Fatal Workplace
Injuries in 2006:
A Collection of Data
and Analysis
U.S. Department of Labor
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Report 1015
Fatal Workplace
Injuries in 2006:
A Collection of Data
and Analysis
U.S. Department of Labor
Hilda L. Solis, Secretary
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Keith Hall, Commissioner
May 2009
Report 1015
The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), administered
PREFACE
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in conjunction with the
50 States, the District of Columbia, and New York City, compiles
detailed information on all work-related fatal injuries occurring in the
United States. In an effort to compile counts that are as complete
as possible, the fatality census uses diverse sources to identify,
verify, and profile fatal work injuries. Source documents such as
death certificates, news accounts, workers’ compensation reports,
and Federal and State agency administrative records are cross-
(202) 691–6170
Fax: (202) 691–6196
E-Mail: [email protected]
Internet: https://www.bls.gov/iif
This report was prepared in the Office of Compensation and
Working Conditions under the administration of Associate
Commissioner William Wiatrowski and Assistant Commissioner
John Ruser and under the direction of Katharine Newman, Chief
for the Division of Safety and Health Program Analysis and
referenced to gather key information about each workplace fatality.
Control. Scott Richardson, CFOI Program Manager, supervised
The annual CFOI report provides detailed tabulations of data from
Gregory Fayard, Matt Gunter, Jill Janocha, Joyce Northwood, and
the fatality census, as well as analytical articles on various topics
related to fatal workplace injuries. The report contains charts and
text highlighting fatality data from the Census of Fatal Occupational
Injuries, including charts derived from three analytical articles
using CFOI data.
User-created tables and supplemental tables can be accessed
on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/iif. The online version of
the Profiles System can be accessed at http://data.bls.gov/GQT/
servlet/InitialPage.
Additional data are available on request from BLS:
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Office of Safety and Health Statistics
Room 3180
2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE.
Washington, DC 20212
the preparation of the report by staff members Dino Drudi,
Stephen Pegula. Editorial production of this report was provided
by Edith S. Baker, and graphic design by Bruce Boyd, both of the
Office of Publications and Special Studies, Division of Publishing,
William Parks II, Chief. Many other organizations contributed to
the success of the census, including the participating State and
local agencies that collected the data, the BLS regional offices
that helped review and process the data, and the BLS Office of
Field Operations, whose staff oversaw the census’ implementation
in the regions and States.
With the exception of articles reprinted from nongovernmental
sources, material in this publication is in the public domain and
may, with appropriate credit, be reproduced without permission.
The information is available to sensory-impaired individuals
upon request. Voice telephone: (202) 691–5200; Federal Relay
Service: (800) 877–8339.
CONTENTS
Chart 1.
Number of fatal work injuries, 1992–2006
Chart 2.
Rate of fatal work injuries per 100,000 workers, 1992–2006
Chart 3.
Manner in which workplace fatalities occurred, 2006
Chart 4.
Difference in workplace fatality counts, by event, 2005–06
Chart 5.
Four most frequent work-related fatal events, 1992–2006
Chart 6.
Change in events 2004–06 versus 2001–03
Chart 7.
Selected transportation events, 1992–2006
Chart 8.
Highway collisions between vehicles and other mobile equipment, 2003–06
Chart 9.
Falls, by type, 2006
Chart 10. How workers died in multiple-fatality incidents, 2006
Chart 11. Number of fatal work injuries involving Hispanic or Latino workers, 1992–2006
Chart 12. Fatal occupational injuries to foreign-born workers, by region of origin, 2006
Chart 13. Employment and fatalities, by gender of worker, 2006
Chart 14. Fatal injury events, by gender of worker, 2006
Chart 15. Perpetrators of workplace homicides, by gender of decedent, 1997–2006
Chart 16. Fatal work injury rates, by age group, 2006
Chart 17. Number and rate of fatal occupational injuries, by industry sector, 2006
Chart 18. Fatal occupational injuries in the private mining industry, 2003–06
Chart 19. Number and rate of fatal occupational injuries, by major occupation group, 2006
Chart 20. Selected occupations with high fatality rates, 2006
Chart 21. Distribution of fatalities for selected occupations in the private construction industry, 2005–06
Chart 22. Number of fatal work injuries, by State, 2006
Chart 23. Fatal work injuries, by day of incident, selected major industries, all ownerships, 2006
Chart 24. Sources of data on fatal work injuries, 2006
Previously published analyses
Chart 25. Workplace fatalities related to railroads, 1993–2002
Chart 26. Number of fatalities, coal mining industry, 2003–05 and 2006
Chart 27. Fatal occupational injuries related to golf courses, by month of incident, 2001–06
CHART 1
A total of 5,840 work-related fatalities
were recorded in 2006, an increase
of 1.8 percent over the 5,734 fatal
work injuries reported for 2005. The
general trend of workplace fatalities
from CFOI’s inception in 1992 until
2002 has been downward. However,
since 2002, the number of fatal work
injuries has trended higher.
The series high for the fatality
census was recorded in 1994 (6,632
fatalities). The series low (5,534
fatalities) occurred in 2002.
Number of fatal work injuries,
1992–2006
6,800
6,400
6,632
6,331
6,217
6,275
6,202
6,238
6,055
6,054
5,920
6,000
5,915
5,600
5,534
5,575
2002
2003
5,764
5,734
2004
2005
5,840
5,200
4,800
1992
1993
1994 1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
NOTE: Data from 2001 exclude fatalities resulting from the September 11 terrorist attacks.
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2009.
2006
CHART 2
Rate of fatal work injuries per
100,000 workers, 1992–2006
The rate of fatal work injuries in
2006 was 4.0 fatalities per 100,000
workers, unchanged from 2005.
Fatality rates have remained at or
near 4.0 since 2002.
Employment data, except for the
military, come from the Current
Population Survey (CPS). Prior to
1999, the resident military figure
was derived from U.S. Bureau
of the Census data. From 1999
to the present, the military figure
was based on U.S. Department of
Defense (DOD) data.
6.0
5.2
5.2
5.3
4.9
5.0
4.8
4.8
4.5
4.5
4.3
4.3
4.0
4.0
4.0
2002
2003
4.1
4.0
4.0
2005
2006
3.0
2.0
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2004
NOTE: Data from 2001 exclude fatalities resulting from the September 11 terrorist attacks. Rates for 1992–2006 were calculated with the use of revised fatality data.
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Current Population Survey, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries,
U.S. Bureau of the Census, and U.S. Department of Defense.
CHART 3
A number of different types of
events led to fatal work injuries in
2006. Highway incidents accounted
for the largest number of fatal
events—almost 1 out of every 4
fatalities in 2006.
Falls accounted for another 14
percent of the fatal injuries recorded
in 2006. Workers who were fatally
injured after being struck by an
object accounted for 10 percent
of all fatal work injuries, while
homicides accounted for 9 percent
Manner in which workplace
fatalities occurred, 2006
Exposure to harmful
substances and
environments
(9%)
Fires and
explosions
(3%)
Assaults and
violent acts
(13%)
Highway
23%
Homicide
9%
Transportation
incidents
(42%)
Falls
(14%)
Fall to
lower level
13%
Struck
by
object
10%
Contact with objects and equipment
(17%)
NOTE: Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding.
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2009.
Total fatalities = 5,840
CHART 4
Although the total number of fatal
work injuries rose in 2006, fatal
injuries resulting from transportation
incidents, contact with objects and
equipment, and assaults and violent
acts decreased.
By contrast, fatal injuries resulting
from fires and explosions, exposure
to harmful substances and environments, and falls increased in 2006.
Difference in workplace fatality
counts, by event, 2005–06
2005 level
ALL EVENTS
106
Transportation incidents
–34
Contact with objects
and equipment
–12
Assaults and violent acts
–4
2005 Total = 5,734
2006 Total = 5,840
Fires and explosions
43
Exposure to harmful
substances and
environments
46
57
Falls
–40
–20
0
20
40
60
Change in fatal events from 2005 level
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2009.
80
100
120
CHART 5
Four types of events have been
the most frequent since the
workplace fatality census began.
Highway incidents have been
the leading event since 1992.
Workplace homicides have declined
substantially since 1994, while
falls and highway incidents have
trended higher.
Struck-by-object deaths overtook
homicides as the third-most-frequent
fatal event in 2004.
Four most frequent work-related
fatal events, 1992–2006
Number of fatalities
1,600
1,400
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
Highway incidents
1997
1998
1999
Homicides
2000
2001
Falls
2002
2003
2004
Struck by object
NOTE: Data from 2001 exclude fatalities resulting from the September 11 terrorist attacks.
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2009.
2005
2006
CHART 6
Change in events, 2004–06
versus 2001–03
Between 2001–03 and 2004–06,
the number of fatal work injuries
rose 1.8 percent.
Large percentage increases in
events such as falls from roofs, being
struck by rolling and sliding objects,
and being struck by falling objects
led to the increase. However, some
events decreased between the two
periods: fatalities due to shootings;
contact with wiring, transformers, or
other electrical equipment; aircraft
accidents; and suicides all fell.
Fewer fatalities in 2004–06 than in 2001–03 (percent)
–11.4
Shooting
–8.9
Contact with wiring, transformers, or other electrical components
–8.4
Aircraft accident
–8.2
Suicide, self-inflicted injury
–5.7
Highway jackknife or overturn
–2.3
Contact with overhead power lines
–0.4
Fall from scaffold, staging
1.8
ALL EVENTS
1.5
Pedestrian struck by vehicle or mobile equipment in roadway
All events / exposures +1.8%
3.3
Highway collision
6.1
Pedestrian struck by vehicle or mobile equipment in nonroad area
8.8
Caught in running equipment or machinery
9.1
Fall from ladder
13.3
Vehicle struck stationary object on side of road
17.6
Struck by falling object
21.6
Struck by rolling, sliding objects on floor or ground level
22.1
Fall from roof
–15.0
–10.0
–5.0
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
More fatalities in 2004–06 than in 2001–03 (percent)
NOTE: Data from 2001 exclude fatalities resulting from the September 11 terrorist attacks.
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2009.
25.0
CHART 7
Selected transportation events,
1992–2006
Transportation incidents have
historically made up over 40 percent
of all work-related fatalities.
Although highway vehicle incidents
have been the most common fatal
event, accounting for 1 out of every
4 fatalities in 1992–2006, pedestrian
and nonhighway vehicle incidents
together accounted for, on average,
more than 700 fatalities a year, or
12 percent of fatalities during this
period. (Pedestrian injuries may
occur on or off highways.)
Aircraft fatalities have been
generally declining since 1992.
The year-to-year percentage
increase in aircraft fatalities
between 2005 and 2006 was the
second largest ever recorded,
rising 46 percent, from 149 to 217.
Number of events
500
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
1992
1993
1994
1995
Nonhighway
1996
1997
1998
Pedestrian
1999
2000
Aircraft
2001
2002
2003
Railway
NOTE: Data from 2001 exclude fatalities resulting from the September 11 terrorist attacks.
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2009.
2004
2005
Water vehicle
2006
CHART 8
Of the 5,544 fatal occupational
injuries resulting from highway
incidents during 2003–06, 49
percent involved multivehicle
collisions.
During the 4 years, occupants of
semitrailer, tractor-trailer, and trailer
trucks (semi/TTs) experienced 695
fatalities involving multivehicle
collisions. More than half of these
fatalities involved collisions with
other semi- and tractor-trailers.
Occupants of automobiles experienced
627 fatalities in multivehicle collisions.
About one-third of these deaths
resulted from collisions with other
automobiles. For fatally injured
occupants of pickup trucks, vans,
delivery trucks, and dump trucks,
the most common vehicle collisions
involved semi- or tractor-trailers.
Note that collisions can occur
between a variety of vehicles and
mobile equipment, including, but not
limited to, semitrailer, tractor-trailer,
and trailer trucks, pickup trucks,
vans, delivery trucks, dump trucks,
buses, and motorcycles.
Highway collisions between vehicles
and other mobile equipment, 2003–06
59% semi/TT
semi/TT
13% auto
32% auto
automobile
20% semi/TT
10% pickup
18% pickup
695 fatalities
627 fatalities
van
33% semi/TT
pickup
20% auto
37% semi/TT
267 fatalities
19% pickup
444 fatalities
Total Fatalities = 2,725
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2009.
CHART 9
Falls, by type, 2006
Falls accounted for about 14 percent
of fatal work injuries in 2006.
Of the 827 fatal falls that year,
nearly 2 in 5 involved falls from
roofs or ladders.
Falls from scaffolds and staging,
falls from nonmoving vehicles,
and falls on the same level each
accounted for about one-tenth of
fatal falls.
Other or unknown
20%
From roof
22%
Total Falls = 827
Down stairs or steps
3%
From building girders
or structural steel
4%
From ladder
16%
From floor, dock,
or ground level
6%
On same level
8%
From nonmoving vehicle
9%
From scaffold, staging
11%
NOTE: Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding.
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2009.
CHART 10
Multiple-fatality incidents are defined
as single incidents in which two or
more workers were fatally injured.
In 2006, 518 workers, representing 9
percent of all fatal work injuries, were
killed in multiple-fatality incidents.
Transportation incidents accounted
for 61 percent of the workers killed
in multiple-fatality incidents. Fatal
injuries resulting from homicides
accounted for another 14 percent of
these fatalities.
How workers died in multiple-fatality
incidents, 2006
Other
14%
Highway
incidents
24%
Fires and
explosions
12%
Transportation
incidents
61%
Homicides
14%
Aircraft
incidents
26%
All other
transportation
incidents
11%
NOTE: Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding.
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2009.
Total workers = 518
CHART 11
Fatal work injuries involving Hispanic
or Latino workers increased in 2006,
reaching 990, the highest ever
recorded for these workers. Fatalities
suffered by foreign-born Hispanics or
Latinos rose 4.5 percent, while those
suffered by native-born Hispanics or
Latinos rose 13 percent.
At the beginning of the census, fatal
work injuries to Hispanic or Latino
workers were divided almost equally
between native and foreign-born
workers. In 2006, more than two-thirds
of fatal work injuries to Hispanics or
Latinos involved foreign-born workers.
Although work-related fatalities
to foreign-born Hispanic or Latino
workers increased 143 percent from
1992 to 2006, fatalities to native-born
Hispanic or Latino workers increased
by 25 percent.
The rate of fatal work injuries to civilian
native-born Hispanic workers in 2006
was 3.6 fatalities per 100,000 workers,
compared with the fatality rate of 4.0 for
all U.S. workers. However, the fatality
rate for civilian foreign-born Hispanic
workers in 2006 was 6.0, or 50 percent
higher than the rate for all workers.
Number of fatal work injuries
involving Hispanic or Latino
workers, 1992–2006
Number of fatalities
990
1,000
895
900
815
800
700
600
634
619
638
658
533
500
400
624
314
288
258
277
267
279
707
302
300
200
100
0
275
320
336
342
1992
1993
1994
1995
371
379
405
1996
1997
1998
 Foreign born
730
262
468
1999
323
321
902
841
263
494
572
578
2000
2001
2002
794
306
923
285
323
275
519
2003
 Native born
NOTE: Data from 2001 exclude fatalities resulting from the September 11 terrorist attacks.
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2009.
596
638
2004
2005
667
2006
CHART 12
The percentage of fatal injuries
involving foreign-born workers has
been increasing in recent years. For
example, in 2006, 18 percent of fatal
work injuries involved foreign-born
workers, compared with 12 percent
in 1996.
The country of origin of workers
killed on the job encompassed
approximately 100 foreign nations
in 2006. Workers born in Mexico
accounted for the largest portion (45
percent) of foreign-born workers who
died at work in the United States.
Fatal occupational injuries to
foreign-born workers, by region
of origin, 2006
South America
6%
Africa
3%
Australia and Oceania
1%
Canada
2%
Caribbean
9%
Europe
9%
Mexico
45%
Central America,
except Mexico
11%
Total workers = 1,046
Asia
16%
NOTE: Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding.
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2009.
CHART 13
Men experience a disproportionate
share of fatalities relative to their
employment. Although men make up
just over half of the workforce, they
experience more than 90 percent of
workplace fatalities.
Employment and fatalities, by gender
of worker, 2006
Since 1995, the number of fatal
work injuries involving women has
declined. In 2005, the 406 fatalities
to women represented a series low
for the fatality census. However,
in 2006, women experienced an
increase of 9 percent, to 444
fatalities.
Women
Fatalities to men generally declined
from 1995 to 2002, but have risen
from a series low of 5,092 in 2002 to
5,396 in 2006.
46%
Employment data come from the
Current Population Survey (CPS)
for nonmilitary workers and from the
U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)
for resident military workers.
Women
8%
54%
92%
Men
Employment = 145,501,000
Men
Fatalities = 5,840
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Current Population Survey,
Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, and U.S. Department of Defense, 2009.
CHART 14
In addition to having fewer fatal
work injuries than men relative to
their share of employment, women
experienced, for the most part,
different types of fatal events
than men.
Women had a higher percentage
of fatal work injuries resulting from
homicides and highway incidents.
Men had a higher percentage of fatal work injuries resulting from falls,
contact with objects and equipment,
and fires and explosions.
Fatal injury events, by gender
of worker, 2006
23
Highway incidents
30
8
Homicides
Falls
27
15
9
Exposure to
harmful substances
and environments
10
8
Contact with objects
and equipment
18
5
Fires and
explosions
0
0
 Men = 5,396
 Women = 444
4
5
10
15
20
Percent of fatalities within gender
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2009.
25
30
35
CHART 15
For the 10 years from 1997 to
2006, there were a total of 6,452
workplace homicides. In 40 percent
of these homicides, the perpetrators
were robbers. Another 16 percent
resulted from violence between
work associates.
When the victims were men, the
assailant was a robber in about
two-fifths of the cases. The assailant
was more likely to be a relative or
personal acquaintance for fatally
assaulted women than for fatally
assaulted men. Nevertheless, a
robber was the assailant in nearly
one-third of homicides committed
against women.
Perpetrators of workplace homicides,
by gender of decedent, 1997–2006
Work associates
15%
Relatives
1%
Other personal
acquaintances
10%
Other personal
acquaintances
2%
Relatives
13%
Robbers
32%
Robbers
42%
Other
perpetrators
40%
Other
perpetrators
28%
Work associates
17%
Men (total = 5,183 workers)
Women (total = 1,269 workers)
NOTE: Data from 2001 exclude fatalities resulting from the September 11 terrorist attacks.
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2009.
CHART 16
Work-related fatality rates are higher
for older workers. In 2006, workers
45 years and older recorded fatality
rates higher than the all-worker rate,
while workers 44 years and younger
recorded fatality rates lower than the
all-worker rate.
Fatal work injury rates, by age
group, 2006
15.0
The fatality rate for workers 65 years
and older (11.2 fatal work injuries per
100,000 workers) was nearly 3 times
higher than the all-worker rate of 4.0.
Meanwhile, the fatality rate for
workers 16 and 17 years old (0.9
fatalities per 100,000 workers)
was considerably less than the
all-worker rate.
11.2
10.0
5.0
5.0
All-worker fatality rate (4.0)
2.8
2.7
18 to 19
years
20 to 24
years
3.3
3.7
4.2
0.9
0.0
16 to 17
years
25 to 34
years
35 to 44
years
45 to 54
years
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2009.
55 to 64
years
65 years
and older
CHART 17
The highest number of fatal work
injuries in 2006 occurred in the
private construction sector, followed
by transportation and warehousing.
The agriculture, forestry, fishing, and
hunting sector and the mining sector
each recorded a fatality rate that was
more than 7 times higher than the
rate of 4.0 recorded for all workers.
Number and rate of fatal occupational
injuries, by industry sector, 2006
Construction
10.9
1,239
Transportation and
warehousing
Agriculture, forestry, fishing,
and hunting
16.8
860
655
Government
30.0
2.4
520
Professional and
business services
459
3.2
Manufacturing
456
2.8
359
Retail trade
Leisure and hospitality
2.2
2.3
265
Wholesale trade
Mining
192
Other services
(except public administrative)
183
Educational and
health services
178
Financial activities
Information
4.9
222
28.1
2.6
0.9
1,500
2.0
66
Utilities
1.2
126
Total fatalities = 5,840
All-worker fatality rate = 4.0
6.3
53
1,250
1,000
750
Number of fatalities
500
250
0
10
20
30
Fatality rate (per 100,000 employed)
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2009.
40
CHART 18
In 2006, fatalities in the private
mining sector as a whole were up
36 percent from 2003. Fatalities in
oil and gas industries accounted for
more than 60 percent of fatal work
injuries in mining from 2003 to 2006.
Since 2003, CFOI has classified
industries according to the North
American Industry Classification
System (NAICS). Oil and gas
industries include NAICS 211 (oil
and gas extraction), NAICS 213111
(drilling oil and gas wells), and
NAICS 213112 (support activities for
oil and gas operations).
Fatal occupational injuries in the
private mining industry, 2003–06
Number of fatalities
192
200
152
159
67
141
150
56
54
61
100
125
50
0
85
98
98
2003
2004
2005
 Oil and gas extraction industries
 All other mining
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2009.
2006
CHART 19
Among major occupation groups,
transportation and material moving
occupations recorded the highest
number of fatal injuries in 2006,
followed by construction and
extraction occupations.
The fatality rate for farming,
fishing, and forestry occupations
was more than 7 times the overall
rate of 4.0 fatalities per 100,000
workers and the highest of any
occupational group.
Number and rate of fatal occupational
injuries, by major occupation group, 2006
Transportation
and material
moving
Construction
and extraction
17.0
1,501
13.4
1,273
732
Service
Management,
business, and
financiaI
Installation,
maintenance,
and repair
Sales and
related
3.1
589
2.8
423
7.9
316
Farming,
fishing, and
forestry
297
Production
285
Professional
and related
268
Office and
administrative
support
30.0
3.0
0.9
88
0.5
57
Military
1.9
1,500
1,250
1,000
750
Number of fatalities
500
250
Total fatalities = 5,840
All-worker fatality rate = 4.0
5.3
0
5
10
15
20
25
Fatality rate (per 100,000 employed)
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2009.
30
CHART 20
Even though driver/sales workers
and truck drivers experienced the
highest number of fatalities, the
highest fatality rates were recorded
by fishers and by aircraft pilots and
flight engineers. The fatality rate
of 147.2 recorded by fishers was
nearly 37 times the fatality rate of
4.0 for all workers.
Logging workers and structural iron
and steel workers also recorded high
fatality rates.
Selected occupations with high
fatality rates, 2006
Fishers and
related fishing
workers
Aircraft pilots and
flight engineers
147.2
53
104
90.4
Logging workers
Total fatalities = 5,840
All-worker fatality rate = 4.0
66
84.6
Structural iron and
steel workers
61.0
Refuse and
recyclable material
collectors
Farmers and
ranchers
36
40.7
37
292
37.2
Electrical
power-line installers
and repairers
34.9
Roofers
33.5
Driver/sales
workers and truck
drivers
Miscellaneous
agricultural workers
38
81
957
27.5
22.2
150
100
50
Fatality rate (per 100,000 employed)
162
0
200
400
600
Number of fatalities
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2009.
800
1,000
CHART 21
In the private sector, the highest
number of fatal work injuries involved
workers in private construction,
an industry with a wide variety of
occupations.
Overall, fatalities in the private
construction industry rose 4 percent
from 2005 to 2006. Fatal work
injuries involving construction
laborers accounted for approximately
1 out of every 4 fatalities in private
construction in both 2005 and 2006.
Distribution of fatalities for selected
occupations in the private construction
industry, 2005–06
27
27
Construction laborers
9
Carpenters
First-line managers/
supervisors of
construction trades
workers
7
Roofers
5
Operating engineers
and other
construction
equipment operators
5
5
Construction
managers
5
5
Painters, construction
and maintenance
3
0
8
6
4
Electricians
10
6
 Total fatalities in 2006 = 1,239
 Total fatalities in 2005 = 1,192
4
5
10
15
20
Percent of private construction fatalities
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2009.
25
30
CHART 22
Number of fatal work injuries,
by State, 2006
Twenty-nine States reported higher
numbers of fatalities in 2006, and 21
States and the District of Columbia
had lower totals.
The States with the highest numbers
of workplace fatalities in 2006 were
California, Texas, and Florida. These
three States are among those with
the largest workforce. The States
with the lowest numbers were Rhode
Island and Delaware. The District of
Columbia had fewer fatalities than
any State.
WA
87
ND
31
MT
45
OR
87
MN
78
SD
37
ID
38
WI
91
WY
36
UT
60
CO
137
CA
537
AZ
112
IL
207
KS
85
OK
91
NM
59
TX
489
IN
148
MO
167
PA
240
OH
193
KY
147
WV
79
TN
153
AR
78
LA
118
NY
234
MI
157
IA
71
NE
57
NV
49
NH
VT 13
14
ME
20
MS
96
AL
100
VA
165
NC
168
GA
201
AK
45
SC
95
FL
360
HI
30
 Decreased in 2006
 Increased in 2006
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2009.
DC
7
MA
66
RI
CT 10
NJ 38
88 DE
MD 15
106
CHART 23
Fatal work injuries, by day of incident,
selected major industries,
all ownerships, 2006
Overall, more fatal work injuries
occurred on Wednesdays than on
any other day of the week. The
same holds true for fatal injuries in
the construction, agriculture, and
transportation and warehousing
industries.
Percent
25
Aside from the weekend, Fridays
reported the least amount of fatal
work injuries overall.
20
 Monday  Tuesday  Wednesday  Thursday  Friday  Saturday  Sunday
15
10
5
0
All industries
Agriculture, forestry,
fishing, and hunting
Construction
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2009.
Transportation and
warehousing
CHART 24
The Census of Fatal Occupational
Injuries uses a variety of sources
to document and verify cases of
work-related fatal injury. In 2006,
more than 21,000 source documents
helped identify and verify information
on 5,840 fatal work injuries.
At least 25 different types of source
documents may be used by States
for worker fatality information. Death
certificates are the most prevalent
source document used.
Sources of data on fatal
work injuries, 2006
Death
certificates
5,535
News media
3,492
2,313
OSHA
State workers’
comp
1,831
Coroner/medical
examiner
1,677
1,429
Police
1,193
Toxicology
1,158
All other
Other Federal
agencies
1,054
Autopsy
968
State follow-ups
967
0
500
1,000
Total fatalities = 5,840
Total source documents = 21,617
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
3,500
4,000
Number of documents
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2009.
4,500
5,000
5,500
6,000
CHART 25
A total of 1,221 fatal railroad-related
work injuries occurred from 1993
through 2002. Fatalities involving
railroading workers accounted for
less than two-fifths of the 1,221
fatal railroad-related work injuries.
Railroad-related fatalities involving
nonrailroading workers, such
as workers in rail transportation
occupations outside railroading
or truckdrivers in other industries
who are fatally injured in at-grade
crossing collisions with trains,
accounted for more than three-fifths
of railroad-related work fatalities.
Workplace fatalities related
to railroads, 1993–2002
Total fatalities = 1,221
Workers in the railroad
transportation industry
24%
Nonrailroading
workers
62%
Railroading workers
in other industries
14%
NOTE: Data from 2001 exclude fatalities resulting from the September 11 terrorist attacks.
SOURCE: Drudi, Dino, “Railroad-related Work Injury Fatalities,” Monthly Labor Review, July–August 2007.
CHART 26
Coal mining had an average of 25
fatalities a year for the period from
2003 to 2005. In 2006, coal mining
experienced an 88-percent increase
in fatalities over this average.
The increase was accounted
for mostly by the large increase
in fatalities in bituminous coal
underground mining, which almost
tripled in 2006. This jump was
attributed in part to the Sago Mine
disaster and other multiple-fatality
coal-mining incidents.
Number of fatalities, coal mining
industries, 2003–05 and 2006
47
Coal mining, total
25
Bituminous coal
and lignite
surface mining
5
Data not available
33
Bituminous coal
underground
mining
13
 2006
 3-year average (2003–05)
9
Other coal mining
8
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Number of fatalities
NOTE: The “Other coal mining” category includes both anthracite mining and coal mining that could not be specified any further.
SOURCE: Rice, James B., and Jill A. Janocha, “Coal Mining Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities, 2006,” Compensation and Working Conditions,
on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/opub/cwc/sh20080623ar01p1.htm/.
50
CHART 27
Fatal occupational injuries
related to golf courses occur
most frequently during the spring
and summer months. Of the 106
workplace fatalities related to golf
courses that took place during
2001–06, 67 occurred between
April and September.
Fatal occupational injuries related
to golf courses, by month of
incident, 2001–06
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
10
8
6
9
9
7
9
7
6
6
4
4
2
0
January February
March
April
May
June
July
August September October November December
NOTE: Data from 2001 exclude fatalities resulting from the September 11 terrorist attacks.
SOURCE: Pegula, Stephen, “Fatal Occupational Injuries Associated with Golf Courses and Country Clubs, 2001–2006,” Compensation and Working Conditions,
on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/opub/cwc/sh20080416ar01p1.htm/.