News Release Information
18-52-NEW
Monday, March 12, 2018
Fatal Occupational Injuries in New York City – 2016
Fatal work injuries totaled 56 in 2016 for New York City, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Chief Regional Economist Martin Kohli noted that the number of work-related fatalities in New York City declined by 18 from the previous year, to match the series low. Fatal occupational injuries in the city have ranged from a high of 191 in 1993 to a low of 56 in 2013. (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 reported in 2015, according to the results from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) program.
Type of incidentIn New York City, violence and other injuries by persons or animals resulted in 20 fatalities, and falls, slips, and trips accounted for 13 fatal work injuries. These two major categories accounted for 59 percent of all workplace fatalities in New York City. (See table 1.) The number of worker fatalities from violence and other injuries by persons or animals decreased by three over the year, while the number of deaths due to falls, slips, and trips declined by 11 from the previous year.
Contact with objects and equipment was the third-most frequent fatal work event with nine fatalities, followed by exposure to harmful substances or environments with five work-related deaths. Each of these event categories were little changed from 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 frequent type of event (17 percent), followed by falls, slips, or trips (16 percent) and contact with objects and equipment (15 percent).
IndustryThe private construction industry sector had the highest number of workplace fatalities in New York City with 21, down from 25 in the previous year. Specialty trade contractors accounted for 13, or 62 percent, of the fatal injuries in this industry.
The trade, transportation, and utilities sector had 10 workplace fatalities, down from 15 in the previous year. (See table 2.) Retail trade accounted for 8, or 80 percent, of the sector’s fatal injuries. Violence and other injuries by persons or animals were the most frequent fatal event in trade, transportation, and utilities with five worker deaths, all of which occurred in retail establishments.
OccupationConstruction and extraction occupations had the highest number of workplace fatalities (18). (See table 3.) The majority of the fatal injuries within the construction and extraction group occurred to construction trades workers (14). Among the other occupational groups, transportation and material moving workers (7) had the next highest number of workplace fatalities, followed by installation, maintenance, and repair (6) and protective service (6).
Contracted workersA contractor is defined as a worker employed by one firm but working at the behest of another firm that exercises overall responsibility for the operations at the site of the fatal injury. In 2016, New York City had 18 fatally-injured workers identified as fitting the contractor criteria, for the second consecutive year.
Additional highlights- Men accounted for 96 percent of the work-related fatalities in New York City, compared to 93 percent nationwide. (See table 4.) Violence and other injuries by persons or animals made up 33 percent of the fatalities for men in New York City.
- Hispanics or Latinos accounted for 36 percent of those who died from a workplace injury. Nationwide, this group accounted for 17 percent of work-related deaths.
- Workers 25-54 years old accounted for 64 percent of the city’s work-related fatalities in 2016, compared to 57 percent of on-the-job fatalities nationally.
- Of the 56 fatal work injuries in New York City, 50, or 89 percent, worked for wages and salaries; the remainder were self-employed. The most frequent fatal event for wage and salary workers was violence and other injuries by persons or animals. Among the six self-employed workers who were fatally injured, half of the incidents involved falls, slips, and trips, and half involved violence.
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 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. 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 New York City government.
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, New York City, 2015–16| Event or exposure | 2015 | 2016 |
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| Number | Number | Percent |
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Total | 74 | 56 | 100 |
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Violence and other injuries by persons or animals | 23 | 20 | 36 |
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Intentional injury by person | 22 | 20 | 36 |
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Homicides (Intentional injury by other person) | 15 | 12 | 21 |
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Shooting by other person--intentional | 10 | 4 | 7 |
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Stabbing, cutting, slashing, piercing | 3 | 4 | 7 |
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Strangulation by other person | -- | 2 | 4 |
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Suicides (Self-inflicted injury--intentional) | 7 | 8 | 14 |
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Shooting--intentional self-harm | 4 | -- | -- |
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Hanging, strangulation, asphyxiation--intentional self-harm | -- | 5 | 9 |
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Transportation incidents | 9 | 7 | 13 |
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Aircraft incidents | -- | 1 | 2 |
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Other in-flight crash | -- | 1 | 2 |
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Other in-flight crash due to mechanical failure | -- | 1 | 2 |
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Pedestrian vehicular incident | 3 | 3 | 5 |
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Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicle | 5 | 1 | 2 |
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Roadway collision with other vehicle | 3 | -- | -- |
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Roadway collision with object other than vehicle | -- | 1 | 2 |
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Vehicle struck object or animal on side of roadway | -- | 1 | 2 |
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Fires and explosions | -- | -- | -- |
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Falls, slips, trips | 24 | 13 | 23 |
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Falls on same level | 3 | -- | -- |
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Falls to lower level | 20 | 11 | 20 |
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Fall through surface or existing opening | 3 | -- | -- |
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Other fall to lower level | 16 | 8 | 14 |
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Other fall to lower level more than 30 feet | 3 | 4 | 7 |
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Jumps to lower level | 1 | -- | -- |
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Other jump to lower level | 1 | -- | -- |
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Other jump to lower level more than 30 feet | 1 | -- | -- |
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Exposure to harmful substances or environments | 6 | 5 | 9 |
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Exposure to other harmful substances | 5 | 4 | 7 |
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Nonmedical use of drugs or alcohol--unintentional overdose | 5 | 4 | 7 |
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Contact with objects and equipment | 10 | 9 | 16 |
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Struck by object or equipment | 4 | 5 | 9 |
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Struck by powered vehicle--nontransport | -- | 1 | 2 |
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Struck or run over by rolling powered vehicle | -- | 1 | 2 |
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Struck by falling object or equipment--other than powered vehicle | -- | 4 | 7 |
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Struck, caught, or crushed in collapsing structure, equipment, or material | 4 | -- | -- |
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Struck, caught, or crushed in other collapsing structure or equipment | 3 | -- | -- |
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Overexertion and bodily reaction | -- | -- | -- |
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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.
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Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by industry, New York City, 2015–16| Industry | 2015 | 2016 |
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| Number | Number | Percent |
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Total | 74 | 56 | 100 |
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Private industry | 67 | 47 | 84 |
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Natural resources and mining | -- | -- | -- |
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Construction | 25 | 21 | 38 |
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Construction | 25 | 21 | 38 |
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Construction of buildings | 5 | 4 | 7 |
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Residential building construction | 5 | 3 | 5 |
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Residential building construction | 5 | 3 | 5 |
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Residential remodelers | 3 | -- | -- |
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Specialty trade contractors | 17 | 13 | 23 |
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Foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors | 8 | 4 | 7 |
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Poured concrete foundation and structure contractors | 5 | -- | -- |
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Building equipment contractors | 4 | 3 | 5 |
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Other building equipment contractors | -- | 3 | 5 |
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Other specialty trade contractors | 4 | 4 | 7 |
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Site preparation contractors | 4 | -- | -- |
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All other specialty trade contractors | -- | 3 | 5 |
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Manufacturing | 5 | -- | -- |
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Manufacturing | 5 | -- | -- |
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Food manufacturing | 3 | -- | -- |
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Chemical manufacturing | 1 | -- | -- |
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Trade, transportation, and utilities | 15 | 10 | 18 |
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Retail trade | 6 | 8 | 14 |
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Electronics and appliance stores | -- | 2 | 4 |
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Electronics and appliance stores | -- | 2 | 4 |
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Electronics and appliance stores | -- | 2 | 4 |
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Electronics stores | -- | 2 | 4 |
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Food and beverage stores | 3 | 2 | 4 |
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Grocery stores | -- | 1 | 2 |
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Supermarkets and other grocery (except convenience) stores | -- | 1 | 2 |
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Beer, wine, and liquor stores | -- | 1 | 2 |
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General merchandise stores | 1 | -- | -- |
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Transportation and warehousing | 9 | -- | -- |
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Transit and ground passenger transportation | 6 | -- | -- |
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Taxi and limousine service | 6 | -- | -- |
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Taxi service | 5 | -- | -- |
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Information | -- | 1 | 2 |
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Information | -- | 1 | 2 |
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Telecommunications | -- | 1 | 2 |
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Wired telecommunications carriers | -- | 1 | 2 |
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Financial activities | 3 | -- | -- |
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Finance and insurance | 1 | -- | -- |
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Professional and business services | 5 | 3 | 5 |
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Administrative and waste services | 3 | -- | -- |
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Administrative and support services | 3 | -- | -- |
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Investigation and security services | -- | 1 | 2 |
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Investigation, guard, and armored car services | -- | 1 | 2 |
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Security guards and patrol services | -- | 1 | 2 |
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Educational and health services | 3 | -- | -- |
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Health care and social assistance | -- | -- | -- |
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Social assistance | -- | 1 | 2 |
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Community food and housing, and emergency and other relief services | -- | 1 | 2 |
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Community housing services | -- | 1 | 2 |
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Temporary shelters | -- | 1 | 2 |
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Leisure and hospitality | 4 | 6 | 11 |
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Arts, entertainment, and recreation | -- | 1 | 2 |
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Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions | -- | 1 | 2 |
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Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions | -- | 1 | 2 |
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Museums | -- | 1 | 2 |
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Accommodation and food services | 4 | 5 | 9 |
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Food services and drinking places | 4 | 4 | 7 |
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Restaurants and other eating places | 4 | 4 | 7 |
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Restaurants and other eating places | 4 | 4 | 7 |
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Full-service restaurants | 3 | -- | -- |
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Limited-service restaurants | 1 | -- | -- |
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Other services, except public administration | 5 | -- | -- |
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Other services, except public administration | 5 | -- | -- |
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Personal and laundry services | 3 | -- | -- |
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Government | 7 | 9 | 16 |
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Federal government | 1 | -- | -- |
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State government | 3 | 3 | 5 |
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Local government | 3 | 5 | 9 |
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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.
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Table 3. Fatal occupational injuries by occupation, New York City, 2015–16| Occupation | 2015 | 2016 |
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| Number | Number | Percent |
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Total | 74 | 56 | 100 |
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Management occupations | 6 | -- | -- |
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Business and financial operations occupations | -- | -- | -- |
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Computer and mathematical occupations | -- | -- | -- |
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Architecture and engineering occupations | -- | 1 | 2 |
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Architects, surveyors, and cartographers | -- | 1 | 2 |
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Architects, except naval | -- | 1 | 2 |
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Architects, except landscape and naval | -- | 1 | 2 |
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Life, physical, and social science occupations | -- | -- | -- |
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Community and social service occupations | -- | -- | -- |
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Legal occupations | -- | -- | -- |
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Education, training, and library occupations | -- | -- | -- |
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Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations | -- | -- | -- |
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Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations | -- | -- | -- |
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Healthcare support occupations | -- | -- | -- |
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Protective service occupations | 7 | 6 | 11 |
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Law enforcement workers | 4 | -- | -- |
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Police officers | 3 | -- | -- |
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Other protective service workers | 3 | 4 | 7 |
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Security guards and gaming surveillance officers | 3 | 3 | 5 |
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Security guards | 3 | 3 | 5 |
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Food preparation and serving related occupations | 3 | -- | -- |
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Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations | -- | 3 | 5 |
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Personal care and service occupations | -- | -- | -- |
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Sales and related occupations | 5 | 6 | 11 |
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Supervisors of sales workers | 3 | -- | -- |
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Retail sales workers | -- | 3 | 5 |
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Cashiers | -- | 1 | 2 |
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Retail salespersons | 1 | -- | -- |
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Office and administrative support occupations | -- | -- | -- |
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Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations | -- | -- | -- |
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Construction and extraction occupations | 23 | 18 | 32 |
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Construction trades workers | 18 | 14 | 25 |
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Construction laborers | 12 | 12 | 21 |
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Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations | -- | 6 | 11 |
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Supervisors of installation, maintenance, and repair workers | -- | 1 | 2 |
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First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers | -- | 1 | 2 |
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Other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations | -- | 4 | 7 |
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Line installers and repairers | -- | 1 | 2 |
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Telecommunications line installers and repairers | -- | 1 | 2 |
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Production occupations | 5 | -- | -- |
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Supervisors of production workers | 3 | -- | -- |
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Transportation and material moving occupations | 14 | 7 | 13 |
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Air transportation workers | -- | 1 | 2 |
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Aircraft pilots and flight engineers | -- | 1 | 2 |
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Commercial pilots | -- | 1 | 2 |
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Motor vehicle operators | 11 | -- | -- |
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Driver/sales workers and truck drivers | 4 | -- | -- |
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Taxi drivers and chauffeurs | 6 | -- | -- |
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Material moving workers | 3 | 3 | 5 |
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Military specific occupations | -- | -- | -- |
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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.
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Table 4. Fatal occupational injuries by selected demographic characteristics, New York City, 2015–16| Worker characteristics | 2015 | 2016 |
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| Number | Number | Percent |
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Total | 74 | 56 | 100 |
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Employee status | |
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Wage and salary workers | 62 | 50 | 89 |
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Self-employed | 12 | 6 | 11 |
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Gender | |
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Men | 70 | 54 | 96 |
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Women | 4 | -- | -- |
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Age | |
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20 to 24 years | 4 | 3 | 5 |
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25 to 34 years | 19 | 9 | 16 |
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35 to 44 years | 13 | 13 | 23 |
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45 to 54 years | 17 | 14 | 25 |
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55 to 64 years | 11 | 14 | 25 |
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65 years and over | 9 | 3 | 5 |
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Race or ethnic origin | |
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White, non-Hispanic | 20 | 18 | 32 |
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Black or African-American, non-Hispanic | 19 | 14 | 25 |
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Hispanic or Latino | 27 | 20 | 36 |
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Asian, non-Hispanic | 5 | 4 | 7 |
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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.
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United States Department of Labor
