Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212 

Technical information: (202) 691-6170 USDL 08-1182 

Media information: (202) 691-5902 FOR RELEASE: 10 a.m. EDT 

Internet address: http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm Wednesday, August 20, 2008 

NATIONAL CENSUS OF FATAL OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES IN 2007 

A total of 5,488 fatal work injuries were recorded in the United States in 2007, a decrease of 

6 percent from the revised total of 5,840 fatal work injuries reported for 2006. While these 

results are considered preliminary, this figure represents the smallest annual preliminary total 

since the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) program was first conducted in 1992. 

Final results for 2007 will be released in April 2009. 

Based on these preliminary counts, the rate of fatal injury for U.S. workers in 2007 was 3.7 

fatal work injuries per 100,000 workers, down from the final rate of 4.0 per 100,000 workers in 

2006, and the lowest annual fatality rate ever reported by the fatality census. 

Key findings of the 2007 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries: 

- The number of fatal falls in 2007 rose to a series high of 835--a 39 percent increase since 

1992 when the CFOI program was first conducted. 

- Transportation incidents, which typically account for two-fifths of all workplace fatalities, 

fell to a series low of 2,234 cases in 2007. 

- Workplace homicides rose 13 percent to 610 in 2007 after reaching a series low of 540 in 

2006. 

- The number of fatal workplace injuries among protective service occupations rose 19 percent 

in 2007 to 337, led by an increase in the number of police officers fatally injured on the job. 

- Fatal occupational injuries incurred by non-Hispanic Black or African American workers 

were at the highest level since 1999, but fatal work injuries among Hispanic workers were 

lower by 8 percent in 2007. 

Profile of 2007 fatal work injuries by type of incident 

 Nearly all types of transportation fatalities saw sizable decreases in 2007 relative to 2006, 

including nonhighway incidents (down 15 percent); workers struck by vehicle, mobile equipment 

(down 10 percent); water vehicle incidents (down 28 percent); railway incidents (down 26 

percent); and aircraft incidents (down 23 percent). Highway incidents also decreased, but only 

by 3 percent. 

News United States 

Department 

of Labor 
2

 The 835 fatal falls in 2007 represented a series high for the fatality census. The increase for 

falls overall was driven primarily by increases in falls on same level (up 21 percent from 2006) 

and falls from nonmoving vehicles (up 17 percent). Falls from roofs, however, were down 13 

percent from the number in 2006. 

Workplace homicides increased by 13 percent in 2007. Even with the increase, workplace 

homicides have declined 44 percent from the high of 1,080 reported in 1994. Workplace 

homicides involving police officers and supervisors of retail sales workers both saw substantial 

increases in 2007. 

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Highway incidents Homicides Falls Struck by object

Four most frequent work-related fatal events, 1992–2007

Number of fatalities

p = Preliminary

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, 2008

1,158

1,242

1,343 1,346

1,346

1,393

1,442

1,496

1,365

1,409

1,373 1,353

1,398

1,356

1,437

1,044

1,074 1,080 1,036

927 860

714

609

632

559 567 540

600 618 665 651 691

716 706

721

734

810

719

696

822 827 770

557 565 591 547 582 579 520 585 571 553 505 531

602 607 589 651 677610 (p)

504 (p)

643

835 (p)

1,311 (p)

 Two other prominent events were at series lows in 2007. Fatal work injuries involving 

electrocutions were down 14 percent from the next lowest year (2003). Fatalities resulting from 

fires and explosions were also at the lowest totals ever in the census in 2007. 

Profile of fatal work injuries by industry 

 Overall, 90 percent of the fatal work injuries involved workers in private industry. Serviceproviding industries in the private sector recorded 48 percent of all fatal work injuries in 2007, 

while goods-producing industries recorded 42 percent. Another 10 percent of the fatal work 

injury cases in 2007 involved government workers. The number of fatal work injuries in the 

private sector decreased 7 percent in 2007, while fatalities among government workers, including 

resident military personnel, increased 2 percent. 

Fatalities declined in the construction industry, but construction continued to incur the most 

fatalities of any industry in the private sector, as it has for the five years since the CFOI program 

began using the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) to categorize industry. 

The percentage decrease in fatalities from 2006 (1,239 to 1,178, a 5 percent drop) was about the 

same as the decrease for all fatal work injuries in 2007. Of the three major subsectors within 
3

construction, fatalities among workers in construction of buildings actually rose 11 percent from 

2006, with most of the increase in non-residential construction industries. The largest 

construction subsector, specialty trade contractors, had 6 percent fewer fatalities in 2007 as 

compared to 2006. 

Fatalities among private sector workers in transportation and warehousing sector, which had 

the second largest number of fatalities, decreased 3 percent from the number reported in 2006. 

Truck transportation, the largest subsector in transportation and warehousing, also had a 3 

percent decrease in 2007. The number of fatal injuries in air, rail, and water transportation were 

also lower. 

Manufacturing

Other services (exc. public admin.)

Professional and business services

Utilities

Wholesale trade

Leisure and hospitality 

Government

Construction

Mining

Agriculture, forestry, 

fishing, and hunting

Transportation and warehousing

Retail trade

Information

Educational and health services

Number and rate of fatal occupational injuries, by industry sector, 2007

1,250 750 250 0 10 20 30 40

170

336

197

392

251

465

532

573

836

1,178

77

181

149

116

33

10.3

15.9

27.3

2.4

3.1

2.4

2.0

2.1

4.5

24.8

2.5

0.7

1.1

3.9

2.3

Financial activities

Fatality rate

(per 100,000 employed) Number of fatalities

1,500 1,000 500

Total fatalities = 5,488

All worker fatality rate = 3.7

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2008

Fatalities were down 13 percent among private sector workers in the agriculture, forestry, 

fishing, and hunting industry sector in 2007. Non-highway incidents in agriculture, forestry, 

fishing, and hunting decreased 17 percent, and incidents of being struck by an object decreased 

12 percent, each of which accounts for about one-fifth of fatalities in the agriculture, forestry, 

fishing, and hunting industry. Fatalities to workers in crop production fell 19 percent while 

fatalities to workers in animal production rose 7 percent. Fishing and logging, two of the 

industries with the highest fatality rates, had lower numbers of fatalities in 2007. 

 In the trade industry (wholesale and retail), fatal work injuries were down 8 percent from 

their 2006 level. While most wholesale trade subsectors declined, fatal work injuries in retail 

grocery stores were up 26 percent (from 57 in 2006 to 72 in 2007), due largely to an increase in 

workplace homicides in that industry. 
4

The preliminary total of 392 fatal work injuries in manufacturing represents the lowest total 

recorded in the five years since the CFOI program began using the North American Industry 

Classification System (NAICS). The 2007 total for manufacturing represents a 14 percent 

decrease from the 2006 count. 

 Fatalities among government workers were up 2 percent from 2006, primarily due to a 14 

percent increase in workplace fatalities among local government workers. The increase among 

local government workers was primarily attributable to higher numbers of fatalities in police 

protection and fire protection (up 32 and 43 percent, respectively). Fatal work injury rates were 

lower for Federal and State workers. 

Profile of fatal work injuries by occupation 

 About one-fourth of all occupational fatalities in 2007 involved workers in transportation 

and material moving occupations, though fatalities among these workers declined by 5 percent in 

2007. This decline was largely the result of a 6 percent decline in highway incidents, which 

account for about 50 percent of the fatalities in this occupation. Construction and extraction 

occupations, which accounted for 21 percent of all fatalities, decreased by 10 percent from 2006 

to 2007 after increasing the previous 3 years. Operating engineers and other construction 

equipment operators; painters, construction and maintenance; and electricians all saw decreases 

of 20 percent or more. 

100 0 400 800

18

908

30

79

285

40

76

38

Selected occupations with high fatality rates, 2007

111.8

86.4

45.5

38.4

29.4

29.1

26.2

22.8

21.4

Logging workers

Aircraft pilots and flight 

engineers

Refuse and recyclable

material collectors

Structural iron and steel 

workers

Farmers and ranchers

Electrical power-line 

installers and repairers

Driver/sales workers and 

truck drivers

Fishers and related

fishing workers

Roofers

Fatality rate

(per 100,000 employed) Number of fatalities

66.7 82

150 200 600 50

Total fatalities = 5,488

All worker fatality rate = 3.7

1,000

143

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2008

Police and sheriff’s 

patrol officers

Fatalities among workers employed in protective service occupations rose 19 percent from 

2006 to 2007, including police officers (up 30 percent), fire fighters (up 17 percent), and security 

guards (up 11 percent). Among other occupation groups, fatalities incurred by workers in sales 

and related occupations decreased 2 percent although fatalities incurred by supervisors of sales 
5

workers increased by 10 percent. Office and administrative support occupations had 50 percent 

more workplace fatalities in 2007 (from 88 in 2006 to 132 in 2007), due in part to an increase in 

fatal transportation incidents. 

The four occupations with the highest fatality rates were fishers and related fishing workers 

with a fatality rate of 111.8 per 100,000 workers, logging workers (86.4), aircraft pilots and 

flight engineers (66.7), and structural iron and steel workers (45.5). 

Profile of fatal work injuries by demographic characteristics 

 While fatal work injuries in general fell 6 percent, those incurred by non-Hispanic Black or 

African American workers increased by 5 percent to 591 in 2007. This is the highest number 

reported for Black or African American workers since 1999. A tripling in the number of 

fatalities involving Black or African American police officers in local government (from 6 to 18) 

was one of the reasons for the higher number of fatalities. Fatalities among Hispanic or Latino 

workers decreased 8 percent from 2006 and among White, non-Hispanic workers by 6 percent. 

 While fatalities incurred by workers age 65 and older decreased 7 percent, these workers 

were about 3 times more likely than all workers to be killed on the job. Self-employed workers 

had a 2 percent drop in fatalities, while their wage and salary counterparts fell by 7 percent. 

Workplace fatalities incurred by both male and female workers decreased 6 percent. 

 Of the 5,488 fatal occupational injuries in 2007, 959 were incurred by workers who were 

born outside of the United States. Of the foreign-born workers who were fatally-injured in the 

U.S. in 2007, the largest share were born in Mexico (44 percent). 

Profile of fatal work injuries by State 

 Thirty States reported lower numbers of fatal work injuries in 2007 than in 2006, 19 States 

and the District of Columbia reported higher numbers, and one State was unchanged. 

 For more detailed State results, contact the individual State agency responsible for the 

collection of CFOI data in that State. Although data for Puerto Rico are not included in the 

national totals for this release, results for Puerto Rico are available. Participating agencies and 

their telephone numbers are listed in Table 6. 

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 U.S. in each 

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 the 2007 data, over 21,000 unique source documents were reviewed as part of the 

data collection process. 
6

 Another BLS program, the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, presents 

frequency counts and incidence rates by industry and also detailed worker and case 

characteristics of nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses that result in days away from work. 

Incidence rates for 2007 by industry will be published in October 2008, and information on 2007 

worker and case characteristics will be available in November 2008. For additional data, access 

the BLS Internet site: http://www.bls.gov/iif/. 

 For technical information about the CFOI program, please go to the BLS Handbook of 

Methods on the BLS web site. To get to that document, click on Workplace Injuries on the BLS 

home page, scroll down to IIF Documentation, and then click on “BLS Handbook of Methods.” 

The technical information and definitions for the CFOI Program are in Chapter 9, Part 2 of the 

BLS Handbook of Methods.
Table 1. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, 2006-2007

Event or exposure1

Fatalities

20062 2007

Number Percent

Total ................................................................................................. 5,840 5,488 100

Transportation incidents .................................................................. 2,459 2,234 41

Highway ........................................................................................... 1,356 1,311 24

Collision between vehicles, mobile equipment ............................ 657 639 12

Moving in same direction ......................................................... 155 144 3

Moving in opposite directions, oncoming ................................. 239 264 5

Moving in intersection .............................................................. 140 121 2

Vehicle struck object in roadway ................................................. 19 32 1

Vehicle struck object on side of road ........................................... 345 337 6

Noncollision ................................................................................. 303 286 5

Jack-knifed or overturned-no collision ..................................... 254 250 5

Nonhighway (farm, industrial premises) .......................................... 345 292 5

Overturned ............................................................................... 165 165 3

Worker struck by a vehicle .............................................................. 379 342 6

Railway accident .............................................................................. 65 48 1

Water vehicle accident ..................................................................... 96 69 1

Aircraft accident ............................................................................... 217 167 3

Assaults and violent acts ................................................................. 788 839 15

Homicides ........................................................................................ 540 610 11

Shooting ...................................................................................... 436 491 9

Stabbing ...................................................................................... 39 43 1

Self-inflicted injuries ......................................................................... 208 189 3

Contact with objects and equipment ............................................... 993 916 17

Struck by object or equipment ......................................................... 589 504 9

Struck by falling object or equipment ........................................... 382 329 6

Struck by flying object .................................................................. 70 57 1

Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects ......................... 283 294 5

Caught in running equipment or machinery ................................. 148 139 3

Caught in or crushed in collapsing materials ................................... 108 107 2

Falls .................................................................................................... 827 835 15

Fall to lower level ............................................................................. 738 733 13

Fall from ladder ............................................................................ 132 132 2

Fall from roof ............................................................................... 185 161 3

Fall from scaffold, staging ............................................................ 91 88 2

Fall on same level ............................................................................ 67 81 1

Exposure to harmful substances or environments ........................ 547 488 9

Contact with electric current ............................................................ 250 212 4

Contact with overhead power lines .............................................. 109 93 2

Contact with temperature extremes ................................................. 56 38 1

Exposure to caustic, noxious, or allergenic substances .................. 165 156 3

Inhalation of substance ................................................................ 59 64 1

Oxygen deficiency ........................................................................... 68 80 1

Drowning, submersion ................................................................. 53 60 1

Fires and explosions ......................................................................... 202 151 3

1 Based on the 2007 BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification Manual. Includes other events

and exposures, such as bodily reaction, in addition to those shown separately. 2 The BLS news release issued August 9, 2007, reported a total of 5,703 fatal work injuries for calendar

year 2006. Since then, an additional 137 job-related fatalities were identified, bringing the total job-related

fatality count for 2006 to 5,840.

NOTE: Totals for 2007 are preliminary. Totals for 2006 are revised and final. Totals for major categories

may include subcategories not shown separately. Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, in cooperation with State, New York

City, District of Columbia, and Federal agencies, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

7
Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by industry and selected event or exposure, 2007

Industry1

Fatalities Selected event or exposure2

(percent of total for industry)

Number Percent Highway3 Homicides Falls Struck by

object

Total ...................................................................................................... 5,488 100 24 11 15 9

Private industry ......................................................................................... 4,956 90 23 11 16 10

Goods producing .................................................................................... 2,324 42 14 2 23 14

Natural resources and mining ............................................................. 754 14 14 1 6 20

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting .............................................. 573 10 11 1 5 21

Crop production ................................................................................ 249 5 11 – 5 16

Animal production ............................................................................. 162 3 12 – 7 10

Forestry and logging ......................................................................... 92 2 12 – 4 66

Mining4 ................................................................................................. 181 3 27 – 7 16

Mining, except oil and gas ................................................................ 53 1 11 – 9 13

Support activities for mining .............................................................. 112 2 36 – 5 18

Construction ......................................................................................... 1,178 21 12 2 38 9

Construction .......................................................................................... 1,178 21 12 2 38 9

Construction of buildings .................................................................. 244 4 9 3 44 10

Heavy and civil engineering construction ......................................... 216 4 19 – 14 13

Specialty trade contractors ............................................................... 680 12 11 1 43 7

Manufacturing ....................................................................................... 392 7 15 4 12 15

Manufacturing ....................................................................................... 392 7 15 4 12 15

Food manufacturing .......................................................................... 49 1 29 6 12 –

Fabricated metal product manufacturing .......................................... 71 1 10 – 14 18

Service providing .................................................................................... 2,632 48 32 18 10 6

Trade, transportation, and utilities ...................................................... 1,402 26 42 17 6 6

Wholesale trade .................................................................................... 197 4 38 4 10 12

Merchant wholesalers, durable goods .............................................. 98 2 31 4 7 18

Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods ........................................ 89 2 44 4 10 6

Retail trade ........................................................................................... 336 6 17 48 9 4

Motor vehicle and parts dealers ........................................................ 60 1 37 15 – 7

Food and beverage stores ................................................................ 86 2 – 81 6 –

Transportation and warehousing .......................................................... 836 15 54 7 4 5

Truck transportation .......................................................................... 538 10 70 3 4 5

Transit and ground passenger transportation ................................... 74 1 35 50 – –

Utilities .................................................................................................. 33 1 9 – 12 9

Information ............................................................................................ 77 1 49 8 14 –

Financial activities ................................................................................ 116 2 22 33 14 3

Finance and insurance ......................................................................... 45 1 27 49 7 –

Real estate and rental and leasing ....................................................... 71 1 20 23 18 4

Professional and business services ................................................... 465 8 21 9 21 10

Professional and technical services ...................................................... 75 1 24 9 13 –

Administrative and waste services ........................................................ 386 7 20 8 23 11

Educational and health services ......................................................... 149 3 28 11 7 2

Educational services ............................................................................. 35 1 9 – – –

Health care and social assistance ........................................................ 114 2 34 15 9 –

Leisure and hospitality ......................................................................... 251 5 10 44 11 3

Arts, entertainment, and recreation ...................................................... 92 2 12 10 14 8

Accommodation and food services ....................................................... 159 3 9 64 9 –

Other services, except public administration .................................... 170 3 18 24 9 11

Government5 ............................................................................................. 532 10 29 16 6 5

Federal government .................................................................................. 106 2 22 – 7 5

State government ..................................................................................... 107 2 27 21 8 3

Local government ..................................................................................... 316 6 32 19 5 6

1 Based on the North American Industry Classification System, 2002. 2 The figure shown is the percent of the total fatalities for that industry group. 3 "Highway" includes deaths to vehicle occupants resulting from traffic incidents that occur on the public roadway, shoulder, or surrounding area. It excludes incidents

occurring entirely off the roadway, such as in parking lots and on farms; incidents involving trains; and deaths to pedestrians or other nonpassengers. 4 Includes fatalities at all establishments categorized as Mining (Sector 21) in the North American Industry Classification System, 2002, including establishments not

governed by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) rules and reporting, such as those in Oil and Gas Extraction. 5 Includes fatalities to workers employed by governmental organizations regardless of industry.

NOTE: Totals for 2007 are preliminary. Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Percentages may not add to totals because of

rounding. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria. 

There were 2 fatalities for which there was insufficient information to determine a specific industry classification, although a distinction between private and government was

made for each. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, in cooperation with State, New York City, District of Columbia, and Federal agencies, Census of Fatal

Occupational Injuries

8
Table 3. Fatal occupational injuries by occupation and selected event or exposure, 2007

Occupation1

Fatalities Selected event or exposure2

(percent of total for occupation)

Number Percent Highway3 Homicides Falls Struck by

object

Total .......................................................................................................... 5,488 100 24 11 15 9

Management occupations .......................................................................... 511 9 14 10 10 11

Top executives .......................................................................................... 29 1 14 – 10 –

Operations specialties managers ............................................................. 24 4( ) 17 38 – –

Other management occupations ............................................................... 448 8 12 8 10 12

Business and financial operations occupations ..................................... 30 1 47 10 – –

Computer and mathematical occupations ............................................... 3 4() – – – –

Architecture and engineering occupations .............................................. 49 1 22 6 12 –

Engineers .................................................................................................. 28 1 25 – 11 –

Life, physical, and social science occupations ....................................... 20 4( ) 40 – 15 15

Community and social services occupations .......................................... 28 1 54 25 – –

Legal occupations ...................................................................................... 11 4( ) – 27 – –

Education, training, and library occupations ........................................... 21 4( ) 19 33 19 –

Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations ................ 51 1 22 16 14 10

Entertainers and performers, sports and related workers ......................... 29 1 21 10 10 17

Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations .............................. 65 1 34 5 9 –

Health diagnosing and treating practitioners ............................................ 43 1 30 – 14 –

Health technologists and technicians ....................................................... 20 4( ) 40 – – –

Healthcare support occupations ............................................................... 14 4( ) 29 36 – –

Protective service occupations ................................................................. 337 6 31 32 4 3

Fire fighting and prevention workers ......................................................... 50 1 36 – 6 –

Law enforcement workers ......................................................................... 165 3 39 37 2 2

Other protective service workers .............................................................. 103 2 15 43 5 3

Food preparation and serving related occupations ................................ 61 1 – 79 7 –

Supervisors, food preparation and serving workers ................................. 24 4( ) – 83 – –

Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations ............ 250 5 8 6 33 15

Building cleaning and pest control workers .............................................. 62 1 10 16 52 –

Grounds maintenance workers ................................................................. 156 3 7 – 28 19

Personal care and service occupations ................................................... 61 1 16 23 13 5

Sales and related occupations .................................................................. 311 6 17 54 9 2

Supervisors, sales workers ....................................................................... 148 3 14 63 6 3

Retail sales workers .................................................................................. 94 2 6 66 11 –

Sales representatives, services ................................................................ 14 4( ) 64 29 – –

Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing .............................. 26 4( ) 58 – 12 –

Office and administrative support occupations ...................................... 132 2 31 24 14 5

Material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing workers ...... 63 1 38 16 14 6

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ............................................. 256 5 9 1 5 29

Agricultural workers .................................................................................. 123 2 15 2 7 9

Fishing and hunting workers ..................................................................... 39 1 ––––

Forest, conservation, and logging workers ............................................... 78 1 4 – 4 76

Construction and extraction occupations ................................................ 1,152 21 11 1 36 10

Supervisors, construction and extraction workers .................................... 118 2 15 6 29 6

Construction trades workers ..................................................................... 877 16 8 1 40 9

Extraction workers .................................................................................... 102 2 22 – 8 19

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................................. 373 7 14 5 21 15

Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers ........ 116 2 9 6 9 29

Other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations .......................... 214 4 13 3 28 9

Production occupations ............................................................................. 264 5 7 5 11 15

Supervisors, production workers .............................................................. 30 1 – 13 13 –

Metal workers and plastic workers ............................................................ 86 2 – 3 13 20

Transportation and material moving occupations .................................. 1,423 26 49 6 4 6

Air transportation workers ......................................................................... 82 1 ––––

Motor vehicle operators ............................................................................ 1,020 19 66 7 3 5

Water transportation workers .................................................................... 34 1 – – – 12

Material moving workers ........................................................................... 255 5 10 2 13 15

Military occupations ................................................................................... 62 1 11 – – 6

1 Based on the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification system. 2 The figure shown is the percent of the total fatalities for that occupation group. 3 "Highway" includes deaths to vehicle occupants resulting from traffic incidents that occur on the public roadway, shoulder, or surrounding area. It

excludes incidents occurring entirely off the roadway, such as in parking lots and on farms; incidents involving trains; and deaths to pedestrians or

other non passengers. 4 Less than or equal to 0.5 percent.

NOTE: Totals for 2007 are preliminary. Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Percentages may not add to

totals because of rounding. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria.

There were 3 fatalities for which there was insufficient information to determine a specific occupation classification. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, in cooperation with State, New York City, District of Columbia, and Federal

agencies, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

9
Table 4. Fatal occupational injuries by selected worker characteristics and selected event or exposure, 2007

Characteristic

Fatalities Selected event or exposure1

(percent of total for characteristic category)

Number Percent Highway2 Homicides Falls Struck by

object

Total ..................................................................................................... 5,488 100 24 11 15 9

Employee status

Wage and salary3 ................................................................................ 4,477 82 26 10 15 9

Self-employed4 .................................................................................... 1,011 18 13 16 16 12

Sex

Men ...................................................................................................... 5,071 92 23 10 15 10

Women ................................................................................................ 417 8 30 27 12 2

Age5

Under 16 years .................................................................................... 18 6( ) 17 – – –

16-17 years .......................................................................................... 20 6( ) 15 – 25 –

18-19 years .......................................................................................... 95 2 17 12 12 9

20-24 years .......................................................................................... 410 7 20 15 11 10

25-34 years .......................................................................................... 967 18 22 14 14 9

35-44 years .......................................................................................... 1,132 21 26 12 14 9

45-54 years .......................................................................................... 1,382 25 24 10 17 10

55-64 years .......................................................................................... 901 16 27 9 16 8

65 years and older ............................................................................... 558 10 23 7 19 9

Race or ethnic origin7

White ................................................................................................... 3,758 68 26 8 15 9

Black or African-American ................................................................... 591 11 25 22 8 8

Hispanic or Latino ................................................................................ 908 17 16 10 20 11

American Indian or Alaska Native ....................................................... 28 1 29 – 18 11

Asian .................................................................................................... 154 3 14 45 14 4

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander ..................................................... 6 6() – – – –

Multiple races ...................................................................................... 10 6( ) – – 50 –

Other or not reported ........................................................................... 33 1 30 18 12 –

1 The figure shown is the percent of the total fatalities for that demographic group. 2 "Highway" includes deaths to vehicle occupants resulting from traffic incidents that occur on the public roadway, shoulder, or surrounding

area. It excludes incidents occurring entirely off the roadway, such as in parking lots and on farms; incidents involving trains; and deaths to

pedestrians or other nonpassengers. 3 May include volunteers and workers receiving other types of compensation. 4 Includes self-employed workers, owners of unincorporated businesses and farms, paid and unpaid family workers, members of

partnerships, and may include owners of incorporated businesses. 5 There were 5 fatalities for which there was insufficient information to determine the age of the decedent. 6 Less than or equal to 0.5 percent. 7 Persons identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. The race categories shown exclude Hispanic and Latino workers.

NOTE: Totals for 2007 are preliminary. Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Percentages may not

add to totals because of rounding. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, in cooperation with State, New York City, District of Columbia, and Federal

agencies, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

10
Table 5. Fatal occupational injuries by state and event or exposure, 2006-2007

State of injury

Total fatalities1 Event or exposure4

2007

20062

(revised) 20073 Transportation

incidents5

Assaults

and violent

acts6

Contact

with

objects

and

equipment

Falls

Exposure

to harmful

substances or

environments

Fires and

explosions

Total .............................................................................. 5,840 5,488 2,234 839 916 835 488 151

Alabama ............................................................................ 100 99 42 18 13 15 8 3

Alaska ............................................................................... 45 30 17 – 4 – 5 –

Arizona .............................................................................. 112 88 30 9 17 20 10 –

Arkansas ........................................................................... 78 87 42 9 18 7 8 3

California ........................................................................... 537 407 148 78 58 66 37 17

Colorado ........................................................................... 137 119 58 18 21 11 11 –

Connecticut ....................................................................... 38 38 8 9 – 10 6 –

Delaware ........................................................................... 15 10 4 3 ––––

District of Columbia ........................................................... 7 13 – 5 – 5 – –

Florida ............................................................................... 360 362 136 70 45 62 42 5

Georgia ............................................................................. 201 171 68 25 31 22 16 8

Hawaii ............................................................................... 30 23 4 4 3 7 5 –

Idaho ................................................................................. 38 30 14 5 6 3 – –

Illinois ................................................................................ 207 182 57 29 24 34 32 6

Indiana .............................................................................. 148 127 62 20 18 13 10 4

Iowa .................................................................................. 71 88 51 5 18 9 3 –

Kansas .............................................................................. 85 100 47 8 23 13 9 –

Kentucky ........................................................................... 147 112 57 10 21 19 – 4

Louisiana ........................................................................... 118 134 70 13 17 15 17 –

Maine ................................................................................ 20 21 11 – 3 5 – –

Maryland ........................................................................... 106 82 33 18 7 14 7 –

Massachusetts .................................................................. 66 74 27 11 5 18 7 6

Michigan ............................................................................ 157 120 35 27 27 17 11 –

Minnesota ......................................................................... 78 72 24 9 16 11 7 5

Mississippi ......................................................................... 96 92 34 14 16 12 13 –

Missouri ............................................................................. 167 155 73 27 23 20 7 4

Montana ............................................................................ 45 54 37 4 5 5 3 –

Nebraska ........................................................................... 57 63 24 13 17 6 – –

Nevada .............................................................................. 49 68 28 7 10 17 5 –

New Hampshire ................................................................ 13 14 4 3 4 – – –

New Jersey ....................................................................... 88 106 40 27 11 17 10 –

New Mexico ...................................................................... 59 43 20 5 9 3 5 –

New York (including N.Y.C.) ............................................. 234 219 71 43 35 53 12 5

New York City ............................................................... 99 81 12 27 12 23 5 –

North Carolina ................................................................... 168 158 72 31 27 18 9 –

North Dakota ..................................................................... 31 23 10 – 7 4 – –

Ohio .................................................................................. 193 164 57 23 37 26 16 4

Oklahoma .......................................................................... 91 104 50 6 20 16 9 –

Oregon .............................................................................. 87 69 29 9 13 13 4 –

Pennsylvania ..................................................................... 240 220 93 36 36 36 12 6

Rhode Island ..................................................................... 10 5 – 3 ––––

South Carolina .................................................................. 95 114 45 25 12 15 7 10

South Dakota .................................................................... 37 21 12 – 3 6 – –

Tennessee ........................................................................ 153 147 66 18 32 25 4 –

Texas ................................................................................ 489 527 192 86 85 78 66 17

Utah .................................................................................. 60 78 38 7 19 3 5 6

Vermont ............................................................................ 14 10 4 – 3 – – –

Virginia .............................................................................. 165 141 53 21 22 25 16 –

Washington ....................................................................... 87 88 36 6 25 11 4 –

West Virginia ..................................................................... 79 61 18 4 17 10 6 5

Wisconsin .......................................................................... 91 103 45 14 20 12 10 –

Wyoming ........................................................................... 36 48 34 – 7 – 3 –

1 State totals include other events and exposures, such as bodily reaction, in addition to those shown separately. 2 The BLS news release issued August 9, 2007, reported a total of 5,703 fatal work injuries for calendar year 2006. Since then, an additional 137

job-related fatalities were identified, bringing the total job-related fatality count for 2006 to 5,840. Includes 5 fatalities that occurred within the territorial

boundaries of the United States, but a State of incident could not be determined. 3 Includes 4 fatalities that occurred within the territorial boundaries of the United States, but a State of incident could not be determined.

4 Based on the 2007 BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification Manual. 5 Includes highway, nonhighway, air, water, rail fatalities, and fatalities resulting from being struck by a vehicle. 6 Includes violence by persons, self-inflicted injuries, and attacks by animals.

 NOTE: Totals for 2007 are preliminary. Totals for 2006 are revised and final. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, in cooperation with State, New York City, District of Columbia, and Federal agencies,

Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

11
12

Table 6. CFOI participating agencies and telephone numbers 

State Agency Telephone number 

Alabama Department of Labor (334) 242-3460 

Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development (907) 465-4539 

Arizona Industrial Commission of Arizona (602) 542-3739 

Arkansas Department of Labor (501) 682-4542 

California Department of Industrial Relations (510) 286-0702 

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (303) 692-2168 

Connecticut Labor Department (860) 263-6933 

Delaware Department of Labor (302) 761-8217 

District of Columbia State Center for Health Statistics (202) 442-9010 

Florida Department of Financial Services (850) 413-1611 

Georgia Department of Labor (404) 679-0687 ext. 113 

Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (808) 586-9001 

Idaho Industrial Commission (208) 334-6090 

Illinois Department of Public Health (217) 558-0500 

Indiana Department of Labor (317) 232-2668 

Iowa Division of Labor Services (515) 281-5151 

Kansas Department of Labor (785) 296-1640 

Kentucky Labor Cabinet (502) 564-4258 

Louisiana Louisiana Workforce Commission (225) 342-3126 

Maine Bureau of Labor Standards (207) 623-7907 

Maryland Division of Labor and Industry (410) 767-2356 

Massachusetts Department of Public Health (617) 624-5679 

Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth (517) 322-1851 

Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (651) 284-5568 

Mississippi Department of Health (601) 576-7186 

Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (573) 751-2454 

Montana Department of Labor and Industry (406) 444-3297 

Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court (402) 471-3547 

Nevada Division of Industrial Relations (775) 684-7081 

New Hampshire Division of Vital Records Administration (603) 271-4647 

New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (609) 984-1863 

New Mexico Occupational Health and Safety Bureau (505) 476-8740 

New York State Department of Health (518) 402-7900 

New York City Department of Health (212) 788-4584 

North Carolina Department of Labor (919) 733-0337 

North Dakota Bureau of Labor Statistics (312) 353-7200 ext. 410 

Ohio Department of Health (614) 728-4116 

Oklahoma Department of Labor (405) 528-1500 ext. 236 

Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (503) 378-7364 

Pennsylvania Department of Health (717) 265-8761 

Rhode Island Department of Health (401) 222-2812 

South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation (803) 896-7673 

South Dakota Bureau of Labor Statistics (312) 353-7200 ext. 410 

Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (615) 741-1749 

Texas Texas Department of Insurance, Division of (512) 804-4651 

 Workers' Compensation 

Utah Utah Occupational Safety and Health Statistics (801) 530-6823 

Vermont Department of Labor (802) 828-5076 

Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (804) 786-1035 

Washington Department of Labor and Industries (360) 902-5512 

West Virginia Division of Labor (304) 558-7890 ext. 121 

Wisconsin Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (608) 221-6289 

Wyoming Department of Employment (307) 473-3819 

Puerto Rico Negociado de Estadisticas (787) 754-5300 
13

TECHNICAL NOTES 

Identification and verification of work-related fatalities 

 In 2007, there were 40 cases included for which work relationship could not be 

independently verified; however, the information on the initiating source document for these 

cases was sufficient to determine that the incident was likely to be job-related. Data for these 

fatalities are included in the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries counts. An additional 31 

fatalities submitted by States were not included because the source documents had insufficient 

information to determine work relationship and could not be verified by either an independent 

source document or a follow-up questionnaire. 

 States may identify additional fatal work injuries after data collection closeout for a 

reference year. In addition, other fatalities excluded from the published count because of 

insufficient information to determine work relationship may subsequently be verified as work 

related. States have up to seven months from this release to update their initial published State 

counts. This procedure ensures that fatality data are disseminated as quickly as possible and that 

legitimate cases are not excluded from the final counts. Thus, each year's initial release of data 

should be considered preliminary. Final data are released in the Spring of the following year. 

Revised counts for 2007 will be available in April 2009. 

Over the last 5 years, increases in the published counts based on additional information have 

averaged approximately 50 fatalities per year or less than 0.9 percent of the revised total. There 

was a larger-than-normal update last year. The BLS news release issued August 9, 2007 

reported a total of 5,703 fatal work injuries for 2006. With the April 2008 release of final data, 

an additional 137 net fatal work injuries were added, bringing the total for 2006 to 5,840. 

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. 

 Several federal and State agencies have jurisdiction over workplace safety and health. 

OSHA and affiliated agencies in States with approved safety programs cover the largest portion 

of the nation's workers. However, injuries and illnesses occurring in certain industries or 

activities, such as coal, metal, and nonmetal mining and highway, water, rail, and air 

transportation, are excluded from OSHA coverage because they are covered by other federal 

agencies, such as the Mine Safety and Health Administration and various agencies within the 

Department of Transportation. 
14

Acknowledgements 

 BLS thanks the participating States, New York City, the District of Columbia, and Puerto 

Rico 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 submitted 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 Employment Standards 

Administration (Federal Employees' Compensation and Longshore and Harbor Workers' 

divisions); the Federal Railroad Administration; the Department of Energy; State vital statistics 

registrars, coroners, and medical examiners; State departments of health, labor and industries, 

and workers' compensation agencies; State and local police departments; and State farm bureaus.