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NIOSH Publication No. 2000-127:
Worker Health Chartbook, 2000 |
September 2000 |
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and the States share responsibility for the surveillance
of fatal occupational injuries. NIOSH conducts surveillance of these injuries through the
National Traumatic Occupational Fatalities Surveillance System (NTOF), which contains
information from death certificates managed by the 52 U.S. vital statistics reporting
units and has fatality data from 1980 onward. In response to a National Academy of
Sciences recommendation, BLS began compiling fatal occupational injury data in 1992
through its Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). Data for CFOI are obtained from
various Federal, State, and local administrative sources, including death certificates,
workers' compensation reports and claims, reports to regulatory agencies, medical examiner
reports, police reports, and news items. Differences in NTOF and CFOI definitions and data collection and recording procedures may result in different fatality counts. The two
programs are complementary, each having unique features that contribute to the
surveillance of fatal occupational injuries. Appendix A details the methodological
differences between the surveillance systems.
Data from NTOF indicate that 93,929 civilians in the United States were
killed on the job from 1980 through 1995. The average annual fatality rate for this period
was 5.3 per 100,000 workers. From 1980 through 1995, the number of deaths recorded by NTOF
decreased by 28% (from 7,405 to 5,314), and the rate of death decreased by 43% (from 7.46
to 4.25 cases per 100,000 workers) (Figure 2–1). CFOI fatality counts exceeded those of
NTOF by about 1,000 in the years reported in both surveillance systems (1992–1995) (Figure
2–2). Based on CFOI data, the rate of fatal occupational injuries declined by 7% between
1992 and 1997.
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 To view, click on image
Figure 2–1. Number
and annual rate of fatal occupational injuries, 1980–1995. (Source: NTOF
[1999].)
 To view, click on image
Figure 2–2. Number of fatal
occupational injuries, 1992–1997. (Source: CFOI [1999].)
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The highest number of deaths recorded in NTOF from 1980 to 1995 occurred among
workers aged 25 to 34 (Figure 2–3). CFOI data from 1992 to 1997 indicate that workers aged 35 to 44 had
the highest number of fatal occupational injuries, similar to the share of
employment for that age group. Rates of death recorded in NTOF were similar for
the younger age groups, increased slightly in workers aged 55 to 64, and
increased
dramatically among workers aged 65 years and older (Figure 2–3). Death rates recorded
in NTOF fell gradually from 1980 through 1995 for workers of all races (Figure
2–4).
 To view, click on image
Figure 2–3. Distribution and
average annual rate of fatal occupational injuries by age group, 1980–1995.
(Source: NTOF [1999].)
 To view, click on image
Figure 2–4. Rate of fatal
occupational injuries by race, 1980–1995. (Source: NTOF
[1999].)
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The leading causes of fatal occupational injuries recorded in NTOF from
1980 to 1995 were motor vehicle incidents, machine-related injuries, homicides, falls, and
electrocutions (Figure 2–5). During that period, rates for deaths from all causes
declined, although not always consistently. Male workers died most frequently from motor
vehicle incidents, machine-related injuries, homicides, and falls; female workers died
most frequently from homicides and motor vehicle incidents, followed by falls and
machine-related injuries (Figure 2–6). CFOI data, which are classified differently from
NTOF data, indicate that transportation incidents accounted for 42% of all fatal
occupational injuries in 1997 (Figure 1–9). Highway-related motor vehicle crashes and
homicides accounted for about one-third of the fatalities recorded in CFOI.
 To view, click on image
Figure 2–5. Rates of fatal
occupational injuries by leading causes, 1980–1995. (Source: NTOF
[1999].)
 To view, click on image
Figure 2–6. Distribution of fatal
occupational injuries for male and female workers by selected causes of death,
1980–1995. Total deaths were 87,835 for male workers and 6,088 for female
workers. (Source: NTOF [1999].)
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NTOF classifies a fatality by the industry and occupation in which the
worker was "usually" employed. By industry division, mining and agriculture,
forestry, and fishing (followed by construction and transportation and public utilities),
had the highest fatal occupational injury rates recorded in NTOF from 1980 to 1995. The
most deaths occurred in construction, transportation and public utilities, and
manufacturing (Figure 2–7). By occupational group, the highest rates of fatal injury
occurred among transportation and agriculture, forestry, and fishing workers. Precision
production, craft, and repair occupations (11% of the workforce) along with transportation
workers (4% of the workforce) accounted for nearly 40% of the fatal occupational injuries
from 1980 to 1995 (Figure 2–8).
 To view, click on image
Figure 2–7. Average annual rate and distribution (%) of fatal
occupational injuries by industry division, 1980–1995. Total deaths were 93,929;
5.7% were not classified by industry. (Source: NTOF [1999].)
 To view, click on image
Figure 2–8. Average
annual rate and distribution (%) of fatal occupational injuries by occupational
group, 1980-1995. Total deaths were 93,929; 4.8% were not classified by
occupation. (Source: NTOF [1999].)
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CFOI classifies a fatality by the industry and occupation in which the
worker was employed at the time of death. By industry division, construction accounted for
the largest number of deaths recorded in CFOI in 1997, and mining had the highest fatality
rate per 100,000 workers. Agriculture, forestry, and fishing ranked second in rate and
third in number of fatal occupational injuries (Figure 2–9). By occupation, the largest
number of fatalities occurred among truck drivers, farm occupations, sales occupations,
and construction laborers (Figure 2–10). The leading causes of death for these groups were
highway crashes and jackknifing for truck drivers, tractor-related injuries for farmers,
homicides for sales occupations, and falls for construction laborers. The occupations with
fatal occupational injury rates at least 10 times the national average of 4.8 per 100,000
workers include timber cutters, fishers, water transportation occupations, aircraft
pilots, and extractive occupations (Figure 2–11).
 To view, click on image
Figure 2–9. Number and rate of fatal occupational injuries by
industry division, 1997. The total number of fatal occupational injuries was
6,238; the national rate was 4.8 per 100,000 workers. (Source: CFOI
[1999].)
 To view, click on image
Figure 2–10. Number of fatal
occupational injuries by selected high-risk occupations and leading event, 1997.
The total number of fatal occupational injuries in 1997 for all occupations was
6,238. (Source: CFOI [1999].)
 To view, click on image
Figure 2–11. Number and rate of fatal occupational injuries
per 100,000 workers in high-risk occupations, 1997. The national rate was 4.8
per 100,000 workers. (Source: CFOI [1999].)
Annual rates of fatal occupational injury by industry division for
selected causes of death are shown in Figure
2–12 using NTOF data. Workers in mining
and agriculture, forestry, and fishing had the highest rates of machine-related deaths,
and workers in transportation and public utilities, mining, and agriculture, forestry, and
fishing had the highest rates of work-related motor vehicle deaths. Workers in retail
trade and public administration had the highest rates of workplace
homicide.
 To view, click on image
Figure 2–12. Average annual rate of fatal occupational injuries by
industry division and selected causes of death, 1980–1995. (Source: NTOF
[1999].)
Fatal Injuries by
State
NTOF data for 1980–1995 (based on the State listed on the death certificate)
indicate that Alaska, Wyoming, and Montana had the highest fatal occupational injury
rates (Table 2–1).
California, Texas, Florida, and Illinois had the greatest number of fatal
occupational injuries. CFOI data (based on the State in which the fatal incident
occurred) indicate that California, Texas, Florida, and New York had the
greatest number of fatal occupational injuries in 1997.
 To view, click
on image
Table 2–1. Distribution and average annual
rate of fatal occupational injuries by State listed on death certificate,
1980–1995
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CFOI collects information about the number of workers in establishments where fatally injured
workers were employed. In 1997, this information was available for 79% of all
records for private sector wage and salary workers. Based on the available data, the highest
rate of fatal occupational injury (8.6 per 100,000 workers) occurred in
establishments with 1 to 10 workers, whereas the lowest rate (2 per
100,000 workers) occurred in establishments with 100 or more workers
(Figure 2–13). Self-employed workers accounted for 20% of the fatal occupational injuries in
1997. The fatality rate of 11.7 cases per 100,000 workers for the self-employed
was nearly two and a half times the rate of 4.8 per 100,000 for all wage and salary
workers (public and private sector combined).
 To view, click on image
Figure 2–13. Number and rate of fatal
occupational injuries in private sector wage and salary workers by employment size of
establishment, 1997. The total number of fatal occupational injuries was 4,305. Employment
size was not reported for 919 fatalities; these data could significantly change the above
rates. (Source: CFOI [1999]. Employment data are from the Employment and Wages Annual
Averages, 1997 [BLS
1998].)
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Truck drivers suffered nearly 14% of the fatal occupational injuries
during 1997 according to CFOI data. The number of fatalities among truck drivers has
increased fairly steadily, from 699 in 1992 to 862 in 1997. Over the same period, the
fatality rate increased from 26 to 28 per 100,000 workers. In 1997, more than 50% of the
fatalities occurred in trucks with trailers or semitrailers (Figure 2–14), and more than
80% occurred in transportation-related incidents (Figure 2–15). Fatalities from
jackknifing and from collisions increased by 16% and 9%, respectively, between 1996 and
1997. More than half of the fatal occupational injuries among truck drivers occurred on
interstate highways, freeways, expressways, or other State or U.S. highways (Figure 2–16).
 To view, click on image
Figure 2–14. Number and distribution of fatal occupational injuries to
truck drivers by source of fatal injury, 1997. (Source: CFOI
[1999].)
 To view, click on image
Figure 2–15. Number of fatal
occupational injuries to truck drivers by event or exposure, 1997. (Source: CFOI
[1999].)
 To view, click on image
Figure 2–16. Number and distribution of fatal occupational
injuries to truck drivers by location of fatal injury, 1997. (Source: CFOI
[1999].)
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Homicides, the second leading cause of fatal occupational injuries,
declined by 7% from 1996 to 1997. Taxi drivers had the highest rate of homicide
(Figure
2–17); the highest number of homicides occurred in retail trade in grocery
stores and eating and drinking establishments (Figure 2–18). Eighty percent of workplace
homicides resulted from shootings [CFOI 1999]. Robbery was the primary motive for
occupational homicide when a motive could be ascertained from the source documents (Figure
2–19).
 To view, click on image
Figure 2–17. Number and incidence rate of homicides for
high-risk occupations, 1997. (Source: CFOI [1999].)
 To view, click on image
Figure 2–18. Distribution of homicides in high-risk industries, 1997.
(Source: CFOI [1999].)
 To view, click on image
Figure 2–19. Number and distribution of work-related
homicides, by circumstance or alleged perpetrator, 1997. (Source: CFOI
[1999].)
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Falls were the fifth leading type of fatal occupational event in 1997, accounting
for more than 700 deaths, or 12% of all fatal occupational injuries
(Figure 1–9). Fatalities from falls recorded in the CFOI increased by more than 19% from
1992 to 1997. Falls to a lower level, including falls from roofs, were the major
contributors (Figure
2–20). Approximately half of the falls occurred in the
construction industry (Figures
2–21 and 2–22).
 To view, click on image
Figure 2–20. Number and distribution of fatal occupational
falls by type of fall, 1997. (Source: CFOI [1999].)
 To view, click on image
Figure 2–21. Number
of fatal occupational falls by occupational group, 1997. (Source: CFOI [1999].)
 To view, click on image
Figure 2–22. Number of fatal occupational falls by industry
division, 1997. (Source: CFOI [1999].)
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Fire Fighter Fatalities
NIOSH began investigating all fire fighter fatalities in October 1998. The
goal of this initiative is to examine the magnitude and characteristics of occupational
deaths and severe injuries among fire fighters and to develop recommendations for injury
prevention. The investigations are being conducted through the fatality assessment and
control evaluation (FACE) model developed by NIOSH. For each case investigated,
information is collected on factors associated with the fire fighter who died, the
physical agents contributing to the death, and the environment. These factors are
identified during three phases: pre-event, event, and post-event. The contributing factors
are investigated in detail for each incident and are summarized in the investigation
report along with recommendations for preventing future incidents. Additional information
about the NIOSH fire fighter program and individual investigation case reports are
available on the NIOSH Web site at www.cdc.gov/niosh/firehome.html.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the U.S. Fire
Administration estimate that an average of 112 fire fighters died on the job each year
between 1979 and 1998 (Figure 2–23). In 1998, 44% of the fire fighter deaths occurred at
the fireground. Another 35% occurred while responding to or returning from alarms or
performing other nonfire emergency duties (Figure 2–24). Heart attacks (43%), internal
trauma (23%), and asphyxiation (10%) were the most frequent causes of death in 1998
(Figure 2–25).
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 To view, click on image
Figure 2–23. Number of fire fighter deaths, 1979–1998.
Total number of deaths was 2,244. (Source: NFPA [Washburn et al. 1999].)
 To view, click on image
Figure 2–24. Number and distribution of fire fighter deaths
by type of duty, 1998. Total number of deaths was 91. (Source: NFPA [Washburn et
al. 1999].)
 To view, click on image
Figure 2–25. Number and distribution of fire fighter deaths
by nature of injury, 1998. Total number of deaths was 91. (Source: NFPA
[Washburn et al. 1999].)
Updated on 06/25/02
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