For Release: Tuesday, December 22, 2015
SOUTHEAST INFORMATION OFFICE: Atlanta, Ga.
Technical information: (404) 893-4222 [email protected]
Media contact:
(404) 893-4220
15-2003-ATL
www.bls.gov/regions/southeast
Fatal Work Injuries in Alabama – 2014
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.
2
• 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.
3
Table 1. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, Alabama, 2013–14
2013 (2)
Event or exposure (1)
2014 (p)
Number
Total ......................................................................................................................................................
Violence and other injuries by persons or animals............................................................................
Intentional injury by person ...........................................................................................................
Homicides (Intentional injury by other person) ..........................................................................
Shooting by other person--intentional ....................................................................................
Hitting, kicking, beating, shoving ............................................................................................
Multiple violent acts by other person ......................................................................................
Suicides (Self-inflicted injury--intentional) .................................................................................
Shooting--intentional self-harm ..............................................................................................
Transportation incidents ....................................................................................................................
Aircraft incidents............................................................................................................................
Aircraft crash during takeoff or landing......................................................................................
Aircraft crash during takeoff or landing--into structure, object, or ground ..............................
Pedestrian vehicular incident ........................................................................................................
Pedestrian struck by vehicle in work zone ................................................................................
Pedestrian struck by forward-moving vehicle in work zone ...................................................
Pedestrian struck by vehicle in roadway ...................................................................................
Pedestrian struck by forward-moving vehicle in roadway ......................................................
Water vehicle incidents..................................................................................................................
Machinery or equipment incident on water vehicle ...................................................................
Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicle ....................................................................
Roadway collision with other vehicle.........................................................................................
Roadway collision--moving in opposite directions, oncoming ................................................
Roadway collision with object other than vehicle ......................................................................
Vehicle struck object or animal on side of roadway ...............................................................
Roadway noncollision incident ..................................................................................................
Jack-knifed or overturned, roadway .......................................................................................
Nonroadway incident involving motorized land vehicles ...............................................................
Nonroadway noncollision incident .............................................................................................
Ran off driving surface, nonroadway......................................................................................
Falls, slips, trips.................................................................................................................................
Falls to lower level.........................................................................................................................
Fall from collapsing structure or equipment ..............................................................................
Fall from collapsing structure or equipment more than 30 feet ..............................................
Fall through surface or existing opening 21 to 25 feet ...........................................................
Other fall to lower level..............................................................................................................
Exposure to harmful substances or environments ............................................................................
Exposure to electricity ...................................................................................................................
Contact with objects and equipment .................................................................................................
Struck by object or equipment.......................................................................................................
Struck by falling object or equipment--other than powered vehicle...........................................
Struck by object falling from vehicle or machinery--other than vehicle part ...........................
Number
78
11
9
4
4
--5
-42
2
2
2
5
----2
1
29
7
1
14
13
8
7
3
3
-11
10
---7
4
3
9
8
---
Percent
70
17
17
13
11
1
1
4
4
29
6
4
4
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
13
7
4
1
1
5
5
5
4
1
8
8
2
2
1
4
5
3
8
6
4
1
100
24
24
19
16
1
1
6
6
41
9
6
6
4
1
1
1
1
1
1
19
10
6
1
1
7
7
7
6
1
11
11
3
3
1
6
7
4
11
9
6
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.
4
Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by industry, Alabama, 2013–14
2013 (2)
Industry (1)
2014 (p)
Number
Number
Percent
Total ......................................................................................................................................................
Private industry..................................................................................................................................
Natural resources and mining .......................................................................................................
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting ...................................................................................
Forestry and logging...............................................................................................................
78
68
9
8
5
70
63
6
5
3
100
90
9
7
4
Mining (3).............................................................................................................................
1
1
1
Mining (except oil and gas) .............................................................................................
Construction ..................................................................................................................................
Heavy and civil engineering construction ..................................................................................
Specialty trade contractors.....................................................................................................
Manufacturing................................................................................................................................
Primary metal manufacturing ....................................................................................................
Miscellaneous manufacturing.................................................................................................
Trade, transportation, and utilities .................................................................................................
Utilities .......................................................................................................................................
Retail trade ................................................................................................................................
Food and beverage stores .....................................................................................................
Health and personal care stores ........................................................................................
Transportation and warehousing ...............................................................................................
Air transportation ....................................................................................................................
Rail transportation ..................................................................................................................
Truck transportation................................................................................................................
Support activities for transportation....................................................................................
Couriers and messengers ......................................................................................................
Financial activities .........................................................................................................................
Real estate and rental and leasing............................................................................................
Real estate .............................................................................................................................
Lessors of real estate .........................................................................................................
Professional and business services ..............................................................................................
Professional and technical services ..........................................................................................
Professional, scientific, and technical services ......................................................................
Architectural, engineering, and related services ................................................................
Management of companies and enterprises .............................................................................
Administrative and waste services ............................................................................................
Administrative and support services.......................................................................................
Educational and health services....................................................................................................
Educational services .................................................................................................................
Health care and social assistance.............................................................................................
Nursing and residential care facilities.....................................................................................
Leisure and hospitality...................................................................................................................
Accommodation and food services ...........................................................................................
Food services and drinking places .........................................................................................
Other services, except public administration.................................................................................
Personal and laundry services ..................................................................................................
1
20
4
10
5
1
-26
1
6
2
-16
2
-12
1
1
----3
----3
3
-1
--------
1
9
4
4
7
2
1
17
1
5
2
1
12
1
1
6
1
3
1
1
1
1
13
4
4
2
2
7
4
4
1
3
1
3
3
3
3
1
1
13
6
6
10
3
1
24
1
7
3
1
17
1
1
9
1
4
1
1
1
1
19
6
6
3
3
10
6
6
1
4
1
4
4
4
4
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: See footnotes at end of table.
5
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.
6
Table 3. Fatal occupational injuries by occupation, Alabama, 2013–14
2013 (2)
Occupation (1)
2014 (p)
Number
Total ......................................................................................................................................................
Management occupations .................................................................................................................
Operations specialties managers ..................................................................................................
Administrative services managers.............................................................................................
Other management occupations ...................................................................................................
Property, real estate, and community association managers....................................................
Architecture and engineering occupations ........................................................................................
Drafters, engineering technicians, and mapping technicians........................................................
Engineering technicians, except drafters ..................................................................................
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations ............................................................
Media and communication equipment workers .............................................................................
Photographers...........................................................................................................................
Protective service occupations..........................................................................................................
Law enforcement workers .............................................................................................................
Police officers ............................................................................................................................
Police and sheriff's patrol officers...........................................................................................
Other protective service workers...................................................................................................
Security guards and gaming surveillance officers .....................................................................
Security guards ......................................................................................................................
Food preparation and serving related occupations ...........................................................................
Supervisors of food preparation and serving workers ...................................................................
First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers.................................................
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations .........................................................
Supervisors of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers ....................................
First-line supervisors of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers ..................
First-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial workers................................................
First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers................
Personal care and service occupations.............................................................................................
Personal appearance workers.......................................................................................................
Barbers, hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists .............................................................
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists .......................................................................
Sales and related occupations ..........................................................................................................
Retail sales workers ......................................................................................................................
Cashiers ....................................................................................................................................
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations........................................................................................
Construction and extraction occupations ..........................................................................................
Construction trades workers..........................................................................................................
Construction laborers ................................................................................................................
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ............................................................................
Other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ..............................................................
Maintenance workers, machinery..............................................................................................
Transportation and material moving occupations..............................................................................
First-line supervisors of transportation and material-moving machine and vehicle operators ......
Air transportation workers .............................................................................................................
Aircraft pilots and flight engineers .............................................................................................
Commercial pilots...................................................................................................................
Motor vehicle operators.................................................................................................................
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers ......................................................................................
Driver/sales workers...............................................................................................................
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers ................................................................................
Light truck or delivery services drivers ............................................................................
Rail transportation workers............................................................................................................
Railroad conductors and yardmasters.......................................................................................
Material moving workers ...............................................................................................................
Laborers and material movers, hand.........................................................................................
Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand ........................................................
Note: See footnotes at end of table.
7
Number
78
3
----2
-----7
4
2
2
2
2
2
------------4
3
1
3
15
12
-6
4
-31
-2
2
-25
24
-24
---3
---
Percent
70
4
1
1
3
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
5
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
4
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
4
1
1
4
12
12
1
6
5
2
23
1
5
5
5
14
14
2
11
1
1
1
1
1
1
100
6
1
1
4
1
1
1
1
3
3
3
7
3
3
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
6
3
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
6
1
1
6
17
17
1
9
7
3
33
1
7
7
7
20
20
3
16
1
1
1
1
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.
8
Table 4. Fatal occupational injuries by worker characteristics, Alabama, 2013–14
2013 (1)
Worker characteristics
2014 (p)
Number
Number
Percent
Total ......................................................................................................................................................
Employee status
78
70
100
Wage and salary (2) ...........................................................................................................................
69
55
79
Self-employed (3) ...............................................................................................................................
9
15
21
Gender
Men ...................................................................................................................................................
Women ..............................................................................................................................................
76
2
63
7
90
10
-18
11
21
19
5
1
10
15
13
19
10
1
14
21
19
27
14
56
16
6
--
45
20
-3
64
29
-4
Age (4)
18 to 19 years....................................................................................................................................
25 to 34 years....................................................................................................................................
35 to 44 years....................................................................................................................................
45 to 54 years....................................................................................................................................
55 to 64 years....................................................................................................................................
65 years and over..............................................................................................................................
Race or ethnic origin (5)
White, non-Hispanic ..........................................................................................................................
Black or African-American, non-Hispanic ..........................................................................................
Hispanic or Latino..............................................................................................................................
Asian, non-Hispanic ..........................................................................................................................
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.
9