Fatal work injuries totaled 462 in 2021 for California, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Chris Rosenlund noted that the number of work-related fatalities in California was down one from the previous year, which saw a total of 463 fatal work injuries. (See chart 1.) Fatal occupational injuries in the state have ranged from a high of 657 in 1993 to a low of 326 in 2010. Nationwide, a total of 5,190 fatal work injuries were recorded in 2021, a 9-percent increase from 4,764 in 2020, according to the results from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI).

Fatal event or exposure

In California, transportation incidents resulted in 142 fatal work injuries and exposure to harmful substances or environments caused 103 fatalities. These two major categories accounted for 53 percent of all fatal workplace injuries in the state. (See chart 2 and table 1.) Worker deaths from transportation incidents were up from 122 over the year, while fatal work injuries from exposure to harmful substances or environments were up from 85.

Violence and other injuries by persons or animals accounted for 87 fatal work injuries, down from 97 in the prior year. Falls, slips and trips resulted in 78 workplace fatalities, compared to 99 in 2020.

Nationally, transportation incidents were the most frequent fatal event in 2021, accounting for 38 percent of fatal work injuries. Falls, slips, and trips was the second-most common fatal event (16 percent), followed by both exposure to harmful substances or environments and violence and other injuries by persons or animals (15 percent each) and contact with objects and equipment (14 percent).

Industry

The private construction industry sector had the highest number of fatalities in California with 79, down from 92 in the previous year. (See table 2.) Falls, slips, or trips resulted in 33 of the 79 fatalities in the industry. The specialty trade contractors subsector accounted for 42 of the 79 fatal workplace injuries in the construction industry.

The private transportation and warehousing industry sector had 58 fatal workplace injuries, down from 59 in the previous year. Transportation incidents accounted for 37 of the 58 fatalities in the industry. The truck transportation subsector accounted for 26, or 45 percent, of the fatal injuries in this industry.

Occupation

The transportation and material moving occupational group had the highest number of fatal workplace injuries with 112, followed by the construction and extraction occupational group with 81. (See table 3.) Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers accounted for 48 of the 112 fatalities among transportation and material moving workers. Construction laborers suffered 24 of the 81 work-related deaths within the construction and extraction group.

Additional highlights:

• Men accounted for 92 percent of the work-related fatalities in California, similar to the national share of 91 percent. (See table 4.) Transportation incidents made up 30 percent of the fatalities for men in California.

• Hispanics or Latinos accounted for 51 percent of those who died from a workplace injury. Nationwide, this group accounted for 22 percent of work-related deaths.

• Workers 25-54 years old accounted for 57 percent of the state’s work-related fatalities in 2021, equal to the national rate.

• Of the 462 fatal work injuries in California, 82 percent worked for wages and salaries; the remainder were self-employed. The most frequent fatal event for both types of workers was transportation incidents.

Technical Note

Background of the program. The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), part of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Safety and Health Statistics (OSHS) program, is a count of all fatalities resulting from workplace injuries occurring in the U.S. during the calendar year. The CFOI uses a variety of 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 2021 national data, over 23,900 unique source documents were reviewed as part of the data collection process. For technical information and definitions for the CFOI, see the BLS Handbook of Methods at www.bls.gov/opub/hom/cfoi/home.htm and the CFOI definitions at www.bls.gov/iif/definitions/occupational-safety-and-health-definitions.htm.

Federal/State agency coverage. The CFOI includes data for all fatal work injuries, some of which may be outside the scope of other agencies or regulatory coverage. Comparisons between CFOI counts and those released by other agencies should account for the different coverage requirements and definitions used by each agency. For more information on the scope of CFOI, see www.bls.gov/iif/overview/cfoi-scope.htm and www.bls.gov/opub/hom/cfoi/concepts.htm.

Latency Cases. Latent fatal occupational injury cases occur when the date of injury differs from the date of death. In some cases, the death occurs in a different year than the occupational injury and are known as cross-year latent cases. In 2021, there were 197 cases nationally where this occurred, and 174 of these latent cases occurred more than 30 days prior to the start of 2021. For more information on latent cases, see www.bls.gov/opub/btn/volume-10/latency-in-fatal-occupational-injuries.htm.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic and the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. CFOI reports fatal workplace injuries only. These may include fatal workplace injuries complicated by an illness such as COVID-19. Fatal workplace illnesses not precipitated by an injury are not in scope for CFOI. CFOI does not report any illness related information, including COVID-19. Additional information is available at www.bls.gov/covid19/effects-of-covid-19-on-workplace-injuries-and-illnesses-compensation-and-occupational-requirements.htm.

Acknowledgments. BLS thanks the California Department of Industrial Relations 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 individuals with sensory impairments upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Telecommunications Relay Service: 7-1-1.

Table 1. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, California, 2020–21

Event or exposure (1)	2020	2021
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	463	462	100
Violence and other injuries by persons or animals	97	87	19
Intentional injury by person	92	85	18
Intentional injury by other person	47	57	12
Shooting by other person--intentional	30	42	9
Self-inflicted injury--intentional	45	28	6
Transportation incidents	122	142	31
Aircraft incidents	--	14	3
Aircraft crash during takeoff or landing	--	9	2
Other in-flight crash	--	5	1
Other in-flight crash into structure, object, or ground	--	5	1
Animal and other non-motorized vehicle transportation incidents	--	1	0
Pedestrian vehicular incident	36	32	7
Pedestrian struck by vehicle in work zone	1	5	1
Pedestrian struck by forward-moving vehicle in work zone	--	5	1
Pedestrian struck by vehicle in roadway	13	11	2
Pedestrian struck by forward-moving vehicle in roadway	--	10	2
Pedestrian struck by vehicle on side of road	8	5	1
Pedestrian struck by forward-moving vehicle on side of road	5	5	1
Pedestrian struck by vehicle in nonroadway area	12	10	2
Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicle	56	83	18
Roadway collision with other vehicle	21	42	9
Roadway collision--moving in same direction	--	14	3
Roadway collision--moving in opposite directions, oncoming	8	13	3
Roadway collision--moving perpendicularly	6	8	2
Roadway collision with object other than vehicle	15	11	2
Vehicle struck object or animal on side of roadway	12	9	2
Roadway noncollision incident	20	30	6
Jack-knifed or overturned, roadway	15	14	3
Ran off roadway	--	14	3
Nonroadway incident involving motorized land vehicles	8	8	2
Nonroadway noncollision incident	--	5	1
Jack-knifed or overturned, nonroadway	--	3	1
Falls, slips, trips	99	78	17
Falls on same level	--	12	3
Falls to lower level	83	65	14
Fall from collapsing structure or equipment	8	9	2
Fall from collapsing structure or equipment 6 to 10 feet	--	2	0
Fall from collapsing structure or equipment 21 to 25 feet	3	1	0
Fall from collapsing structure or equipment 26 to 30 feet	--	1	0
Fall from collapsing structure or equipment more than 30 feet	3	2	0
Fall through surface or existing opening	10	3	1
Other fall to lower level	65	53	11
Other fall to lower level less than 6 feet	10	8	2
Other fall to lower level 6 to 10 feet	14	12	3
Other fall to lower level 11 to 15 feet	8	3	1
Other fall to lower level 16 to 20 feet	3	6	1
Other fall to lower level 21 to 25 feet	5	3	1
Other fall to lower level 26 to 30 feet	3	5	1
Other fall to lower level more than 30 feet	11	7	2
Jumps to lower level	--	1	0
Other jump to lower level	--	1	0
Other jump to lower level less than 6 feet	--	1	0
Exposure to harmful substances or environments	85	103	22
Exposure to other harmful substances	65	90	19
Nonmedical use of drugs or alcohol--unintentional overdose	59	85	18
Inhalation of harmful substance	6	5	1
Inhalation of harmful substance--single episode	--	5	1
Exposure to oxygen deficiency, n.e.c.	3	4	1
Depletion of oxygen	--	4	1
Contact with objects and equipment	52	44	10
Struck by object or equipment	34	33	7
Struck by powered vehicle--nontransport	12	22	5
Caught between rolling powered vehicle and other object	3	2	0
Struck by falling part of powered vehicle still attached	--	5	1
Struck by other falling powered vehicle	--	10	2
Struck by falling object or equipment--other than powered vehicle	16	8	2
Struck by swinging or slipping object, other than handheld	--	1	0
Struck by or caught in swinging door or gate	--	1	0
Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects	15	7	2
Caught in running equipment or machinery	10	5	1
Caught in running equipment or machinery during maintenance, cleaning	6	2	0
Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation	4	3	1
Compressed or pinched by shifting objects or equipment	--	1	0
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. For complete information on how the data are coded and presented see our definitions page at https://www.bls.gov/iif/definitions/census-of-fatal-occupational-injuries-definitions.htm. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria. CFOI fatal injury counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event.

Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by industry, California, 2020–21

Industry (1)	2020	2021
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	463	462	100
Private industry (2)	409	408	88
Goods producing	--	--	--
Natural resources and mining	36	--	--
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting	32	39	8
Crop production	17	18	4
Vegetable and melon farming	--	4	1
Vegetable and melon farming	--	4	1
Fruit and tree nut farming	4	9	2
Noncitrus fruit and tree nut farming	4	9	2
Other crop farming	4	5	1
Animal production and aquaculture	--	6	1
Forestry and logging	--	2	0
Logging	--	2	0
Logging	--	2	0
Support activities for agriculture and forestry	8	11	2
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (3)	4	--	--
Construction	92	79	17
Construction	92	79	17
Construction of buildings	29	27	6
Residential building construction	20	17	4
Residential building construction	20	17	4
New single-family housing construction (except for-sale builders)	3	8	2
Nonresidential building construction	9	10	2
Commercial and institutional building construction	9	10	2
Specialty trade contractors	51	42	9
Foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors	20	16	3
Masonry contractors	--	3	1
Roofing contractors	9	8	2
Building equipment contractors	10	12	3
Plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors	6	7	2
Building finishing contractors	13	8	2
Painting and wall covering contractors	7	4	1
Other specialty trade contractors	8	6	1
Manufacturing	18	32	7
Manufacturing	18	32	7
Food manufacturing	--	5	1
Wood product manufacturing	3	4	1
Sawmills and wood preservation	--	1	0
Sawmills and wood preservation	--	1	0
Other wood product manufacturing	--	3	1
Paper manufacturing	--	1	0
Plastics and rubber products manufacturing	--	3	1
Plastics product manufacturing	--	3	1
Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing	--	4	1
Fabricated metal product manufacturing	3	4	1
Other fabricated metal product manufacturing	--	1	0
Metal valve manufacturing	--	1	0
Plumbing fixture fitting and trim manufacturing	--	1	0
Furniture and related product manufacturing	--	2	0
Household and institutional furniture and kitchen cabinet manufacturing	--	2	0
Wood kitchen cabinet and countertop manufacturing	--	1	0
Household and institutional furniture manufacturing	--	1	0
Service providing (4)	--	--	--
Trade, transportation, and utilities	109	110	24
Utilities	1	5	1
Utilities	1	5	1
Wholesale trade	12	13	3
Retail trade	37	34	7
Motor vehicle and parts dealers	3	8	2
Automobile dealers	--	3	1
Food and beverage stores	19	6	1
Health and personal care stores	--	3	1
Health and personal care stores	--	3	1
Gasoline stations	3	3	1
Gasoline stations	3	3	1
Clothing and clothing accessories stores	--	4	1
General merchandise stores	--	4	1
Transportation and warehousing	59	58	13
Air transportation	3	2	0
Nonscheduled air transportation	--	2	0
Nonscheduled air transportation	--	2	0
Nonscheduled chartered passenger air transportation	--	2	0
Rail transportation	--	1	0
Rail transportation	--	1	0
Rail transportation	--	1	0
Line-haul railroads	--	1	0
Truck transportation	36	26	6
General freight trucking	28	17	4
General freight trucking, long-distance	--	9	2
General freight trucking, long-distance, truckload	--	3	1
Transit and ground passenger transportation	--	11	2
Support activities for transportation	12	10	2
Support activities for road transportation	--	5	1
Motor vehicle towing	--	5	1
Couriers and messengers	3	4	1
Warehousing and storage	3	4	1
Warehousing and storage	3	4	1
General warehousing and storage	3	3	1
Refrigerated warehousing and storage	--	1	0
Information	7	6	1
Information	7	6	1
Publishing industries (except internet)	1	3	1
Telecommunications	--	3	1
Financial activities	15	19	4
Finance and insurance	3	1	0
Real estate and rental and leasing	12	18	4
Professional and business services	76	56	12
Professional, scientific, and technical services	10	9	2
Professional, scientific, and technical services	10	9	2
Architectural, engineering, and related services	--	4	1
Testing laboratories	--	1	0
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services	66	47	10
Administrative and support services	57	46	10
Employment services	--	3	1
Investigation and security services	12	9	2
Investigation, guard, and armored car services	--	9	2
Security guards and patrol services	--	9	2
Services to buildings and dwellings	39	31	7
Exterminating and pest control services	--	3	1
Janitorial services	6	4	1
Landscaping services	28	22	5
Waste management and remediation services	9	1	0
Remediation and other waste management services	4	1	0
Remediation services	--	1	0
Educational and health services	18	--	--
Health care and social assistance	18	17	4
Ambulatory health care services	9	10	2
Other ambulatory health care services	--	6	1
Nursing and residential care facilities	5	4	1
Leisure and hospitality	19	26	6
Arts, entertainment, and recreation	5	5	1
Accommodation and food services	14	21	5
Other services, except public administration	18	21	5
Other services, except public administration	18	21	5
Repair and maintenance	13	14	3
Automotive repair and maintenance	7	11	2
Automotive mechanical and electrical repair and maintenance	--	5	1
General automotive repair	--	3	1
Government (5)	--	54	12
Federal government	25	12	3
State government	7	3	1
Local government	21	39	8
Footnotes: (1) CFOI has used several versions of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) since 2003 to define industry. For complete information on the version of NAICS used in this year, see our definitions page at https://www.bls.gov/iif/definitions/census-of-fatal-occupational-injuries-definitions.htm. Cases where ownership is unknown are included in private industry counts. Cases where industry is unknown are included in the service sector counts. (2) Cases where ownership is unknown are included in private industry counts. (3) Includes fatal injuries at all establishments categorized as Mining (Sector 21) in the North American Industry Classification System, including establishments not governed by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) rules and reporting, such as those in oil and gas extraction. (4) Cases where industry is unknown are included in the service sector counts. (5) Includes fatal injuries to workers employed by governmental organizations regardless of industry. Cases classified as foreign government and other government are included in all government counts, but not displayed separately.
NOTE: Data for all years are final. Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. For complete information on how the data are coded and presented see our definitions page at https://www.bls.gov/iif/definitions/census-of-fatal-occupational-injuries-definitions.htm. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria. CFOI fatal injury counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event.

Table 3. Fatal occupational injuries by occupation, California, 2020–21

Occupation (1)	2020	2021
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	463	462	100
Management occupations	19	16	3
Operations specialties managers	--	3	1
Other management occupations	14	12	3
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers	3	2	0
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers	3	2	0
Property, real estate, and community association managers	--	7	2
Property, real estate, and community association managers	--	7	2
Community and social service occupations	--	4	1
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations	3	3	1
Entertainers and performers, sports and related workers	--	3	1
Athletes, coaches, umpires, and related workers	--	--	--
Athletes and sports competitors	--	1	0
Musicians, singers, and related workers	--	1	0
Musicians and singers	--	1	0
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations	6	10	2
Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners	--	7	2
Registered nurses	--	4	1
Registered nurses	--	4	1
Health technologists and technicians	--	3	1
Protective service occupations	30	35	8
Food preparation and serving related occupations	7	14	3
Supervisors of food preparation and serving workers	--	4	1
Supervisors of food preparation and serving workers	--	4	1
First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers	--	4	1
Food and beverage serving workers	--	5	1
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations	44	38	8
Supervisors of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers	3	6	1
First-line supervisors of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers	3	6	1
Building cleaning and pest control workers	12	13	3
Building cleaning workers	12	10	2
Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners	9	9	2
Pest control workers	--	3	1
Pest control workers	--	3	1
Grounds maintenance workers	29	19	4
Grounds maintenance workers	29	19	4
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers	11	13	3
Tree trimmers and pruners	17	6	1
Personal care and service occupations	6	4	1
Sales and related occupations	34	25	5
Supervisors of sales workers	13	8	2
First-line supervisors of sales workers	13	8	2
First-line supervisors of retail sales workers	--	8	2
Retail sales workers	14	11	2
Cashiers	9	5	1
Cashiers	9	5	1
Retail salespersons	--	6	1
Retail salespersons	--	6	1
Office and administrative support occupations	5	6	1
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations	25	29	6
Agricultural workers	22	24	5
Forest, conservation, and logging workers	--	--	--
Logging workers	--	1	0
Fallers	--	1	0
Construction and extraction occupations	90	81	18
Supervisors of construction and extraction workers	5	10	2
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers	5	10	2
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers	5	10	2
Construction trades workers	78	67	15
Carpenters	4	6	1
Carpenters	4	6	1
Cement masons, concrete finishers, and terrazzo workers	--	3	1
Cement masons and concrete finishers	--	3	1
Construction laborers	34	24	5
Construction laborers	34	24	5
Construction equipment operators	5	6	1
Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators	--	1	0
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators	5	5	1
Electricians	5	5	1
Electricians	5	5	1
Painters and paperhangers	6	7	2
Painters, construction and maintenance	6	7	2
Pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters	4	5	1
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters	4	5	1
Roofers	9	6	1
Roofers	9	6	1
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	33	53	11
Supervisors of installation, maintenance, and repair workers	--	8	2
First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers	--	8	2
First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers	--	8	2
Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers	11	17	4
Automotive technicians and repairers	3	5	1
Automotive service technicians and mechanics	3	5	1
Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians and mechanics	--	7	2
Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians	--	4	1
Other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	17	28	6
Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers	--	3	1
Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers	--	3	1
Line installers and repairers	7	7	2
Maintenance and repair workers, general	6	15	3
Maintenance and repair workers, general	6	15	3
Production occupations	11	17	4
Supervisors of production workers	--	6	1
First-line supervisors of production and operating workers	--	6	1
First-line supervisors of production and operating workers	--	6	1
Other production occupations	--	6	1
Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers	--	3	1
Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers	--	3	1
Transportation and material moving occupations	104	112	24
Supervisors of transportation and material moving workers	3	3	1
First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers	3	3	1
Air transportation workers	5	7	2
Aircraft pilots and flight engineers	5	7	2
Commercial pilots	--	6	1
Motor vehicle operators	70	71	15
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers	70	62	13
Driver/sales workers	10	5	1
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers	56	48	10
Light truck drivers	4	9	2
Passenger vehicle drivers	--	9	2
Material moving workers	22	26	6
Laborers and material movers	14	18	4
Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand	8	9	2
Packers and packagers, hand	--	3	1
Stockers and order fillers	--	5	1
Footnotes: (1) CFOI has used several versions of the Standard Occupation Classification (SOC) system since 2003 to define occupation. For complete information on the version of SOC used in this year, see our definitions page at https://www.bls.gov/iif/definitions/census-of-fatal-occupational-injuries-definitions.htm. Cases where occupation is unknown are included in the total.
NOTE: Data for all years are final. Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. For complete information on how the data are coded and presented see our definitions page at https://www.bls.gov/iif/definitions/census-of-fatal-occupational-injuries-definitions.htm. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria. CFOI fatal injury counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event.

Table 4. Fatal occupational injuries by selected demographic characteristics, California, 2020–21

Worker characteristics	2020	2021
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	463	462	100
Employee status
Wage and salary workers (1)	380	379	82
Self-employed (2)	83	83	18
Gender
Men	428	424	92
Women	35	38	8
Age (3)
20 to 24 years	27	28	6
25 to 34 years	84	75	16
35 to 44 years	71	82	18
45 to 54 years	91	106	23
55 to 64 years	108	106	23
65 years and over	67	55	12
Race or ethnic origin (4)
White, non-Hispanic	180	142	31
Black or African-American, non-Hispanic	28	33	7
Hispanic or Latino	214	234	51
Asian, non-Hispanic	31	41	9
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic	--	7	2
Footnotes: (1) May include volunteers and workers receiving other types of compensation. Cases where employment status is unknown are included in the counts of wage and salary workers. (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 data for Hispanics and Latinos. Cases where ethnicity is unknown are included in counts of non-Hispanic workers.
NOTE: Data for all years are final. Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. For complete information on how the data are coded and presented see our definitions page at https://www.bls.gov/iif/definitions/census-of-fatal-occupational-injuries-definitions.htm. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria. CFOI fatal injury counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event.