For release 10:00 a.m. (EDT) Thursday, August 22, 2013 USDL-13-1699 

Technical information: (202) 691-6170 • iifstaff@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm 

Media contact: (202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov

NATIONAL CENSUS OF FATAL OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES IN 2012

(PRELIMINARY RESULTS)

A preliminary total of 4,383 fatal work injuries were recorded in the United States in 2012, down from a 

revised count of 4,693 fatal work injuries in 2011, according to results from the Census of Fatal 

Occupational Injuries (CFOI) conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The 2012 total 

represents the second lowest preliminary total since CFOI was first conducted in 1992. The rate of fatal 

work injury for U.S. workers in 2012 was 3.2 per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers, down 

from a rate of 3.5 per 100,000 in 2011. 

Over the last 5 years, net increases to the preliminary count have ranged from 84 in 2011 to 211 in 2009.

The revised 2011 figure represented a 2 percent increase over the preliminary total, while the 2009 

figure was a 5 percent increase. Revised 2012 data from CFOI will be released in the late Spring

of 2014. 

Key preliminary findings of the 2012 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries:

• Fatal work injuries in the private construction sector increased 5 percent to 775 in 2012 from 738 

in 2011. Total hours worked in the private construction industry increased one percent in 2012. 

The increase in fatal occupational injuries in 2012 follows five consecutive years of declining 

fatal injury counts in the construction sector. Fatal construction injuries are down 37 percent 

since 2006. 

• Since 2011, CFOI has identified whether fatally-injured workers were working as contractors at 

the time of the fatal incident. In 2012, 708 decedents were identified as contractors, many of 

whom worked in construction and transportation occupations. 

• Fatal work injuries declined among non-Hispanic white workers (down 10 percent) and Hispanic 

or Latino workers (down 5 percent) in 2012. Fatal work injuries were higher among nonHispanic black or African-American workers and non-Hispanic Asian workers. 

• Fatal work injuries involving workers under 16 years of age nearly doubled, rising from 10 in 

2011 to 19 in 2012—the highest total since 2005. Fatal work injuries in the other age groups 

declined in 2012. Fatal work injuries among workers 55 years of age and older declined for the 

second straight year.

• Work-related suicides declined 10 percent from 2011 totals, but violence accounted for about 

17 percent of all fatal work injuries in 2012. 

• Fatal work injuries in the private mining sector rose in 2012, led by an increase in fatal injuries 

to workers in oil and gas extraction industries. Fatal work injuries in oil and gas extraction 

industries rose 23 percent to 138 in 2012, reaching a new high for the series. 

 
 2

Worker characteristics

The number of fatal work injuries involving non-Hispanic white workers declined 10 percent in 2012, 

but rose by 13 percent for non-Hispanic Asian workers. Despite the increase, Asian workers still

recorded a lower rate of fatal injury than the rate for workers overall (1.8 per 100,000 FTE workers for 

non-Hispanic Asians versus 3.2 per 100,000 FTE workers for workers overall). 

Fatal work injuries among Hispanic or Latino workers dropped to 708 in 2012 from 749 in 2011, a 

decrease of 5 percent. Of the 708 fatal work injuries incurred by Hispanic or Latino workers, 454 (or 

64 percent) involved foreign-born workers. Overall, there were 777 fatal work injuries involving 

foreign-born workers in 2012, of which the greatest share (299 or 38 percent) were born in Mexico. 

Fatal work injuries increased for workers under 16 years of age, rising to 19 in 2012 from 10 in 2011, 

reaching its highest level since 2005. Fourteen of these young decedents were employed as agricultural 

workers. Fatal work injuries involving men fell from 4,308 in 2011 to 4,045 in 2012—the lowest total 

since the inception of the fatality census in 1992. 

Fatal injuries to both wage and salary workers and self-employed workers declined in 2012. 

For more detailed information on fatal injuries by worker characteristics, see the 2012 tables at 

www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm. 

Type of incident

Transportation incidents accounted for more than 2 out of every 5 fatal work injuries in 2012. (See chart 

1.) Of the 1,789 transportation-related fatal injuries, about 58 percent (1,044 cases) were roadway 

incidents involving motorized land vehicles. Nonroadway incidents, such as a tractor overturn in a farm 

field, accounted for another 13 percent of the transportation-related fatal injuries. About 16 percent of 

fatal transportation incidents in 2012 involved pedestrians who were struck by vehicles. Of the 283 fatal 

work injuries involving pedestrians struck by vehicles, 65 occurred in work zones. (Note that 

transportation counts presented in this release are expected to rise when updated 2012 data are released 

in Spring 2014 because key source documentation detailing specific transportation-related incidents has 

not yet been received.) 

Fatal work injuries among those fatally injured in aircraft incidents in 2012 declined by 14 percent from 

2011, accounting for 125 fatalities or about 7 percent of the transportation total. 

Overall, 767 workers were killed as a result of violence and other injuries by persons or animals, 

including 463 homicides and 225 suicides. The work-related suicide total for 2012 declined 10 percent 

from the 2011 total and the homicide total was also slightly lower. Shootings were the most frequent 

manner of death in both homicides (81 percent) and suicides (48 percent). Of the 338 fatal work injuries 

involving female workers, 29 percent involved homicides. 

Fatal falls, slips, or trips took the lives of 668 workers in 2012, down slightly from 2011. Falls to a lower 

level accounted for 544 or about 81 percent of those fatalities. In 2012, the height of the fall was 

reported in 437 of the fatal falls to a lower level. Of those cases, about one in four occurred after a fall of 

10 feet or less. Another one-fourth of the fatal fall cases occurred from falls of over 30 feet. 
 3

While the total number of fatal work injuries involving contact with objects and equipment in 2012 

remained about the same as in 2011, the number of workers fatally injured after being struck by objects 

or equipment increased by 7 percent (to 509 fatal work injuries in 2012 from 476 in 2011). This total 

includes 233 workers struck by falling objects or equipment and 199 struck by powered vehicles or 

mobile equipment not in normal operation. 

Chart 1. Fatal occupational injuries, by major event, 2012*

Total = 4,383

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2013.

Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding.

NOTE: Reference year 2011 constitutes a series break from earlier years for event data. For more information, see http://www.bls.gov/iif/osh_notice11.htm. 

*Data for 2012 are preliminary.

Transportation incidents

Roadway incidents 41%

24%

Homicides

11%

Struck by object 

or equipment

12%

Falls, slips, trips

15%

Falls to lower level

12%

7%

Fires and explosions 3%

Violence and other injuries 

by persons or animals 17%

Contact with objects

and equipment 16%

Exposure to harmful 

substances or environments

Other transportation

incidents

17%

There were 142 multiple-fatality incidents in 2012 (incidents in which more than one worker was killed) 

in which 341 workers died. 

For more detailed information on fatal injuries by incident, see the 2012 tables at 

www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm. 

Industry

In the private sector, there were 3,945 fatal work injuries in 2012, down 6 percent to a new series low. 

Both goods-producing industries and service-providing industries showed declines. 

Among goods-producing sectors, the number of fatal work injuries in the private construction sector 

increased 5 percent in 2012. Total hours worked were higher by one percent in 2012. The increase in 

2012 was the first in construction fatalities since 2006. Construction fatalities are down 37 percent over 

that time. Construction accounted for the highest number of fatal work injuries of any industry sector in 

2012. (See chart 2.)

Fatal work injuries in the private mining sector increased 14 percent to 177 in 2012 from 155 in 2011—

the highest level since 2007. The number of fatal work injury cases in oil and gas extraction industries 

rose to 138 in 2012 from 112 in 2011; the 2012 figure represents a series high. Fatal work injuries in 

coal mining increased slightly, and fatal work injuries in support activities for mining increased 

9 percent. CFOI has used the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) to define 

industry since 2003, and data on oil and gas extraction industries in CFOI comprise NAICS 21111 Oil 
 4

and gas extraction, NAICS 213111 Drilling oil and gas wells, and NAICS 213112 Support activities for 

oil and gas operations. 

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting fatalities decreased 16 percent to 475 in 2012 from 566 in 

2011. This follows a 9 percent drop in agriculture fatalities in 2011. Fatal injuries in the crop production, 

animal production, forestry and logging, and fishing sectors were all lower in 2012. Despite the declines 

in fatal work injuries in this sector over the last two years, agriculture recorded the highest fatal injury 

rate of any industry sector at 21.2 fatal injuries per 100,000 FTE workers in 2012. 

*Data for 2012 are preliminary. 

NOTE: All industries shown are private with the exception of government, which includes fatal injuries to workers employed by governmental organizations regardless of 

industry. Fatal injury rates exclude workers under the age of 16 years, volunteers, and resident military. The number of fatal work injuries represents total published fatal 

injuries before the exclusions. For additional information on the fatal work injury rate methodology, please see http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshnotice10.htm.

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2013.

Chart 2. Number and rate of fatal occupational injuries, by industry sector, 2012*

Total fatal work injuries = 4,383

All-worker fatal injury rate = 3.2

400 200 10 20

Fatal work injury rate

(per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers) Number of fatal work injuries

Utilities

Information

Financial activities

Educational and health services

Mining, quarrying, and 

oil and gas extraction

Other services (exc. public admin.)

Wholesale trade

Leisure and hospitality

Retail trade

Manufacturing

Professional and business services

Government

Agriculture, forestry, fishing

and hunting

Transportation and warehousing

Construction

600 0 30

0.7

0.9

1.4

1.9

2.0

2.1

2.1

2.5

2.5

2.6

5.0

9.5

13.3

15.6

21.2

677

475

438

388

314

262

220

191

183

177

139

81

38

22

775

800

Among service-providing industries in the private sector, fatal work injuries in transportation and 

warehousing accounted for 677 fatal work injuries in 2012, a decrease of 10 percent over the revised

2011 count (749 fatalities). The number of fatal injuries in truck transportation, the largest subsector 

within transportation and warehousing in terms of employment, decreased 6 percent in 2012. (As noted, 

transportation counts presented in this release are expected to rise when updated 2012 data are released

in Spring 2014.) Among other transportation subsectors, fatal work injuries in air transportation were 

slightly higher, but fatalities in water and rail transportation were lower in 2012. 

Fatal work injuries in the financial activities sector declined 17 percent in 2012 to 81. The professional 

and business services sector also reported lower numbers of fatal injuries in 2012, down 10 percent 

from 2011. 

Fatal occupational injuries among government workers decreased 13 percent from 2011 to 438 fatal 

work injuries, the lowest fatal work injury total since the start of the fatality census. Both state 

government and local government showed declines (19 percent and 16 percent, respectively), though 

fatal injuries among federal government workers remained about the same.

For more detailed information on fatal injuries by industry, see the 2012 tables at 

www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm. 
 5

Occupation

Fatal work injuries in construction and extraction occupations rose for the second year in a row to 838—

a 5 percent increase from 2011. Hours worked increased one percent in this occupation group during 

that period. Fatal injuries among construction trades workers rose in 2012 to 577 after 5 years of decline. 

This marked an 8 percent increase over the series low of 533 in 2011, but a 41 percent drop from the 

high of 977 reported in 2006. Fatal work injuries to construction laborers, the subgroup in this category 

with the highest number of fatalities, increased 10 percent to 210 in 2012, following a series low of 191 

in 2011. Fatal injuries to roofers, another subgroup within construction trades workers, rose to 70 in 

2012, a 17 percent rise from 2011 marking the highest count in 5 years. 

Chart 3. Occupations with high fatal work injury rates, 2012*

*Data for 2012 are preliminary.

NOTE: Fatal injury rates exclude workers under the age of 16 years, volunteers, and resident military. The number of fatal work injuries represents total published fatal injuries 

before the exclusions. For additional information on the fatal work injury rate methodology, please see http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshnotice10.htm.

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2013.

Fatal work injury rate

(per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers)

100 50 200 400

Number of fatal work injuries

Construction laborers

Farmers, ranchers, and 

other agricultural managers

Driver/sales workers and truck drivers

Electrical power-line installers

and repairers

Refuse and recyclable 

material collectors

Structural iron and steel workers

Roofers

Aircraft pilots and flight engineers

Fishers and related fishing workers

Logging workers

150 0 800

127.8

117.0

53.4

40.5

37.0

27.1

23.0

22.1

21.3

17.4

22

26

26

32

62

70

71

210

216

741

600

Total fatal work injuries = 4,383

All-worker fatal injury rate = 3.2

Fatal work injuries in transportation and material moving occupations were down 7 percent to 1,150 in 

2012. Fatal work injuries in this occupational group accounted for about one quarter of all fatal 

occupational injuries. Drivers/sales workers and truck drivers was the subgroup within transportation 

and material moving occupations with the highest number of fatal injuries. Dropping 4 percent, this 

subgroup recorded 741 fatalities in 2012. Fatal injuries to taxi drivers and chauffeurs were down 

28 percent to a series low of 46. (As noted, transportation and material moving counts presented in this 

release are expected to rise when updated 2012 data are released in Spring 2014.) 

The number of fatal work injuries among protective service occupations decreased 21 percent in 2012 to 

224 fatalities–reaching the lowest count since the occupational series began in 2003. The decline was led 

by lower numbers of fatal injuries to police and sheriff’s patrol officers, which dropped 20 percent to 

104 in 2012 to continue a two-year downward trend. Fatal injuries to both security guards and 

firefighters reached series lows with 48 and 17 fatalities, respectively. 

Fatal work injuries to workers in management occupations declined 8 percent to 429 in 2012—the 

lowest level in the series. This decrease was driven primarily by the 19 percent decline in fatal injuries 

to farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers from 268 in 2011 to 216 in 2012. 
 6

Fatalities among farming, fishing, and forestry occupations declined 6 percent to 245 in 2012. This was 

led by the 24 percent drop in fatalities to fishers and related fishing workers from 42 in 2011 to a series 

low of 32 in 2012. Fatal injuries to logging workers have remained somewhat level for the last three 

years, decreasing slightly to 62 in 2012. 

Fatal injuries to resident military personnel reached a series low in 2012, dropping 25 percent from 

57 fatalities in 2011 to 43. 

For more detailed information on fatal injuries by occupation, see the 2012 tables at 

www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm. 

Contract workers

In addition to identifying the industry in which a decedent was employed, CFOI began in 2011 to 

identify whether a worker was a contractor. A contractor is defined as a worker employed by one firm 

but working at the behest of another firm that exercises overall responsibility for the operations at the 

site where the decedent was fatally injured. This information helps to identify the location and type of 

work being performed when the fatal work injury occurred. 

In 2012, the number of fatal occupational injuries incurred by contractors was 708, or 16 percent of all 

fatal injuries, compared to 542 reported in 2011. Falls to a lower level accounted for 30 percent of 

contractor deaths while struck by object or equipment (18 percent) and pedestrian vehicular (11 percent) 

incidents also were frequent events among contractors.

Fatally-injured contractors were most often contracted by a government entity (151 or 21 percent of all 

contractors) and by firms in the private construction (133 or 19 percent); mining, quarrying, and oil and 

gas extraction (68 or 10 percent); and manufacturing (67 or 9 percent) industry sectors. 

The majority of contractors (381 or 54 percent) were working in construction and extraction occupations 

when fatally injured. Decedents in this occupation group were most often employed as construction 

laborers (101), first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers (42), electricians (39), 

and roofers (32). Among contractors who were employed outside the construction and extraction 

occupations group, the largest number of fatal occupational injuries was incurred by heavy and tractortrailer truck drivers (50); tree trimmers and pruners (16); security guards (15); landscaping and 

groundskeeping workers (14); welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers (14); and athletes and sports 

competitors (13). 

For more detailed information on fatal injuries incurred by contract workers, see the 2012 charts at 

www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm. 

State and metropolitan statistical area (MSA) 

Sixteen states and the District of Columbia reported higher numbers of fatal work injuries in 2012 than 

in 2011, while 32 states reported lower numbers. Two states reported the same number as in 2011. 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, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam are not included in 

the national totals for this release, results for these jurisdictions are available. Participating agencies and 

their telephone numbers are listed in Table 6. 
 7

Counts for over 300 MSAs are also available for 2012 from CFOI and detailed data are available for

more than 50 MSAs. The MSAs with the most fatal occupational injuries in 2012 were New YorkNorthern New Jersey-Long Island (NY-NJ-PA) with 178, Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown (TX) with 90, 

Chicago-Joliet-Naperville (IL-IN-WI) with 81, and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana (CA) with 81. 

For more detailed information on fatal injuries by state and MSA, see the 2012 tables at 

www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm. 

Background of the program

The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), part of the BLS Occupational Safety and Health 

Statistics (OSHS) program, compiles a count of all fatal work injuries occurring in the U.S. during the 

calendar year. The CFOI 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 2012 data, over 19,000 unique source documents were reviewed as part of the data collection 

process.

The Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), another component of the OSHS program, 

presents frequency counts and incidence rates by industry and also by detailed case circumstances and 

worker characteristics for nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses for cases that result in days away 

from work. Incidence rates for 2012 by industry and case type will be published in October 2013, and 

information on 2012 case circumstances and worker characteristics will be available in November 2013. 

For additional data, access the BLS Internet site: www.bls.gov/iif/. For technical information and 

definitions for the CFOI program, please go to the BLS Handbook of Methods on the BLS website at 

www.bls.gov/opub/hom/pdf/homch9.pdf.
Table 1. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, 2011-2012

Event or exposure1

20112 2012p

Number Percent

Total ................................................................................................................... 4,693 4,383 100

Violence and other injuries by persons or animals .......................................... 791 767 17

Homicides - intentional injury by other person ................................................... 468 463 11

Shooting by other person - intentional ........................................................... 365 375 9

Stabbing, cutting, slashing, piercing ............................................................... 42 32 1

Self-inflicted injury - intentional .......................................................................... 250 225 5

Transportation incidents ..................................................................................... 1,937 1,789 41

Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicle ......................................... 1,103 1,044 24

Roadway collision with other vehicle .............................................................. 525 512 12

Roadway collision - moving in same direction ........................................... 150 110 3

Roadway collision - moving in opposite directions, oncoming ................... 172 186 4

Roadway collision - moving perpendicularly .............................................. 111 124 3

Roadway collision with object other than vehicle ........................................... 313 300 7

Vehicle struck object or animal on side of roadway ................................... 292 282 6

Roadway noncollision incident ....................................................................... 262 228 5

Jack-knifed or overturned, roadway ........................................................... 208 187 4

Nonroadway incidents involving motorized land vehicles .................................. 222 227 5

Jack-knifed or overturned, nonroadway ..................................................... 113 111 3

Pedestrian vehicular incident ............................................................................. 316 283 6

Pedestrian struck by vehicle in work zone ..................................................... 63 65 1

Rail vehicle incidents .......................................................................................... 50 33 1

Water vehicle incidents ...................................................................................... 72 64 1

Aircraft incidents ................................................................................................. 145 125 3

Fires and explosions ........................................................................................... 144 116 3

Falls, slips, trips ................................................................................................... 681 668 15

Falls to lower level .............................................................................................. 553 544 12

Fall from collapsing structure or equipment ................................................... 38 35 1

Fall through surface or existing opening ........................................................ 60 71 2

Fall on same level .............................................................................................. 111 108 2

Exposure to harmful substances or environments .......................................... 419 320 7

Exposure to electricity ........................................................................................ 174 156 4

Exposure to temperature extremes .................................................................... 63 40 1

Exposure to other harmful substances ............................................................... 144 94 2

Inhalation of harmful substance ..................................................................... 57 40 1

Contact with objects and equipment ................................................................. 710 712 16

Struck by object or equipment ............................................................................ 476 509 12

Struck by falling object or equipment - other than powered vehicle ............... 219 233 5

Struck by discharged or flying object ............................................................. 24 27 1

Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects ............................................ 145 122 3

Caught in running equipment or machinery ................................................... 118 92 2

Struck, caught, or crushed in collapsing structure, equipment, or material ........ 84 74 2

1 Based on the BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) 2.01 implemented for 2011 data

forward.

2 Totals for 2011 are revised and final. The BLS news release issued September 20, 2012, reported a total of

4,609 fatal work injuries for calendar year 2011. Since then, an additional 84 job-related fatal injuries were identified,

bringing the total job-related fatal injury count for 2011 to 4,693. p Data for 2012 are preliminary. Revised and final 2012 data are scheduled to be released in Spring 2014.

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

totals because of rounding. CFOI fatality counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event.

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 2. Fatal occupational injuries by industry and selected event or exposure, 2012p

Industry1

Fatal injuries Selected event or exposure2

(percent of total for industry)

Number Percent Homicides Roadway3 Falls, slips, trips Struck by object

or equipment

Total ............................................................................................. 4,383 100 11 24 15 12

Private industry ............................................................................... 3,945 90 10 24 16 12

Goods producing ........................................................................... 1,741 40 1 15 21 17

Natural resources and mining .................................................... 652 15 – 17 8 23

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting ..................................... 475 11 – 12 7 25

Crop production ....................................................................... 204 5 – 13 5 23

Animal production .................................................................... 141 3 – 16 9 16

Forestry and logging ................................................................ 62 1 – – 5 74

Mining4 ........................................................................................ 177 4 – 30 13 18

Mining, except oil and gas ....................................................... 38 1 – 8 13 24

Support activities for mining .................................................... 114 3 – 38 11 16

Construction ................................................................................ 775 18 1 14 36 10

Construction ................................................................................ 775 18 1 14 36 10

Construction of buildings ......................................................... 133 3 2 9 50 8

Heavy and civil engineering construction ................................ 169 4 – 25 11 15

Specialty trade contractors ...................................................... 456 10 5( ) 11 41 9

Manufacturing .............................................................................. 314 7 6 15 12 19

Manufacturing .............................................................................. 314 7 6 15 12 19

Food manufacturing ................................................................. 41 1 10 24 17 10

Fabricated metal product manufacturing ................................. 43 1 2 – 7 33

Service providing .......................................................................... 2,204 50 16 30 12 9

Trade, transportation, and utilities ............................................ 1,152 26 14 42 9 8

Wholesale trade ........................................................................... 191 4 6 34 15 17

Merchant wholesalers, durable goods ..................................... 103 2 8 32 13 22

Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods ............................... 83 2 – 35 18 11

Retail trade .................................................................................. 262 6 40 18 15 7

Motor vehicle and parts dealers .............................................. 43 1 23 23 – 12

Food and beverage stores ....................................................... 63 1 65 6 11 2

Transportation and warehousing ................................................. 677 15 7 54 5 6

Truck transportation ................................................................. 456 10 1 71 4 6

Transit and ground passenger transportation .......................... 54 1 63 26 – –

Utilities ......................................................................................... 22 1 – 23 – 18

Information ................................................................................... 38 1 13 47 – –

Financial activities ....................................................................... 81 2 23 16 25 7

Finance and insurance ................................................................ 20 5( ) – – 30 –

Real estate and rental and leasing .............................................. 61 1 26 18 23 8

Professional and business services .......................................... 388 9 7 18 19 16

Professional and technical services ............................................ 54 1 – 28 17 –

Administrative and waste services .............................................. 332 8 8 17 19 19

Educational and health services ................................................ 139 3 15 22 14 2

Educational services .................................................................... 33 1 – – 18 –

Health care and social assistance ............................................... 106 2 18 28 13 3

Leisure and hospitality ............................................................... 220 5 35 12 11 4

Arts, entertainment, and recreation ............................................. 78 2 8 9 14 8

Accommodation and food services .............................................. 142 3 50 13 10 –

Other services, except public administration ........................... 183 4 26 13 7 15

Government6 ................................................................................... 438 10 17 26 10 4

Federal government ........................................................................ 97 2 7 16 7 –

State government ............................................................................ 87 2 15 29 11 3

Local government ............................................................................ 250 6 22 30 10 5

1 Industry data are based on the North American Industry Classification System, 2007. 2 Based on the BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) 2.01 implemented for 2011 data forward. The figure shown is the percent of the total

fatal injuries for that industry group. 3 "Roadway" 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 fatal injuries at all establishments categorized as Mining (Sector 21) in the North American Industry Classification System, 2007, including establishments not

governed by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) rules and reporting, such as those in Oil and Gas Extraction. 5 Less than or equal to 0.5 percent. 6 Includes fatal injuries to workers employed by governmental organizations regardless of industry. p Data for 2012 are preliminary. Revised and final 2012 data are scheduled to be released in Spring 2014.

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. CFOI fatality counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event. There were three fatal injuries

for which there was insufficient information to determine a specific industry 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 3. Fatal occupational injuries by occupation and selected event or exposure, 2012p

Occupation1

Fatal injuries Selected event or exposure2

(percent of total for occupation)

Number Percent Homicides Roadway3 Falls, slips,

trips

Struck by

object or

equipment

Total ................................................................................................................... 4,383 100 11 24 15 12

Management occupations ................................................................................... 429 10 13 13 11 13

Top executives ................................................................................................... 30 1 10 33 – –

Operations specialties managers ....................................................................... 23 1 13 26 – –

Other management occupations ........................................................................ 365 8 13 10 12 15

Business and financial operations occupations ............................................... 22 1 18 45 14 –

Computer and mathematical occupations ......................................................... 8 4( ) 12– – –

Architecture and engineering occupations ....................................................... 33 1 – 33 12 9

Engineers ........................................................................................................... 22 1 – 32 – –

Life, physical, and social science occupations ................................................ 19 4( ) 11 32 – –

Community and social services occupations ................................................... 37 1 38 22 – –

Legal occupations ................................................................................................ 8 4( )– – – –

Education, training, and library occupations .................................................... 24 1 – – 25 –

Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations .......................... 44 1 11 7 16 –

Entertainers and performers, sports and related workers .................................. 27 1 – – – –

Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations ........................................ 49 1 – 31 14 –

Health diagnosing and treating practitioners ...................................................... 29 1 – 17 14 –

Health technologists and technicians ................................................................. 17 4() – 59 – –

Healthcare support occupations ........................................................................ 10 4() – 40 30 –

Protective service occupations .......................................................................... 224 5 40 22 4 3

Fire fighting and prevention workers .................................................................. 18 4( ) 11 33 6 –

Law enforcement workers .................................................................................. 119 3 41 29 3 –

Other protective service workers ........................................................................ 68 2 49 6 7 –

Food preparation and serving related occupations ......................................... 53 1 34 13 19 –

Supervisors, food preparation and serving workers ........................................... 14 4( ) 50– – –

Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations ...................... 245 6 4 10 27 22

Building cleaning and pest control workers ........................................................ 49 1 16 16 29 –

Grounds maintenance workers .......................................................................... 156 4 – 8 28 29

Personal care and service occupations ............................................................. 64 1 33 14 8 –

Sales and related occupations ........................................................................... 216 5 51 12 11 2

Supervisors, sales workers ................................................................................ 106 2 57 6 7 3

Retail sales workers ........................................................................................... 63 1 63 5 16 –

Sales representatives, services ......................................................................... 10 4() – 30 30 –

Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing ........................................ 15 4() – 60 – –

Office and administrative support occupations ................................................ 82 2 23 24 16 5

Material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing workers ............... 47 1 11 30 15 6

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ...................................................... 245 6 – 12 5 31

Agricultural workers ............................................................................................ 139 3 – 18 6 17

Fishing and hunting workers .............................................................................. 34 1 – 3 6 –

Forest, conservation, and logging workers ........................................................ 64 1 – – 5 75

Construction and extraction occupations ......................................................... 838 19 1 13 35 10

Supervisors, construction and extraction workers .............................................. 117 3 1 18 33 12

Construction trades workers .............................................................................. 577 13 1 10 40 8

Extraction workers .............................................................................................. 86 2 – 26 15 22

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ........................................... 326 7 5 16 13 24

Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers ................. 104 2 6 12 3 46

Other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................................... 179 4 3 15 18 13

Production occupations ...................................................................................... 211 5 6 8 14 16

Supervisors, production workers ........................................................................ 22 1 – – – –

Metal workers and plastic workers ..................................................................... 82 2 4 11 12 18

Transportation and material moving occupations ............................................ 1,150 26 6 50 6 9

Air transportation workers .................................................................................. 71 2 – – – –

Motor vehicle operators ...................................................................................... 817 19 7 67 5 6

Water transportation workers ............................................................................. 13 4( )– – – –

Material moving workers .................................................................................... 207 5 4 12 14 21

Military occupations5 .......................................................................................... 43 1 7 7 – –

1 Occupation data are based on the Standard Occupational Classification system, 2010. 2 Based on the BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) 2.01 implemented for 2011 data forward. The figure shown is the percent of the total

fatal injuries for that occupation group. 3 "Roadway" 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. 5 Includes fatal injuries to persons identified as resident armed forces regardless of individual occupation listed. p Data for 2012 are preliminary. Revised and final 2012 data are scheduled to be released in Spring 2014.

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. CFOI fatality counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event. There were three fatal

injuries 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

10
Table 4. Fatal occupational injuries by selected worker characteristics and selected event or exposure, 2012p

Characteristic

Fatal injuries Selected event or exposure1

(percent of total for characteristic category)

Number Percent Homicides Roadway2 Falls, slips,

trips

Struck by

object or

equipment

Total ..................................................................................................... 4,383 100 11 24 15 12

Employee status

Wage and salary3 ................................................................................ 3,396 77 10 27 15 11

Self-employed4 .................................................................................... 987 23 14 13 16 15

Gender

Men ...................................................................................................... 4,045 92 9 24 15 12

Women ................................................................................................ 338 8 29 21 16 4

Age5

Under 16 years .................................................................................... 19 6() – 5 – 16

16-17 years .......................................................................................... 9 6( ) – 33 11 –

18-19 years .......................................................................................... 58 1 12 24 12 12

20-24 years .......................................................................................... 275 6 11 25 7 11

25-34 years .......................................................................................... 703 16 14 23 11 9

35-44 years .......................................................................................... 792 18 12 25 13 11

45-54 years .......................................................................................... 1,102 25 10 25 17 10

55-64 years .......................................................................................... 869 20 9 23 17 13

65 years and over ................................................................................ 552 13 6 22 23 16

Race or ethnic origin7

White, non-Hispanic ............................................................................ 3,002 68 8 25 15 12

Black or African-American, non-Hispanic ............................................ 446 10 22 26 9 9

Hispanic or Latino ................................................................................ 708 16 9 22 21 14

American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic ................................ 34 1 – 15 9 15

Asian, non-Hispanic ............................................................................. 137 3 36 12 18 5

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic .............................. 7 6() – – – –

Multiple races, non-Hispanic ............................................................... 5 6( ) 20 – – –

Other or not reported, non-Hispanic .................................................... 44 1 20 23 14 –

1 Based on the BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) 2.01 implemented for 2011 data forward. The figure shown is the

percent of the total fatal injuries for that demographic characteristic. 2 "Roadway" 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, and may include some owners of

incorporated businesses or members of partnerships. 5 There were four fatal injuries 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. p Data for 2012 are preliminary. Revised and final 2012 data are scheduled to be released in Spring 2014.

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. CFOI fatality counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury

event.

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
Table 5. Fatal occupational injuries by state and event or exposure, 2011-2012

State of injury

Total fatal injuries1 Event or exposure4

2012

20112

(revised) 20123,p

Violence

and other

injuries by

persons or

animals5

Transportation

incidents6

Fires and

explosions

Falls, slips,

trips

Exposure to

harmful substances or

environments

Contact with

objects and

equipment

Total .................................................................................... 4,693 4,383 767 1,789 116 668 320 712

Alabama .................................................................................. 75 81 20 28 – 8 4 20

Alaska ...................................................................................... 39 30 9 16 – – – 4

Arizona .................................................................................... 69 37 11 14 – – – 7

Arkansas ................................................................................. 93 63 13 23 5 5 8 9

California ................................................................................. 390 339 67 129 6 54 22 60

Colorado .................................................................................. 92 80 15 32 4 15 3 10

Connecticut ............................................................................. 37 36 13 9 1 7 – 5

Delaware ................................................................................. 10 14 4 6 – – – –

District of Columbia ................................................................. 9 11 5 – – 4 – –

Florida ..................................................................................... 226 209 44 65 6 42 23 28

Georgia .................................................................................... 111 76 19 24 3 15 6 9

Hawaii ...................................................................................... 26 19 3 3 – 8 – 4

Idaho ....................................................................................... 37 18 – 11 – – – 4

Illinois ...................................................................................... 177 145 32 52 8 24 10 17

Indiana ..................................................................................... 125 113 13 56 – 15 6 21

Iowa ......................................................................................... 93 84 5 44 – 9 4 19

Kansas .................................................................................... 78 75 7 49 3 2 – 13

Kentucky .................................................................................. 93 84 16 40 – 8 3 15

Louisiana ................................................................................. 111 106 16 47 5 13 11 14

Maine ....................................................................................... 26 19 – 8 – 4 3 4

Maryland .................................................................................. 71 70 14 23 – 14 8 11

Massachusetts ........................................................................ 68 33 7 13 – 7 1 5

Michigan .................................................................................. 141 127 40 42 – 21 4 17

Minnesota ................................................................................ 60 70 11 28 3 8 6 14

Mississippi ............................................................................... 63 60 13 22 – 7 3 13

Missouri ................................................................................... 132 83 10 42 – 15 7 8

Montana .................................................................................. 49 34 2 13 – 7 3 7

Nebraska ................................................................................. 39 48 – 25 – 6 5 10

Nevada .................................................................................... 38 42 15 15 – 6 – 6

New Hampshire ....................................................................... 9 13 – 3 1 – – 4

New Jersey .............................................................................. 99 90 22 34 1 11 8 14

New Mexico ............................................................................. 52 35 3 16 – 6 5 4

New York (including N.Y.C.) .................................................... 206 196 40 61 5 47 11 32

New York City ...................................................................... 72 75 26 13 – 21 6 7

North Carolina ......................................................................... 148 138 32 52 – 18 13 22

North Dakota ........................................................................... 44 64 3 39 5 7 – 8

Ohio ......................................................................................... 155 154 22 52 3 32 10 35

Oklahoma ................................................................................ 86 94 7 51 4 9 11 12

Oregon .................................................................................... 58 43 11 20 – 6 – 5

Pennsylvania ........................................................................... 186 163 22 63 6 23 14 35

Rhode Island ........................................................................... 7 8 – 3 – – – –

South Carolina ......................................................................... 81 62 12 28 – 8 8 6

South Dakota ........................................................................... 31 31 3 17 – 4 2 5

Tennessee ............................................................................... 120 100 24 34 – 18 5 16

Texas ....................................................................................... 433 531 66 258 22 75 44 65

Utah ......................................................................................... 39 39 7 16 – 4 3 7

Vermont ................................................................................... 8 10 1 3 – – 4 –

Virginia .................................................................................... 127 146 18 62 – 28 8 29

Washington ............................................................................. 60 64 6 26 – 14 7 11

West Virginia ........................................................................... 43 47 6 18 1 3 7 12

Wisconsin ................................................................................ 89 114 27 37 3 16 5 26

Wyoming ................................................................................. 32 35 5 17 – 4 – 7

1 State totals include other events and exposures, such as bodily reaction, in addition to those shown separately. 2 Totals for 2011 are revised and final. Preliminary 2011 data issued September 20, 2012, reported a total of 4,609 fatal work injuries for calendar year 2011. Since then,

an additional 84 job-related fatal injuries were identified, bringing the total job-related fatal injury count for 2011 to 4,693. Includes two fatal injuries that occurred within the

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

4 Based on the BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) 2.01 implemented for 2011 data forward. 5 Includes violence by persons, self-inflicted injuries, and attacks by animals. 6 Includes roadway, nonroadway, air, water, and rail fatal injuries, and fatal injuries resulting from being struck by a vehicle. p Data for 2012 are preliminary. Revised and final 2012 data are scheduled to be released in Spring 2014.

 NOTE: Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria. CFOI fatality counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury

event.

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

12
13 

Table 6. CFOI participating agencies and telephone numbers

State Agency Telephone number

Alabama Department of Labor (334) 242-3463

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

Arizona Industrial Commission (602) 542-3737

Arkansas Department of Labor (501) 682-4542

California Department of Industrial Relations (626) 472-0446 ext. 5443

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (303) 691-4938

Connecticut Department of Labor (860) 263-6933

Delaware Department of Labor (302) 761-8219

Dist. of Columbia Department of Health (202) 442-9010

Florida Bureau of Labor Statistics - Atlanta Region (404) 893-8339

 

Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner (404) 463-0737 

Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (808) 586-9002

Idaho Department of Labor (208) 332-3570 ext. 3220

Illinois Department of Public Health (312) 814-8194

Indiana Department of Labor (317) 232-2668

Iowa Division of Labor Services (515) 281-5151

Kansas Department of Labor (785) 296-5000 ext. 2595

Kentucky Labor Cabinet (502) 564-4136

Louisiana Workforce Commission (225) 342-3126

Maine Bureau of Labor Standards (207) 623-7905

Maryland Division of Labor and Industry (410) 527-4463

Massachusetts Department of Public Health (617) 624-5679

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (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) 751-0807

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

Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court (402) 471-3547

Nevada Division of Industrial Relations (702) 486-9197

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

 

New Jersey Department of Health (609) 826-4984

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

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

New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (646) 632-6729

North Carolina Department of Labor (919) 733-0337

North Dakota Bureau of Labor Statistics - Chicago Region (312) 353-7253

Ohio Department of Health (614) 644-0135

Oklahoma Department of Labor (405) 521-6858

Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (503) 947-7364

Pennsylvania Department of Health (717) 783-2548

 

Rhode Island Department of Health (401) 222-8051

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

South Dakota Bureau of Labor Statistics - Chicago Region (312) 353-7253

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

Texas Dept. of Insurance, Div. of Workers' Compensation (512) 804-4658

Utah Labor Commission, Statistics Program (801) 530-6823

Vermont Department of Labor (802) 828-5985

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

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

West Virginia Bureau of Labor Statistics - Philadelphia Region (215) 861-5637

Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (608) 221-6293

Wyoming Department of Workforce Services (307) 473-3810

Guam Department of Labor (671) 475-7056

Puerto Rico Negociado de Estadisticas (787) 754-5300 ext. 3056

U.S. Virgin Islands Occupational Safety and Health Statistics (340) 776-3700 ext. 2019
 14

TECHNICAL NOTES

Identification and verification of work-related fatalities

In 2012, there were 12 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 (CFOI) counts. An additional 69 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 7 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 revised

counts. Thus, each year's initial release of data should be considered preliminary. Revised data are 

released in the Spring of the following year; revised counts for 2012 will be available in 2014. 

Over the last 3 years, increases in the published counts based on additional information have averaged 

146 fatalities per year or about 3 percent of the revised total. The BLS news release issued September 

20, 2012, reported a total of 4,609 fatal work injuries for 2011. With the April 2013 release of revised 

data, an additional 84 net fatal work injuries were added, bringing the total for 2011 to 4,693. 

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. 

Acknowledgements

BLS thanks the participating states, New York City, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. 

Virgin Islands, and Guam 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 Office of Workers’ Compensation 

Programs (Federal Employees’ Compensation and Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation 

divisions); the Federal Railroad Administration; the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; 

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. 

Information in this release is available to sensory-impaired individuals. Voice phone: (202) 606-7828; 

TDD phone: (202) 606-5897; TDD message referral phone: 1-800-326-2577.