MEDIA RELEASE

A preliminary total of 4,547 fatal work injuries were recorded in the United States in 2010, about the same as the final count of 4,551 fatal work injuries in 2009, according to results from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) program conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The rate of fatal work injury for U.S. workers in 2010 was 3.5 per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers, the same as the final rate for 2009. Over the last 3 years, increases in the published counts based on information received after the release of preliminary data have averaged 174 fatalities per year or about 3 percent of the revised totals.

Final 2010 CFOI data will be released in early 2012.

Economic factors continue to play a role in the fatal work injury counts. Total hours worked were up slightly in 2010 in contrast to the declines recorded in both 2008 and 2009, but some historically high-risk industries continued to experience declines or slow growth in total hours worked.

Fatal work injuries incurred by women increased by 6 percent in 2010, but declined by 1 percent for men. Fatal work injuries increased for workers under 18 years of age, workers age 25 to 34, and for workers 55 years of age and older. All other age groups recorded lower numbers of fatalities.

Twenty-seven states and the District of Columbia reported higher numbers of fatal work injuries in 2010 than in 2009, while 23 states reported lower numbers.

Hawaii recorded 19 work-related fatalities in 2010, up from 13 in 2009. That total included eight transportation incidents, five assaults and violent acts, and four falls.

Key preliminary findings of the 2010 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries:

* The number of fatal work injuries among the self-employed declined by 6 percent to 999 fatalities, more than the decline in their hours worked. The number of fatal injuries among wage and salary workers increased by 2 percent in 2010.

* Fatal work injuries in the private mining industry rose from 99 in 2009 to 172 in 2010, an increase of 74 percent. The fatal work injury rate for mining increased from 12.4 per 100,000 FTEs in 2009 to 19.9 per 100,000 in 2010. The multiple-fatality incidents at the Upper Big Branch Mine and the Deepwater Horizon oil rig are included in these figures.

* Fatal work injuries in the private construction sector declined by 10 percent from 2009 to 2010 and are down nearly 40 percent since 2006.

* Work-related fatalities resulting from fires more than doubled from 53 in 2009 to 109 in 2010–the highest count since 2003.

* Workplace homicides declined 7 percent in 2010 to the lowest total ever recorded by the fatality census, but workplace homicides involving women increased by 13 percent.

* Fatal work injuries among non-Hispanic black or African-American workers declined by 9 percent in 2010 while fatalities among non-Hispanic white workers were higher by 2 percent. Fatal work injuries involving Hispanic or Latino workers were down 4 percent in 2010.

* The number of fatal workplace injuries among police officers increased by 40 percent, from 96 in 2009 to 134 in 2010.

The number of fatal work injuries resulting from fires and explosions rose from 113 in 2009 to 187 in 2010, an increase of 65 percent. The increase was led by an increase of 106 percent in fatalities resulting from fires which rose from 53 in 2009 to 109 in 2010.

Of the 187 fatalities involving fires and explosions, 82 occurred in multiple fatality incidents.

Workplace homicides fell by 7 percent in 2010. The preliminary workplace homicide total for 2010 (506 cases) represents a decline of more than 50 percent from the high of 1,080 homicides reported
in 1994. (See Chart 1.)

Despite the overall decline, workplace homicides involving women were up 13 percent in 2010. Workplace suicides declined slightly from the series high of 263 cases in 2009 to 258 cases in 2010.

Even with the decline, the 2010 preliminary count of workplace suicides is the third highest annual total for the fatal work injury census.

Fatal falls declined 2 percent in 2010 (from 645 in 2009 to 635 in 2010). Overall, fatal falls are down 25 percent from the series high of 847 fatal falls reported in 2007. Since 2007, fatal falls in the private construction industry have decreased by 42 percent.

Fatal injuries resulting from being struck by objects or equipment were also lower, down 4 percent in 2010 to 402. Fatal work injuries involving exposure to harmful substances or environments were up slightly, but electrocutions declined.

Transportation incidents decreased slightly in 2010 relative to 2009, but still accounted for nearly 2 out of every 5 fatal work injuries in 2010. Nonhighway incidents, such as an off-road tractor overturn, were higher in 2010 (up 4 percent) as were transportation incidents involving pedestrians and railways.

Fatal occupational injuries involving water vehicle incidents and aircraft incidents were both lower in 2010.

(Note that transportation counts are expected to rise when updated 2010 data are released in Spring 2012 because key source documentation detailing specific transportation-related incidents has not yet been received.)

For more detailed information on fatal injuries by incident, see the 2010 tables at www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm