Fatal work injuries totaled 70 in 2014 for Alabama, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Janet S. Rankin noted that while the 2014 count was preliminary, the number of work-related fatalities in Alabama decreased by eight over the year. Fatal occupational injuries in the state have ranged from a high of 155 in 1996 to this year’s low of 70. (See chart 1.)

Nationwide, a preliminary total of 4,679 fatal work injuries were recorded in 2014, up from a revised count of 4,585 fatalities in 2013, according to results from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) program. Final 2014 CFOI data will be released in the late spring of 2016.

Of the 70 fatal work injuries reported in Alabama in 2014, 29 resulted from transportation incidents and 17 from violence and other injuries by persons or animals. Together these two major categories accounted for two-thirds of all fatal work injuries reported in the state. (See table 1.) Other major event categories each reported eight or fewer deaths. Within transportation incidents, roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicles was the most frequent type of workplace fatality with 13 deaths. This category accounted for nearly 19 percent of all on-the-job fatalities in the state. In the violence and other injuries by persons or animals category, 13 of the 17 deaths were homicides (intentional injury by other person). (Note that roadway counts presented in this release are expected to rise when updated 2014 data are released in the late spring of 2016 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 2014, accounting for 40 percent of fatal work injuries. In Alabama, transportation incidents accounted for 41 percent of the state’s share of fatalities. (See chart 2.) Falls, slips, and trips, was the second most frequent type of event nationally, with 17 percent of work-related fatalities; the share in Alabama was 11 percent. Violence and other injuries by persons or animals accounted for 16 percent of the nation’s workplace fatalities, while in the state, this event was responsible for 24 percent of workplace fatalities. Contact with objects and equipment was responsible for 15 percent of work-related fatalities nationwide compared to 11 percent in Alabama.

Additional key characteristics:

• The trade, transportation, and utilities industry had the largest number of fatalities in the state with 17, compared to 26 the previous year. Transportation incidents accounted for 9 fatal work injuries in this industry. (See table 2.)
• Professional and business services had the second highest fatality count with 13, followed by construction with 9 worker deaths. Transportation incidents accounted for the largest number deaths in professional and business services while falls, slips, trips was the largest number for construction.
• Transportation and material moving occupations had the highest number of fatal work injuries with 23. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers suffered 11 deaths. (See table 3.)
• Men accounted for 63, or 90 percent, of the work-related fatalities in the state. (See table 4.) Transportation incidents made up 44 percent of these fatalities.
• In Alabama, 64 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 38, or 54 percent of the state’s work-related fatalities in 2014. Nationally, workers in this group accounted for 58 percent of on-the-job fatalities.
• Of the 70 fatal work injuries in Alabama, 79 percent worked for wages and salaries; the remainder was self-employed. The most frequent fatal event for wage and salary workers was transportation incidents. Transportation incidents, and violence and other injuries by persons or animals, were the most frequent fatal events for self-employed workers.

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/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. 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.

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, Alabama, 2013–14

Event or exposure (1)	2013 (2)	2014 (p)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	78	70	100
Violence and other injuries by persons or animals	11	17	24
Intentional injury by person	9	17	24
Homicides (Intentional injury by other person)	4	13	19
Shooting by other person--intentional	4	11	16
Hitting, kicking, beating, shoving	--	1	1
Multiple violent acts by other person	--	1	1
Suicides (Self-inflicted injury--intentional)	5	4	6
Shooting--intentional self-harm	--	4	6
Transportation incidents	42	29	41
Aircraft incidents	2	6	9
Aircraft crash during takeoff or landing	2	4	6
Aircraft crash during takeoff or landing--into structure, object, or ground	2	4	6
Pedestrian vehicular incident	5	3	4
Pedestrian struck by vehicle in work zone	--	1	1
Pedestrian struck by forward-moving vehicle in work zone	--	1	1
Pedestrian struck by vehicle in roadway	--	1	1
Pedestrian struck by forward-moving vehicle in roadway	--	1	1
Water vehicle incidents	2	1	1
Machinery or equipment incident on water vehicle	1	1	1
Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicle	29	13	19
Roadway collision with other vehicle	7	7	10
Roadway collision--moving in opposite directions, oncoming	1	4	6
Roadway collision with object other than vehicle	14	1	1
Vehicle struck object or animal on side of roadway	13	1	1
Roadway noncollision incident	8	5	7
Jack-knifed or overturned, roadway	7	5	7
Nonroadway incident involving motorized land vehicles	3	5	7
Nonroadway noncollision incident	3	4	6
Ran off driving surface, nonroadway	--	1	1
Falls, slips, trips	11	8	11
Falls to lower level	10	8	11
Fall from collapsing structure or equipment	--	2	3
Fall from collapsing structure or equipment more than 30 feet	--	2	3
Fall through surface or existing opening 21 to 25 feet	--	1	1
Other fall to lower level	7	4	6
Exposure to harmful substances or environments	4	5	7
Exposure to electricity	3	3	4
Contact with objects and equipment	9	8	11
Struck by object or equipment	8	6	9
Struck by falling object or equipment--other than powered vehicle	--	4	6
Struck by object falling from vehicle or machinery--other than vehicle part	--	1	1
Footnotes: (1) Based on the BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) 2.01 implemented for 2011 data forward. (2) Totals for 2013 are revised and final. (p) Data for 2014 are preliminary. Revised and final 2014 data are scheduled to be released in spring 2016.
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 guidelines.

Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by industry, Alabama, 2013–14

Industry (1)	2013 (2)	2014 (p)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	78	70	100
Private industry	68	63	90
Natural resources and mining	9	6	9
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting	8	5	7
Forestry and logging	5	3	4
Mining (3)	1	1	1
Mining (except oil and gas)	1	1	1
Construction	20	9	13
Heavy and civil engineering construction	4	4	6
Specialty trade contractors	10	4	6
Manufacturing	5	7	10
Primary metal manufacturing	1	2	3
Miscellaneous manufacturing	--	1	1
Trade, transportation, and utilities	26	17	24
Utilities	1	1	1
Retail trade	6	5	7
Food and beverage stores	2	2	3
Health and personal care stores	--	1	1
Transportation and warehousing	16	12	17
Air transportation	2	1	1
Rail transportation	--	1	1
Truck transportation	12	6	9
Support activities for transportation	1	1	1
Couriers and messengers	1	3	4
Financial activities	--	1	1
Real estate and rental and leasing	--	1	1
Real estate	--	1	1
Lessors of real estate	--	1	1
Professional and business services	3	13	19
Professional and technical services	--	4	6
Professional, scientific, and technical services	--	4	6
Architectural, engineering, and related services	--	2	3
Management of companies and enterprises	--	2	3
Administrative and waste services	3	7	10
Administrative and support services	3	4	6
Educational and health services	--	4	6
Educational services	1	1	1
Health care and social assistance	--	3	4
Nursing and residential care facilities	--	1	1
Leisure and hospitality	--	3	4
Accommodation and food services	--	3	4
Food services and drinking places	--	3	4
Other services, except public administration	--	3	4
Personal and laundry services	--	1	1
Government (4)	10	7	10
Local government	7	5	7
Footnotes: (1) Industry data for 2013 are based on the North American Industry Classification System, 2007. Industry data for 2014 are based on the North American Industry Classification System, 2012. (2) Totals for 2013 are revised and final. (p) Data for 2014 are preliminary. Revised and final 2014 data are scheduled to be released in spring 2016. (3) 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. (4) Includes fatal injuries to workers employed by governmental organizations regardless of industry.
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 3. Fatal occupational injuries by occupation, Alabama, 2013–14

Occupation (1)	2013 (2)	2014 (p)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	78	70	100
Management occupations	3	4	6
Operations specialties managers	--	1	1
Administrative services managers	--	1	1
Other management occupations	--	3	4
Property, real estate, and community association managers	--	1	1
Architecture and engineering occupations	2	1	1
Drafters, engineering technicians, and mapping technicians	--	1	1
Engineering technicians, except drafters	--	1	1
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations	--	2	3
Media and communication equipment workers	--	2	3
Photographers	--	2	3
Protective service occupations	7	5	7
Law enforcement workers	4	2	3
Police officers	2	2	3
Police and sheriff's patrol officers	2	2	3
Other protective service workers	2	1	1
Security guards and gaming surveillance officers	2	1	1
Security guards	2	1	1
Food preparation and serving related occupations	--	1	1
Supervisors of food preparation and serving workers	--	1	1
First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers	--	1	1
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations	--	4	6
Supervisors of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers	--	2	3
First-line supervisors of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers	--	2	3
First-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial workers	--	1	1
First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers	--	1	1
Personal care and service occupations	--	1	1
Personal appearance workers	--	1	1
Barbers, hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists	--	1	1
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists	--	1	1
Sales and related occupations	4	4	6
Retail sales workers	3	1	1
Cashiers	1	1	1
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations	3	4	6
Construction and extraction occupations	15	12	17
Construction trades workers	12	12	17
Construction laborers	--	1	1
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	6	6	9
Other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	4	5	7
Maintenance workers, machinery	--	2	3
Transportation and material moving occupations	31	23	33
First-line supervisors of transportation and material-moving machine and vehicle operators	--	1	1
Air transportation workers	2	5	7
Aircraft pilots and flight engineers	2	5	7
Commercial pilots	--	5	7
Motor vehicle operators	25	14	20
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers	24	14	20
Driver/sales workers	--	2	3
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers	24	11	16
Light truck or delivery services drivers	--	1	1
Rail transportation workers	--	1	1
Railroad conductors and yardmasters	--	1	1
Material moving workers	3	1	1
Laborers and material movers, hand	--	1	1
Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand	--	1	1
Footnotes: (1) Occupation data are based on the Standard Occupational Classification system, 2010. (2) Totals for 2013 are revised and final. (p) Data for 2014 are preliminary. Revised and final 2014 data are scheduled to be released in spring 2016.
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 worker characteristics, Alabama, 2013–14

Worker characteristics	2013 (1)	2014 (p)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	78	70	100
Employee status
Wage and salary (2)	69	55	79
Self-employed (3)	9	15	21
Gender
Men	76	63	90
Women	2	7	10
Age (4)
18 to 19 years	--	1	1
25 to 34 years	18	10	14
35 to 44 years	11	15	21
45 to 54 years	21	13	19
55 to 64 years	19	19	27
65 years and over	5	10	14
Race or ethnic origin (5)
White, non-Hispanic	56	45	64
Black or African-American, non-Hispanic	16	20	29
Hispanic or Latino	6	--	--
Asian, non-Hispanic	--	3	4
Footnotes: (1) Totals for 2013 are revised and final. (p) Data for 2014 are preliminary. Revised and final 2014 data are scheduled to be released in spring 2016. (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. 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.