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Technical information: (202) 691-6175 USDL 01-261

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

Internet address: http://stats.bls.gov/oshhome.htm Tuesday, August 14, 2001

 NATIONAL CENSUS OF FATAL OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES IN 2000

A total of 5,915 fatal work injuries were recorded in 2000, a decline of about 2 percent 

from 1999, according to the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, conducted by the Bureau of 

Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. The decline occurred even though overall employment 

increased in 2000. The number of job-related deaths from highway incidents, the most frequent 

fatal work injury, declined for the first time since the fatality census was first conducted 

in 1992. Fatalities resulting from electrocutions, fires and explosions, and contact with 

objects or equipment also were down in 2000. Fatal job-related falls and homicides both 

increased. 

Profiles of 2000 fatal work injuries by type of incident 

Although the number of fatal highway incidents was down about 9 percent from 1999 levels, 

highway crashes continued to be the leading cause of on-the-job fatalities in 2000, accounting 

for nearly a quarter of the fatal work injury total. 

(See chart 1 [in print or .pdf version only] and table 1.) In other transportation incidents, 

fatal work injuries resulting from workers being struck by vehicles or mobile equipment also 

dropped slightly in 2000. In contrast, however, the number of workers killed in nonhighway 

incidents (such as tractor overturns or incidents in which workers fell from and were struck 

by mobile equipment) increased from 352 in 1999 to 399 in 2000. The number of workers 

killed in aircraft and railway events also increased in 2000, though water vehicle incidents 

declined.

Deaths resulting from on-the-job falls increased slightly to 734 in 2000--the largest 

annual total recorded by the fatality census. Falls to a lower level were higher in 2000 

and accounted for 659 of the 734 fatal falls. Fatalities resulting from falls from ladders 

and from nonmoving vehicles were both higher in 2000, though falls from scaffolds, building 

girders, and roofs were down. Falls on the same level declined from 70 to 56 in 2000.

The number of job-related homicides increased for the first time in six years (from 651 in 

1999 to 677 in 2000). However, the total number of workplace homicides in 2000 was 

still 37 percent lower than the high of 1,080 homicides reported in 1994. For those workplace 

homicides where the motive could be ascertained, homicides in which robbery was the 

initial motive increased from 255 cases in 1999 to 291 cases in 2000. 

Fewer workers were killed by electrocution than in any year since the fatality census was 

first conducted. The number of fatal injuries resulting from fires or explosions in 

2000 fell from its highest annual total in 1999 to its lowest annual total since 1992. The 

number of workers who were fatally injured through contact with objects or equipment also 

was down from the previous year, but still accounted for nearly one out of every six fatal 

work injuries in 2000.

Profile of fatal work injuries by industry 
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Construction again recorded the highest number of fatal work injuries of any industry, 

although the total for the industry was down about 3 percent in 2000-the first decline for 

construction since 1996. (See chart 2 [in print or .pdf version only] and table 2.) Fatal work 

injuries in manufacturing (down 7 percent) and in agriculture, forestry, and fishing 

(down 12 percent) reached the lowest levels recorded for those industries. The decrease in 

agriculture, forestry, and fishing occurred despite an increase in the number of fatal 

work injuries in landscape and horticultural services. The number of fatal work injuries 

in the mining industry, however, was higher in 2000, led by an increase in fatal injuries 

in the oil and gas extraction industry. Fatalities also were higher in retail trade, largely 

as a result of the increase in workplace homicides.

Fatal work injuries in the services industry increased about 4 percent in 2000. Fatalities 

in business services increased, led by a rise in work-related deaths in personnel supply 

services. Educational services and membership organizations were some of the other industry 

groups in services recording increases in 2000. Health services, personal services 

(such as laundry services and beauty shops), and amusement/recreation services were 

among the service industries recording lower fatal work injury counts.

Rates of fatal work injury in 2000 were highest in the mining, agriculture, construction, 

and transportation industries. The mining industry recorded a rate of 30.0 fatal work 

injuries per 100,000 workers in 2000, the highest of any industry and about 7 times the 

rate for all workers. Agriculture recorded the second highest rate in 2000 (20.9 fatalities 

per 100,000 workers). Despite an increase in the number of incidents in the services industry 

and in retail trade, the rates for both these industries remained relatively low (2.0 for 

services and 2.7 for retail trade).

Profile of fatal work injuries by occupation 

Operators, fabricators, and laborers recorded the largest number of fatal work injuries of 

any occupational group in 2000, accounting for more than one out of every three fatalities. 

(See table 3.) However, the number of fatalities for this group was down 4 percent from 

1999, and fatal work injuries involving transportation and material moving occupations were 

down 4 percent. Service occupation fatalities also were lower in 2000, despite an increase 

in fatalities involving police and detectives. Fatal work injuries involving farming, 

forestry, and fishing occupations were down sharply, from 904 in 1999 to 806 in 

2000-a decline of 11 percent. Two other occupational groups--managerial and professional 

specialty occupations and technical, sales, and administrative support 

occupations--recorded increases in 2000. 

Truck drivers were fatally injured on the job more than any other individual occupation, 

although fatal work injuries for this occupation declined 5 percent in 2000. Fatalities 

involving airplane pilots and navigators rose from 94 in 1999 to 130 in 2000. The fatality 

rate for this occupation (100.8 for every 100,000 employed) was exceeded only by timber 

cutters (122.1) and fishers (108.3). (See chart 3. [in print and .pdf version only])

Profile of fatal work injuries by demographic characteristics 

The numbers of fatal work injuries among white (non-Hispanic) and black (non-Hispanic) 

workers were lower in 2000, but fatal injuries among Hispanic or Latino workers were up 

sharply, from 730 in 1999 to 815 in 2000. (See table 4.) This increase in Hispanic worker 

fatalities was led by a 24 percent jump in construction fatalities involving Hispanic 

workers. Nationally, Hispanic employment was up 6 percent in 2000. 
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Fatal work injuries to men were down nearly 3 percent, although fatalities to women 

increased slightly in 2000. There was an increase in self-employed workers fatally 

injured on the job (up 3 percent in 2000). Self-employed workers, who constitute only 

7 percent of employment, accounted for 20 percent of the fatality total.

On average, about 16 workers were fatally injured each day during 2000. There were 

214 multiple-fatality incidents (incidents that resulted in two or more worker deaths), 

resulting in 531 job-related deaths. The multiple-fatality count for 2000 represents a 

substantial decrease over the 1999 count when 235 multiple-fatality events were reported 

involving 617 job-related deaths.

Profile of fatal work injuries by state and region 

Thirty-three states and the District of Columbia reported fewer fatal work injuries in 

2000 than in 1999. The number of fatal work injuries also declined in 3 of the 4 census 

regions in 2000. (See table 5.) 

For state results beyond those presented here, please contact the individual state agency 

responsible for the collection of CFOI data in that state. A list of those agencies, with 

telephone numbers, is provided in table 6.

Background of the program

The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, part of the BLS occupational safety and 

health statistics program, provides the most complete count of fatal work injuries 

available. The program uses diverse state and federal data sources to identify, verify, 

and profile fatal work injuries. Information about each workplace fatality (occupation 

and other worker characteristics, equipment being used, and circumstances of the event) 

is obtained by cross-referencing source documents, such as death certificates, workers' 

compensation records, and reports to federal and state agencies. This method assures counts 

are as complete and accurate as possible. 

This is the ninth year that the fatality census has been conducted in all 50 states and 

the District of Columbia. The BLS fatality census is a federal/state cooperative venture 

in which costs are shared equally. Additional state-specific data are available from the 

participating state agencies listed in table 6.

Another BLS program, the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, profiles worker and 

case characteristics of nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses that result in lost worktime 

and presents frequency counts and incidence rates by industry. Copies of the 1999 news release 

on nonfatal injuries and illnesses are available from BLS by calling (202) 691-6179 or by 

accessing the website listed below. Incidence rates for 2000 by industry will be published in 

December 2001, and information on 2000 worker and case characteristics will be available in 

April 2002. For additional data, access the BLS Internet site: http://www.bls.gov/oshhome.htm. 

To request a copy of BLS Report 954 which includes several articles and highlights 1998 and 

1999 fatality data, e-mail your address to CFOIstaff@bls.gov or write to 

Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Room 3180, Washington, DC 20212.

 Table 1. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure,

 1995-2000

 _________________________________________________________________

 | 
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 | Fatalities 

 _______________________________________

 | 

 | | | 

 Event or exposure(1) | | 1999(2) | 2000 

 _____________________________

 | 1995-99 | | 

 | average | | | 

 | | Number | Number | Percent 

 _________________________________________________________________

 | | | | 

 | | | | 

 Total..................| 6,165 | 6,054 | 5,915 | 100 

 | | | | 

 Transportation incidents.| 2,611 | 2,618 | 2,571 | 43 

 Highway................| 1,405 | 1,496 | 1,363 | 23 

 Collision between | | | | 

 vehicles, mobile | | | | 

 equipment...........| 674 | 714 | 694 | 12 

 Moving in same | | | | 

 direction.........| 115 | 129 | 136 | 2 

 Moving in opposite | | | | 

 directions, | | | | 

 oncoming..........| 248 | 270 | 243 | 4 

 Moving in | | | | 

 intersection......| 140 | 161 | 153 | 3 

 Vehicle struck | | | | 

 stationary object or| | | | 

 equipment...........| 288 | 334 | 279 | 5 

 Noncollision.........| 371 | 390 | 356 | 6 

 Jack-knifed or | | | | 

 overturned--no | | | | 

 collision.........| 290 | 322 | 304 | 5 

 Nonhighway (farm, | | | | 

 industrial premises)..| 376 | 352 | 399 | 7 

 Overturned...........| 211 | 206 | 213 | 4 

 Aircraft...............| 264 | 228 | 280 | 5 

 Worker struck by a | | | | 

 vehicle...............| 380 | 377 | 370 | 6 

 Water vehicle..........| 106 | 102 | 84 | 1 

 Rail vehicle...........| 73 | 56 | 71 | 1 

 | | | | 

 Assaults and violent acts| 1,085 | 909 | 929 | 16 

 Homicides..............| 837 | 651 | 677 | 11 

 Shooting.............| 663 | 509 | 533 | 9 

 Stabbing.............| 69 | 62 | 66 | 1 

 Other, including | | | | 

 bombing.............| 106 | 80 | 78 | 1 

 Self-inflicted injury..| 216 | 218 | 220 | 4 

 | | | | 

 | | | | 

 Contact with objects and | | | | 

 equipment...............| 987 | 1,030 | 1,005 | 17 

 Struck by object.......| 563 | 585 | 570 | 10 
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 Struck by falling | | | | 

 object..............| 361 | 358 | 357 | 6 

 Struck by flying | | | | 

 object..............| 58 | 55 | 61 | 1 

 Caught in or compressed| | | | 

 by equipment or | | | | 

 objects...............| 286 | 302 | 294 | 5 

 Caught in running | | | | 

 equipment or | | | | 

 machinery...........| 152 | 163 | 157 | 3 

 Caught in or crushed in| | | | 

 collapsing materials..| 123 | 129 | 123 | 2 

 | | | | 

 Falls....................| 697 | 721 | 734 | 12 

 Fall to lower level....| 620 | 634 | 659 | 11 

 Fall from ladder.....| 103 | 96 | 110 | 2 

 Fall from roof.......| 151 | 153 | 150 | 3 

 Fall from scaffold, | | | | 

 staging.............| 89 | 92 | 85 | 1 

 Fall on same level.....| 54 | 70 | 56 | 1 

 | | | | 

 Exposure to harmful | | | | 

 substances or | | | | 

 environments............| 561 | 533 | 480 | 8 

 Contact with electric | | | | 

 current...............| 308 | 280 | 256 | 4 

 Contact with overhead| | | | 

 power lines.........| 134 | 125 | 128 | 2 

 Contact with | | | | 

 temperature extremes..| 46 | 51 | 29 | (3) 

 Exposure to caustic, | | | | 

 noxious, or allergenic| | | | 

 substances............| 113 | 108 | 100 | 2 

 | | | | 

 Inhalation of | | | | 

 substance...........| 60 | 55 | 48 | 1 

 Oxygen deficiency......| 92 | 92 | 93 | 2 

 Drowning, submersion.| 74 | 75 | 74 | 1 

 | | | | 

 Fires and explosions.....| 202 | 216 | 177 | 3 

 | | | | 

 Other events or | | | | 

 exposures(4)............| 21 | 27 | 19 | (3) 

 _________________________________________________________________

 1 Based on the 1992 BLS Occupational Injury and Illness

 Classification Manual.

 2 The BLS news release issued August 17, 2000, reported a total

 of 6,023 fatal work injuries for calendar year 1999. Since then,

 an additional 31 job-related fatalities were identified, bringing

 the total job-related fatality count for 1999 to 6,054.

 3 Less than 0.5 percent.

 4 Includes the category "Bodily reaction and exertion."

 NOTE: Totals for major categories may include subcategories not
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 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 and Federal agencies, Census of Fatal

 Occupational Injuries

 Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries and employment by industry, 1995-2000

 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

 | | | 

 | | Fatalities | Employment(2) 

 | | | (in thousands) 

 ___________________________________________________________

 | | | 

 Industry | SIC | | | | | 

 | code | | 1999(1) | 2000 | | 

 _____________________________ 

 | | 1995-99 | | | Number | Percent 

 | | average | | | | | 

 | | | Number | Number | Percent | | 

 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

 | | | | | | | 

 | | | | | | | 

 Total..................| | 6,165 | 6,054 | 5,915 | 100 | 136,377 | 100 

 | | | | | | | 

 Private industry.........| | 5,530 | 5,488 | 5,344 | 90 | 116,134 | 85 

 | | | | | | | 

 Agriculture, forestry | | | | | | | 

 and fishing...........| | 819 | 814 | 720 | 12 | 3,380 | 2 

 Agricultural | | | | | | | 

 production - crops..| 01 | 362 | 356 | 277 | 5 | 987 | 1 

 Agricultural | | | | | | | 

 production - | | | | | | | 

 livestock...........| 02 | 168 | 164 | 132 | 2 | 990 | 1 

 Agricultural services| 07 | 168 | 164 | 213 | 4 | 1,306 | 1 

 | | | | | | | 

 Mining.................| | 147 | 122 | 156 | 3 | 520 | - 

 Coal mining..........| 12 | 36 | 35 | 40 | 1 | 76 | - 

 Oil and gas | | | | | | | 

 extraction..........| 13 | 74 | 50 | 83 | 1 | 313 | - 

 | | | | | | | 

 Construction...........| | 1,115 | 1,191 | 1,154 | 20 | 8,949 | 7 

 General building | | | | | | | 

 contractors.........| 15 | 190 | 183 | 175 | 3 | - | - 

 Heavy construction, | | | | | | | 

 except building.....| 16 | 260 | 280 | 284 | 5 | - | - 

 Special trade | | | | | | | 

 contractors.........| 17 | 652 | 710 | 672 | 11 | - | - 

 | | | | | | | 

 Manufacturing..........| | 720 | 722 | 668 | 11 | 19,868| 15 

 Food and kindred | | | | | | | 

 products............| 20 | 76 | 83 | 68 | 1 | 1,661| 1 

 Lumber and wood | | | | | | | 

 products............| 24 | 190 | 190 | 186 | 3 | 782| 1 
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 | | | | | | | 

 Transportation and | | | | | | | 

 public utilities......| | 960 | 1,008 | 957 | 16 | 8,084| 6 

 Local and interurban | | | | | | | 

 passenger | | | | | | | 

 transportation......| 41 | 98 | 102 | 84 | 1 | 574| - 

 | | | | | | | 

 Trucking and | | | | | | | 

 warehousing.........| 42 | 548 | 607 | 566 | 10 | 2,733| 2 

 Transportation by air| 45 | 85 | 74 | 97 | 2 | 889| 1 

 Electric, gas, and | | | | | | | 

 sanitary services...| 49 | 88 | 86 | 84 | 1 | 1,007| 1 

 | | | | | | | 

 Wholesale trade........| | 247 | 238 | 230 | 4 | 5,407| 4 

 | | | | | | | 

 Retail trade...........| | 624 | 513 | 594 | 10 | 22,315| 16 

 Food stores..........| 54 | 163 | 118 | 145 | 2 | 3,385| 2 

 Automotive dealers | | | | | | | 

 and service stations| 55 | 108 | 83 | 95 | 2 | 2,246| 2 

 Eating and drinking | | | | | | | 

 places..............| 58 | 148 | 146 | 138 | 2 | 6,836| 5 

 | | | | | | | 

 Finance, insurance, and| | | | | | | 

 real estate...........| | 107 | 107 | 79 | 1 | 8,538| 6 

 | | | | | | | 

 Services...............| | 750 | 736 | 768 | 13 | 39,170| 29 

 Business services....| 73 | 184 | 161 | 199 | 3 | 9,602| 7 

 Automotive repair, | | | | | | | 

 services, and | | | | | | | 

 parking.............| 75 | 119 | 133 | 132 | 2 | 1,622| 1 

 | | | | | | | 

 Government(3)............| | 634 | 566 | 571 | 10 | 20,243| 15 

 | | | | | | | 

 Federal (including | | | | | | | 

 resident armed forces)| | 191 | 148 | 149 | 3 | 4,461| 3 

 State..................| | 125 | 109 | 108 | 2 | 5,468| 4 

 Local..................| | 312 | 303 | 310 | 5 | 10,314| 8 

 Police protection....| 9221 | 99 | 91 | 112 | 2 | - | -

 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 1 The BLS news release issued August 17, 2000, reported a total of 6,023 fatal work injuries

 for calendar year 1999. Since then, an additional 31 job-related fatalities were identified,

 bringing the total job-related fatality count for 1999 to 6,054.

 2 The employment is an annual average of employed civilians 16 years of age and older, plus

 resident military forces, from the Current Population Survey, 2000.

 3 Includes fatalities to workers employed by governmental organizations regardless of

 industry.

 NOTE: Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. 

 Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding.

 There were 17 fatalities for which there was insufficient information to determine a specific

 industry classification, though a distinction between private and government was made for each.

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

 Federal agencies, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

 Table 3. Fatal occupational injuries by occupation and selected event or exposure, 2000

 _____________________________________________________________________________________________

 | | 

 | Fatalities | Selected events or exposures(2) 

 | | (percent) 

 ___________________________________________________________________

 Occupation(1) | | 

 | | | | | | 

 | Number | Percent | Highway(3)| Homicide | Struck by | Fall to 

 | | | | | object |lower level

 _____________________________________________________________________________________________

 | | | | | | 

 | | | | | | 

 Total..................| 5,915 | 100 | 23 | 11 | 10 | 11 

 | | | | | | 

 Managerial and | | | | | | 

 professional specialty..| 642 | 11 | 23 | 22 | 4 | 6 

 Executive, | | | | | | 

 administrative, and | | | | | | 

 managerial...........| 397 | 7 | 20 | 29 | 5 | 7 

 Managers, food | | | | | | 

 serving and lodging | | | | | | 

 establishments......| 70 | 1 | 7 | 67 | - | - 

 Professional specialty.| 245 | 4 | 27 | 10 | 2 | 5 

 | | | | | | 

 Technical, sales, and | | | | | | 

 administrative support..| 686 | 12 | 20 | 34 | 1 | 4 

 Technicians and related| | | | | | 

 support occupations...| 194 | 3 | 12 | - | - | 5 

 Airplane pilots and | | | | | | 

 navigators..........| 130 | 2 | - | - | - | - 

 Sales occupations......| 386 | 7 | 21 | 53 | 2 | 3 

 Supervisors and | | | | | | 

 proprietors, sales | | | | | | 

 occupations.........| 185 | 3 | 12 | 59 | 3 | - 

 Sales workers, retail| | | | | | 

 and personal | | | | | | 

 services............| 162 | 3 | 23 | 56 | - | 3 

 Cashiers...........| 68 | 1 | - | 82 | - | - 

 Administrative support | | | | | | 

 occupations, including| | | | | | 

 clerical..............| 106 | 2 | 33 | 29 | - | 8 

 | | | | | | 

 Service occupations......| 431 | 7 | 22 | 30 | 3 | 8 

 Protective service | | | | | | 

 occupations...........| 257 | 4 | 28 | 33 | - | 2 

 Firefighting, | | | | | | 

 including | | | | | | 

 supervisors.........| 43 | 1 | 26 | - | - | - 

 Police and | | | | | | 

 detectives, | | | | | | 

 including | | | | | | 
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 supervisors.........| 142 | 2 | 38 | 35 | - | - 

 | | | | | | 

 Guards, including | | | | | | 

 supervisors.........| 72 | 1 | 10 | 46 | - | - 

 Cleaning and building | | | | | | 

 service...............| 78 | 1 | 9 | 15 | 6 | 32 

 | | | | | | 

 Farming, forestry, and | | | | | | 

 fishing.................| 806 | 14 | 9 | 2 | 23 | 7 

 Farm operators and | | | | | | 

 managers..............| 320 | 5 | 8 | - | 17 | 4 

 Farmers, except | | | | | | 

 horticultural.......| 251 | 4 | 6 | - | 16 | 3 

 Managers, farms, | | | | | | 

 except horitcultural| 59 | 1 | 12 | - | 20 | - 

 Other agricultural and | | | | | | 

 related occupations...| 320 | 5 | 12 | 3 | 15 | 12 

 Farm occupations, | | | | | | 

 except managerial...| 168 | 3 | 14 | - | 8 | 7 

 Farm workers, | | | | | | 

 including | | | | | | 

 supervisors.......| 166 | 3 | 14 | - | 8 | 6 

 Related agricultural | | | | | | 

 occupations.........| 152 | 3 | 11 | 3 | 24 | 18 

 Groundskeepers and | | | | | | 

 gardeners, except | | | | | | 

 farm..............| 130 | 2 | 9 | - | 25 | 18 

 Forestry and logging | | | | | | 

 occupations...........| 113 | 2 | 4 | - | 68 | 4 

 Timber cutting and | | | | | | 

 logging occupations.| 95 | 2 | - | - | 74 | - 

 Fishers, hunters, and | | | | | | 

 trappers..............| 53 | 1 | - | - | - | - 

 Fishers, including | | | | | | 

 vessel captains and | | | | | | 

 officers............| 52 | 1 | - | - | - | - 

 | | | | | | 

 Precision production, | | | | | | 

 craft, and repair.......| 1,105 | 19 | 11 | 3 | 12 | 27 

 Mechanics and repairers| 322 | 5 | 16 | 5 | 17 | 16 

 Construction trades....| 613 | 10 | 9 | 2 | 8 | 38 

 | | | | | | 

 Carpenters and | | | | | | 

 apprentices.........| 91 | 2 | 7 | - | 11 | 52 

 Electricians and | | | | | | 

 apprentices.........| 89 | 2 | 7 | - | - | 17 

 Roofers..............| 65 | 1 | - | - | - | 74 

 Structural metal | | | | | | 

 workers.............| 47 | 1 | - | - | 15 | 55 

 Extractive occupations.| 69 | 1 | 12 | - | 19 | 9 

 | | | | | | 

 Operators, fabricators, | | | | | | 

 and laborers............| 2,118 | 36 | 37 | 5 | 10 | 9 

 Machine operators, | | | | | | 
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 assemblers, and | | | | | | 

 inspectors............| 237 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 18 | 12 

 Transportation and | | | | | | 

 material moving | | | | | | 

 occupations...........| 1,264 | 21 | 55 | 5 | 6 | 3 

 Motor vehicle | | | | | | 

 operators...........| 1,002 | 17 | 67 | 6 | 5 | 2 

 Truck drivers......| 852 | 14 | 70 | 2 | 6 | 2 

 Taxicab drivers and| | | | | | 

 chauffeurs........| 70 | 1 | 31 | 60 | - | - 

 Material moving | | | | | | 

 equipment operators.| 215 | 4 | 10 | - | 14 | 8 

 Handlers, equipment | | | | | | 

 cleaners, helpers, and| | | | | | 

 laborers..............| 617 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 13 | 20 

 Construction laborers| 288 | 5 | 10 | 2 | 13 | 29 

 Laborers, except | | | | | | 

 construction........| 178 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 15 | 12 

 Military occupations(4)| 87 | 1 | 8 | - | - | - 

 _____________________________________________________________________________________________

 1 Based on the 1990 Occupational Classification System developed by the Bureau of the

 Census.

 2 The figure shown is the percent of the total fatalities for that occupational 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 Resident armed forces.

 NOTE: Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. 

 Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding.

 There were 40 fatalities for which there was insufficient information to determine a

 specific occupation classification. 

 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

 and Federal agencies, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

 Table 4. Fatal occupational injuries by selected worker characteristics, 2000

 __________________________________________________________________________________________

 | | | 

 | Fatalities | Employment(1) | 

 | | (in thousands) | Most frequent events 

 _______________________________________ 

 Characteristics | | | (percent of total) 

 | | | | | 

 | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | 

 __________________________________________________________________________________________

 | | | | | 

 | | | | | 

 Total..................| 5,915 | 100 | 136,377 | 100 |Highway (23), falls (12)

 | | | | | 

 Employee status | | | | | 

 | | | | | 

 | | | | | 
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 Wage and salary | | | | | 

 workers(2)..............| 4,731 | 80 | 126,331 | 92 |Highway (26), falls (13)

 Self-employed(3).........| 1,184 | 20 | 10,046| 7 |Homicides (16), highway (13)

 | | | | | 

 Sex | | | | | 

 | | | | | 

 | | | | | 

 Men......................| 5,467 | 92 | 73,293| 54 |Highway (22), falls (13)

 Women....................| 448 | 8 | 63,083| 46 |Highway (31), homicides (30)

 | | | | | 

 Age | | | | | 

 | | | | | 

 | | | | | 

 Under 16 years.........| 29 | (4) | - | - |Highway (24), nonhighway(21)

 16 to 17 years.........| 44 | 1 | 2,782| 2 |Nonhighway (20), highway (18)

 18 to 19 years.........| 127 | 2 | 4,620| 3 |Highway (26), falls (14)

 20 to 24 years.........| 444 | 8 | 13,690| 10 |Highway (21), falls (11)

 25 to 34 years.........| 1,161 | 20 | 30,896| 23 |Highway (23), homicides (12) 

 35 to 44 years.........| 1,473 | 25 | 36,941| 27 |Highway (24), homicides (12) 

 45 to 54 years.........| 1,313 | 22 | 29,750| 22 |Highway (23), homicides (13) 

 55 to 64 years.........| 830 | 14 | 13,627| 10 |Highway (22), falls (13)

 65 and over............| 488 | 8 | 4,071| 3 |Highway (20), nonhighway(17) 

 | | | | | 

 | | | | | 

 Race or ethnic origin(5) | | | | | 

 | | | | | 

 White....................| 4,240 | 72 | 100,457 | 74 |Highway (24), falls (12)

 Black or African American| 574 | 10 | 14,858| 11 |Highway (27), homicides (21) 

 Hispanic or Latino.......| 815 | 14 | 14,589| 11 |Falls (20), highway (18)

 American Indian or | | | | | 

 Alaskan Native..........| 33 | 1 | - | - |Highway (18), falls (15)

 Asian....................| 171 | 3 | - | - | Homicides (48) 

 Native Hawaiian or | | | | | 

 Pacific Islander........| 14 | (4) | - | - | - 

 Other races or not | | | | | 

 reported................| 68 | 1 | - | - |Homicides (29), highway (15)

 __________________________________________________________________________________________

 1 The employment is an annual average of employed civilians 16 years of age and older,

 plus resident military forces, from the Current Population Survey, 2000.

 2 May include volunteers and other workers receiving compensation. 

 3 Includes paid and unpaid family workers, and may include owners of incorporated

 businesses, or members of partnerships.

 4 Less than 0.5 percent.

 5 The categories "White" and "Black or African American" do not include "Hispanic or Latino"

 persons. Persons identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. 

 NOTE: Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. 

 Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding.

 There were 6 fatalities for which there was insufficient information to determine the

 age of the decedent. 

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

 and Federal agencies, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

 Table 5. Fatal occupational injuries by State and event or exposure, 2000

 
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________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________

 | | 

 | Fatalities | Event or exposure 

 _______________________________________________________________________________

 | | 

 | | | | | | | | 

 | | | | | | | Exposure| 

 | | | Trans- | | Contact | | to | 

 State of injury | | |portation| Assaults| with | | harmful| Fires 

 | 1999(1) | 2000(2) | in- | and | objects | Falls | sub | and 

 | | |cidents(-| violent | and | | stances |explosio-

 | | | 3) | acts(4) |equipment| | or | ns 

 | | | | | | | environ-| 

 | | | | | | | ments | 

 

________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________

 | | | | | | | | 

 | | | | | | | | 

 Total..................| 6,054 | 5,915 | 43 | 16 | 17 | 12 | 8 | 3 

 | | | | | | | | 

 Northeast................| 758 | 730 | 37 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 6 | 3 

 Connecticut............| 38 | 55 | 33 | 16 | 29 | 13 | - | - 

 Maine..................| 32 | 26 | 65 | - | - | - | - | - 

 Massachusetts..........| 83 | 67 | 31 | 24 | 16 | 18 | - | 9 

 New Hampshire..........| 14 | 13 | 38 | - | - | - | - | - 

 New Jersey.............| 104 | 115 | 43 | 13 | 17 | 20 | 5 | - 

 New York (inc. N.Y.C.).| 241 | 233 | 28 | 29 | 16 | 18 | 5 | 3 

 New York City........| 120 | 111 | 14 | 52 | 7 | 16 | - | 5 

 Pennsylvania...........| 221 | 199 | 44 | 13 | 18 | 15 | 9 | - 

 Rhode Island...........| 11 | 7 | - | - | - | - | - | - 

 Vermont................| 14 | 15 | - | - | 53 | - | - | - 

 Midwest..................| 1,426 | 1,334 | 43 | 14 | 20 | 13 | 7 | 3 

 Illinois...............| 208 | 205 | 41 | 14 | 21 | 12 | 5 | 4 

 Indiana................| 171 | 159 | 42 | 18 | 17 | 9 | 11 | - 

 Iowa...................| 80 | 71 | 42 | - | 18 | 20 | 14 | - 

 Kansas.................| 87 | 85 | 59 | 6 | 12 | 18 | - | - 

 Michigan...............| 182 | 156 | 32 | 17 | 24 | 13 | 10 | 4 

 Minnesota..............| 72 | 68 | 37 | 7 | 26 | 19 | - | - 

 Missouri...............| 165 | 148 | 46 | 20 | 13 | 10 | 5 | 5 

 Nebraska...............| 66 | 59 | 66 | - | 19 | - | - | - 

 North Dakota...........| 22 | 34 | 26 | - | 35 | 15 | - | - 

 Ohio...................| 222 | 207 | 40 | 17 | 19 | 15 | 7 | - 

 South Dakota...........| 46 | 35 | 54 | - | 17 | - | - | - 

 Wisconsin..............| 105 | 107 | 46 | 13 | 23 | 8 | 7 | - 

 South....................| 2,565 | 2,599 | 43 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 9 | 3 

 Alabama................| 123 | 103 | 56 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 8 | - 

 Arkansas...............| 76 | 106 | 53 | 14 | 20 | 8 | - | - 

 Delaware...............| 14 | 13 | - | - | - | - | - | - 

 District of Columbia...| 14 | 13 | - | 62 | - | - | - | - 

 Florida................| 345 | 329 | 41 | 20 | 13 | 16 | 8 | 2 

 Georgia................| 229 | 195 | 45 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 9 | 3 

 Kentucky...............| 120 | 132 | 49 | 10 | 20 | 10 | 8 | - 
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 Louisiana..............| 141 | 143 | 48 | 8 | 17 | 12 | 11 | 4 

 Maryland...............| 82 | 84 | 33 | 19 | 17 | 21 | 8 | - 

 Mississippi............| 128 | 125 | 50 | 14 | 19 | 4 | 9 | - 

 North Carolina.........| 222 | 234 | 43 | 17 | 17 | 13 | 8 | 2 

 Oklahoma...............| 99 | 82 | 50 | 11 | 15 | - | 11 | 7 

 South Carolina.........| 139 | 114 | 47 | 14 | 18 | 7 | 8 | 4 

 Tennessee..............| 154 | 160 | 44 | 15 | 19 | 11 | 10 | - 

 Texas..................| 468 | 572 | 38 | 18 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 4 

 Virginia...............| 154 | 148 | 32 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 8 

 West Virginia..........| 57 | 46 | 50 | 11 | 20 | - | - | - 

 West.....................| 1,284 | 1,248 | 49 | 16 | 15 | 10 | 8 | 2 

 Alaska.................| 42 | 53 | 74 | - | 15 | - | - | - 

 Arizona................| 70 | 118 | 58 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 6 | - 

 California.............| 602 | 553 | 42 | 20 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 2 

 Colorado...............| 106 | 117 | 50 | 21 | 13 | 10 | 6 | - 

 Hawaii.................| 32 | 20 | 30 | 40 | - | - | - | - 

 Idaho..................| 43 | 35 | 66 | - | 17 | - | - | - 

 Montana................| 49 | 42 | 52 | 14 | 24 | - | - | - 

 Nevada.................| 58 | 51 | 65 | 14 | - | - | - | - 

 New Mexico.............| 39 | 35 | 57 | - | 17 | - | - | - 

 Oregon.................| 69 | 52 | 46 | - | 27 | - | - | - 

 Utah...................| 54 | 61 | 52 | - | 15 | 8 | 11 | 10 

 Washington.............| 88 | 75 | 44 | 13 | 25 | 11 | - | - 

 Wyoming................| 32 | 36 | 47 | - | 19 | - | - | - 

 

________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________

 1 The BLS news release issued August 17, 2000, reported a total of 6,023 fatal work injuries for

 calendar year 1999. Since then, an additional 31 job-related fatalities were identified, bringing the

 total job-related fatality count for 1999 to 6,054.

 2 Includes 4 fatalities that occurred inside the U.S. territorial boundaries, but a State of incident

 could not be determined.

 3 Includes highway, nonhighway, air, water, rail fatalities, and fatalities resulting from being struck

 by a vehicle.

 4 Includes violence by persons, self-inflicted injury, and attacks by animals.

 NOTE: 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 and Federal

 agencies, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

Table 6. CFOI participating state 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 (415) 703-4776

Colorado Department of Public Health (303) 692-2173

Connecticut Labor Department (860) 566-4380

Delaware Department of Labor (302) 761-8223

District of Columbia Center for Health Statistics (202) 442-5920
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Florida Department of Labor and Employment Security (850) 922-8953

Georgia Department of Labor (404) 679-0687

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

Idaho Industrial Commission (208) 334-6090

Illinois Department of Public Health (217) 782-5750

Indiana Department of Labor (317) 232-2668

Iowa Division of Labor Services (515) 281-5151

Kansas Department of Health and Environment (785) 296-1058

Kentucky Labor Cabinet (502) 564-3070

Louisiana Department of Labor (225) 342-3126

Maine Bureau of Labor Standards (207) 624-6440

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

Massachusetts Department of Public Health (617) 624-5627

Michigan Department of Consumer and Industry Services (517) 322-5258

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

Mississippi Department of Health (601) 576-7186

Missouri Department of Health (573) 751-6155

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

Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court (402) 471-3547

Nevada Division of Industrial Relations (775) 684-7082

New Hampshire Department of Public Health (603) 271-4647

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

New Mexico Occupational Health and Safety Bureau (505) 827-4230

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

New York City Department of Health (212) 788-4585

North Carolina Department of Labor (919) 733-0337

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

Ohio Department of Health (614) 466-4183

Oklahoma Department of Labor (405) 528-1500

Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (503) 947-7051

Pennsylvania Department of Health (717) 783-2548

Rhode Island Department of Health (401) 222-2812

South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation (803) 734-4298

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

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

Texas Workers' Compensation Commission (512) 804-4651

Utah Labor Commission (801) 530-6823

Vermont Department of Labor and Industry (802) 828-5076

Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (804) 786-6427

Washington Department of Labor and Industries (360) 902-5510

West Virginia Department of Labor (304) 558-7890

Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (608) 266-7850

Wyoming Bureau of Labor Statistics (816) 426-2483

TECHNICAL NOTES

Definitions

For a fatality to be included in the census, the decedent must have been employed (that is 

working for pay, compensation, or profit) at the time of the event, engaged in a legal 

work activity, or present at the site of the incident as a requirement of his or her job. These 

criteria are generally broader than those used by federal and state agencies administering 

specific laws and regulations. (Fatalities that occur during a person's commute to or from 

work are excluded from the census counts.)
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Data presented in this release include deaths occurring in 2000 that resulted from traumatic 

occupational injuries. An injury is defined as any intentional or unintentional wound or 

damage to the body resulting from acute exposure to energy, such as heat, electricity, or 

kinetic energy from a crash, or from the absence of such essentials as heat or oxygen caused 

by a specific event, incident, or series of events within a single workday or shift. Included 

are open wounds, intracranial and internal injuries, heatstroke, hypothermia, asphyxiation, acute 

poisonings resulting from short-term exposures limited to the worker's shift, suicides and 

homicides, and work injuries listed as underlying or contributory causes of death.

Information on work-related fatal illnesses is not reported in the BLS census and is excluded 

from the attached tables because the latency period of many occupational illnesses and the 

difficulty of linking illnesses to work make identification of a universe problematic. 

Measurement techniques and limitations

Data for the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries are compiled from various federal, 

state, and local administrative sources--including death certificates, workers' 

compensation reports and claims, reports to various regulatory agencies, medical examiner 

reports, and police reports--as well as news and other non-governmental reports. Diverse 

sources are used because studies have shown that no single source captures all job-related 

fatalities. Source documents are matched so that each fatality is counted only once. To 

ensure that a fatality occurred while the decedent was at work, information is verified from 

two or more independent source documents or from a source document and a follow-up 

questionnaire. Approximately 30 data elements are collected, coded, and tabulated, 

including information about the worker, the fatal incident, and the machinery or 

equipment involved.

Identification and verification of work-related fatalities.

In 2000, there were 147 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, which primarily affected self-employed workers, are included in the Census of 

Fatal Occupational Injuries counts. An additional 20 fatalities submitted by states were 

not included because the initiating source document 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 one year to update their initial published state counts. This 

procedure ensures that fatality data are disseminated as quickly as possible and that no 

legitimate case is excluded from the counts. Thus, each year's report should be considered 

preliminary until the next year's data are issued. Increases in the published counts based 

on additional information have averaged less than 100 fatalities per year or less than 

1.5 percent of the total. The BLS news release issued August 17, 2000, reported a total 

of 6,023 fatal work injuries for 1999. Since then, an additional 31 fatal work injuries were 

identified, bringing the total for 1999 to 6,054.

Federal/state agency coverage

The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries includes data for all fatal work injuries, whether 

they are covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) or other federal 
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or state agencies or are 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.

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. Fatalities occurring in activities regulated by federal 

agencies other than OSHA accounted for about 15 percent of the fatal work injuries in 2000.

Fatalities occurring among several other groups of workers are generally not covered by any 

federal or state agencies. These groups include self-employed and unpaid family workers, 

which accounted for about 20 percent of the fatalities; laborers on small farms, accounting 

for about 1 percent of the fatalities; and state and local government employees in states 

without OSHA-approved safety programs, which accounted for about 4 percent. 

(Approximately one-half of the states have approved OSHA safety programs, which cover 

state and local government employees.) 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: BLS thanks the participating states 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 agencies 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 

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.