent worked for wages and salaries; the remainder were self-employed. The most frequent fatal event for wage and salary workers was transportation incidents; violence and other injuries by persons or animals and transportation incidents 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 2016 national data, over 23,300 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 website at www.bls.gov/opub/hom/cfoi/home.htm.

Federal/State agency coverage. The CFOI includes data for all fatal work injuries, even those that may be outside the scope of other agencies or 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. More on the scope of CFOI can be found at www.bls.gov/iif/cfoiscope.htm.

Acknowledgments. BLS thanks the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs 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, Michigan, 2015–16

Event or exposure (1)	2015	2016
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	134	162	100
Violence and other injuries by persons or animals	35	37	23
Intentional injury by person	34	35	22
Homicides (Intentional injury by other person)	22	22	14
Shooting by other person--intentional	19	21	13
Suicides (Self-inflicted injury--intentional)	12	13	8
Shooting--intentional self-harm	7	7	4
Hanging, strangulation, asphyxiation--intentional self-harm	--	5	3
Transportation incidents	45	50	31
Pedestrian vehicular incident	5	4	2
Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicle	27	28	17
Roadway collision with other vehicle	14	16	10
Roadway collision--moving in same direction	1	5	3
Roadway collision--moving in opposite directions, oncoming	5	3	2
Roadway collision--moving perpendicularly	3	4	2
Roadway collision--moving and standing vehicle in roadway	4	4	2
Roadway collision with object other than vehicle	7	9	6
Vehicle struck object or animal on side of roadway	6	9	6
Roadway noncollision incident	6	3	2
Jack-knifed or overturned, roadway	5	3	2
Nonroadway incident involving motorized land vehicles	10	14	9
Nonroadway collision with object other than vehicle	1	4	2
Nonroadway noncollision incident	8	8	5
Fall or jump from and struck by same vehicle in normal operation, nonroadway	3	3	2
Falls, slips, trips	19	31	19
Falls on same level	5	5	3
Falls to lower level	14	26	16
Fall from collapsing structure or equipment	2	5	3
Fall through surface or existing opening	--	5	3
Other fall to lower level	10	16	10
Other fall to lower level 11 to 15 feet	--	5	3
Other fall to lower level 16 to 20 feet	3	3	2
Other fall to lower level more than 30 feet	1	6	4
Exposure to harmful substances or environments	10	23	14
Exposure to electricity	2	5	3
Direct exposure to electricity	1	4	2
Direct exposure to electricity, greater than 220 volts	1	3	2
Exposure to other harmful substances	6	10	6
Nonmedical use of drugs or alcohol--unintentional overdose	3	5	3
Inhalation of harmful substance	3	5	3
Exposure to oxygen deficiency, n.e.c.	--	6	4
Drowning, submersion, n.e.c.	1	5	3
Contact with objects and equipment	22	19	12
Struck by object or equipment	12	13	8
Struck by powered vehicle--nontransport	6	7	4
Struck by falling object or equipment--other than powered vehicle	5	5	3
Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects	5	5	3
Caught in running equipment or machinery	5	5	3
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, Michigan, 2015–16

Industry (1)	2015	2016
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	134	162	100
Private industry	127	152	94
Natural resources and mining	24	20	12
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting	23	19	12
Crop production	12	12	7
Oilseed and grain farming	6	6	4
Corn farming	3	5	3
Animal production and aquaculture	9	3	2
Cattle ranching and farming	7	3	2
Forestry and logging	2	4	2
Logging	2	4	2
Construction	22	40	25
Construction	22	40	25
Construction of buildings	8	6	4
Residential building construction	6	5	3
Residential building construction	6	5	3
Residential remodelers	4	4	2
Specialty trade contractors	12	31	19
Foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors	4	17	10
Roofing contractors	1	10	6
Building equipment contractors	5	5	3
Plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors	4	4	2
Building finishing contractors	1	5	3
Painting and wall covering contractors	1	5	3
Other specialty trade contractors	2	4	2
Site preparation contractors	2	3	2
Manufacturing	19	15	9
Manufacturing	19	15	9
Food manufacturing	3	3	2
Transportation equipment manufacturing	4	3	2
Trade, transportation, and utilities	28	34	21
Wholesale trade	8	8	5
Merchant wholesalers, durable goods	3	4	2
Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods	5	4	2
Retail trade	8	11	7
Motor vehicle and parts dealers	2	4	2
Automobile dealers	1	3	2
Miscellaneous store retailers	1	3	2
Transportation and warehousing	12	15	9
Truck transportation	4	8	5
General freight trucking	4	6	4
General freight trucking, long-distance	3	5	3
General freight trucking, long-distance, truckload	3	3	2
Support activities for transportation	3	3	2
Financial activities	8	5	3
Real estate and rental and leasing	7	5	3
Real estate	5	4	2
Professional and business services	12	13	8
Administrative and waste services	8	12	7
Administrative and support services	8	12	7
Services to buildings and dwellings	5	11	7
Landscaping services	3	10	6
Educational and health services	--	5	3
Health care and social assistance	--	4	2
Ambulatory health care services	--	3	2
Leisure and hospitality	8	10	6
Arts, entertainment, and recreation	2	4	2
Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries	2	3	2
Accommodation and food services	6	6	4
Food services and drinking places	6	5	3
Restaurants and other eating places	4	3	2
Restaurants and other eating places	4	3	2
Full-service restaurants	--	3	2
Other services, except public administration	5	9	6
Other services, except public administration	5	9	6
Repair and maintenance	3	5	3
Automotive repair and maintenance	2	5	3
Automotive mechanical and electrical repair and maintenance	--	3	2
General automotive repair	--	3	2
Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations	--	3	2
Government (2)	7	10	6
Local government	4	8	5
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, Michigan, 2015–16

Occupation (1)	2015	2016
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	134	162	100
Management occupations	28	15	9
Other management occupations	24	13	8
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers	18	10	6
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers	18	10	6
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations	2	4	2
Entertainers and performers, sports and related workers	2	3	2
Protective service occupations	4	10	6
Law enforcement workers	1	5	3
Police officers	1	3	2
Police and sheriff's patrol officers	1	3	2
Food preparation and serving related occupations	--	4	2
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations	4	12	7
Supervisors of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers	--	3	2
First-line supervisors of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers	--	3	2
First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers	--	3	2
Grounds maintenance workers	3	8	5
Grounds maintenance workers	3	8	5
Tree trimmers and pruners	--	6	4
Sales and related occupations	8	13	8
Supervisors of sales workers	5	3	2
First-line supervisors of sales workers	5	3	2
Retail sales workers	--	4	2
Sales representatives, services	--	3	2
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations	8	9	6
Agricultural workers	5	4	2
Miscellaneous agricultural workers	5	4	2
Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse	--	3	2
Forest, conservation, and logging workers	3	5	3
Logging workers	2	5	3
Fallers	2	5	3
Construction and extraction occupations	22	38	23
Supervisors of construction and extraction workers	3	10	6
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers	3	10	6
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers	3	10	6
Construction trades workers	17	28	17
Carpenters	--	5	3
Carpenters	--	5	3
Construction laborers	8	6	4
Construction laborers	8	6	4
Painters and paperhangers	1	6	4
Painters, construction and maintenance	1	6	4
Roofers	1	7	4
Roofers	1	7	4
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	7	11	7
Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers	--	6	4
Automotive technicians and repairers	--	5	3
Automotive service technicians and mechanics	--	4	2
Other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	5	5	3
Production occupations	12	5	3
Transportation and material moving occupations	29	34	21
Motor vehicle operators	23	19	12
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers	20	17	10
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers	13	14	9
Material moving workers	5	10	6
Dredge, excavating, and loading machine operators	--	3	2
Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators	--	3	2
Laborers and material movers, hand	4	4	2
Footnotes: (1) Occupation data are based on the Standard Occupational Classification system, 2010.
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. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria.

Table 4. Fatal occupational injuries by selected demographic characteristics, Michigan, 2015–16

Worker characteristics	2015	2016
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	134	162	100
Employee status
Wage and salary workers (1)	85	116	72
Self-employed (2)	49	46	28
Gender
Men	119	153	94
Women	15	9	6
Age (3)
18 to 19 years	1	3	2
20 to 24 years	9	6	4
25 to 34 years	19	23	14
35 to 44 years	23	32	20
45 to 54 years	28	45	28
55 to 64 years	26	34	21
65 years and over	26	18	11
Race or ethnic origin (4)
White, non-Hispanic	96	127	78
Black or African-American, non-Hispanic	18	22	14
Hispanic or Latino	12	7	4
Asian, non-Hispanic	4	3	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.