For release 10:00 a.m. (EDT) Thursday, August 19, 2010 USDL-10-1142 

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 2009 

(PRELIMINARY RESULTS)

A preliminary total of 4,340 fatal work injuries were recorded in the United States in 2009, down from a 

final count of 5,214 fatal work injuries in 2008. The 2009 total represents the smallest annual 

preliminary total since the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) program was first conducted in 

1992. Based on this preliminary count, the rate of fatal work injury for U.S. workers in 2009 was 

3.3 per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers, down from a final rate of 3.7 in 2008. Counts and 

rates are likely to increase with the release of final 2009 CFOI results in April 2011. Over the last 2 

years, increases in the published counts based on information received after the publication of 

preliminary results have averaged 156 fatalities per year or about 3 percent of the revised totals. 

 

Economic factors played a major role in the fatal work injury decrease in 2009. Total hours worked fell 

by 6 percent in 2009 following a 1 percent decline in 2008, and some industries that have historically 

accounted for a significant share of fatal work injuries, such as construction, experienced even larger 

declines in employment or hours worked. In addition, some source documents used by CFOI State 

partners to identify and verify fatal work injuries were delayed, due at least in part to fiscal constraints at 

some of the governmental agencies who regularly provide source documentation for the program. 

Key preliminary findings of the 2009 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries: 

− Workplace homicides declined 1 percent in 2009, in contrast to an overall decline of 17 percent 

for all fatal work injuries. The homicide total for 2009 includes the 13 victims of the November 

shooting at Fort Hood. Workplace suicides were down 10 percent in 2009 from the series high 

of 263 in 2008. 

− Though wage and salary workers and self-employed workers experienced similar declines in 

total hours worked in 2009, fatal work injuries among wage and salary workers in 2009 declined 

by 20 percent while fatal injuries among self-employed workers were down 3 percent. 

− The wholesale trade industry was one of the few major private industry sectors reporting higher 

numbers of fatal work injuries in 2009. 

− Fatal work injuries in the private construction sector declined by 16 percent in 2009 following 

the decline of 19 percent in 2008. 

− Fatalities among non-Hispanic black or African-American workers were down 24 percent. This 

worker group also experienced a slightly larger decline in total hours worked than non-Hispanic 

white or Hispanic workers. 

− The number of fatal workplace injuries in building and grounds cleaning and maintenance 

occupations rose 6 percent, one of the few major occupation groups to record an increase in fatal 

work injuries in 2009. 

− Transportation incidents, which accounted for nearly two-fifths of all the fatal work injuries in 

2009, fell 21 percent from the 2,130 fatal work injuries reported in 2008. 
2 

Profile of 2009 fatal work injuries by type of incident

Most types of transportation fatalities decreased in 2009 relative to 2008, including highway incidents 

(down 27 percent); workers struck by vehicle or mobile equipment (down 19 percent); aircraft incidents 

(down 18 percent); and nonhighway incidents such as tractor overturns (down 8 percent). Fatal 

occupational injuries due to water vehicle incidents were higher (82 fatalities in 2009, up from 76 in 

2008). These and other transportation counts presented in this release will likely rise when updated 

2009 data are released in April 2011. Key source documentation detailing specific incidents related to 

transportation has not yet been received and could identify 100 or more cases if recent trends hold true. 

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Highway incidents Homicides Falls Struck by object

579

520

585 571

Four most frequent work-related fatal injury events, 1992–2009*

Number of fatal work injuries

*Data for 2009 are preliminary. Data for prior years are revised and final.

NOTE: Data from 2001 exclude fatal work injuries resulting from the September 11 terrorist attacks.

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2010.

1,158

1,242 1,343 1,346 1,346

1,393 1,442

1,496

1,365

1,409

1,373 1,353

1,398

1,356

1,437

1,044

1,074 1,080 1,036

927

860

714

609 632

559 567 540

600 618 665 651 691 716

706

721 734 810 719

696

822 827

770

557 565 591

547 582 553 505 531

651 602 607 589 628

504

643

847

1,414

520

700 

677 526 

1,215

882

617 

521 

414

Workplace homicides fell by 1 percent in 2009, in contrast to the 17 percent decrease in fatal work 

injuries overall. The preliminary workplace homicide count for 2009 (521 cases) represents a decline of 

about half from the high of 1,080 homicides reported in 1994. Workplace suicides declined 10 percent 

from a series high of 263 cases in 2008 to 237 cases in 2009. However, this 2009 preliminary count of 

workplace suicides is the second highest annual total reported by the fatality census. 

Fatal falls declined 12 percent in 2009 (from 700 in 2008 to 617 in 2009). Overall, fatal falls are down 

27 percent from the series high of 847 fatal falls reported in 2007. About half of all fatal falls occur in 

construction, so the decline in overall construction activity and employment since 2007 may account for 

the lower number of fatal falls over the past 2 years. Fatalities involving contact with objects or 

equipment were down 22 percent in 2009 after increasing in 2008, and fatal work injuries involving 

exposure to harmful substances or environments (such as electrocutions) were down 11 percent. 
3 

Profile of fatal work injuries by industry sector

Overall, 90 percent of the fatal work injuries involved workers in private industry. Service-providing 

industries in the private sector recorded 49 percent of all fatal work injuries in 2009, while 41 percent 

were in goods-producing industries. Ten percent of the fatal work injury cases in 2009 involved 

government workers. The number of fatal work injuries in both the private and public sectors declined 

by 17 percent in 2009. 

Manufacturing

Other services

(exc. public admin.)

Professional and 

business services

Utilities

Wholesale trade

Leisure & hospitality 

Government

Construction

Mining

Agriculture, forestry, 

fishing, and hunting

Transportation and 

warehousing

Retail trade

Information

Educational and health 

services

Number and rate of fatal occupational injuries, by industry sector, 2009*

750 250 0 10 20 30

136

291

186

394

216

304

551

579

816

32

166

101

101

17

9.7

12.1

26.0

1.9

2.2

2.9

2.1

2.1

4.9

12.7

2.7

0.7

1.1

1.8

1.1

Financial activities

Fatal work injury rate

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

1,000 500

Total fatal injuries = 4,340

All worker fatal injury rate = 3.3

*Data for 2009 are preliminary. 

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2010.

450

While workers in construction incurred the most fatal injuries of any industry in the private sector in 

2009, the number of fatalities in construction declined 16 percent in 2009 after a decline of 19 percent in 

2008. With this decrease, private construction fatalities are down by more than a third since reaching a 

series high in 2006. Economic conditions may explain much of this decline with total hours worked 

having declined 17 percent in construction in 2009, after a decline of 10 percent the year before. Fatal 

injuries involving workers in the construction of buildings were down 27 percent from 2008, with most 

of the decrease occurring in nonresidential building construction (down 44 percent to 55 cases). Heavy 

and civil engineering construction was down 12 percent, and the subsector with the largest number of 

fatal work injuries, specialty trade contractors, had 16 percent fewer fatalities in 2009 than in 2008. 

 

Fatal injuries were down by 18 percent among private sector workers in the agriculture, forestry, fishing, 

and hunting industry sector in 2009. Fatal injuries to workers in forestry and logging led the decrease, 

declining 50 percent (from 102 in 2008 to 51 in 2009). Unlike most industries in the sector, fatal 

injuries among fishing, hunting, and trapping workers were higher. Fatal work injuries also declined in 

mining (down 43 percent) and in manufacturing (down 26 percent). 

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

accounted for 579 fatalities, a 27 percent decrease. Truck transportation, the largest subsector within 
4 

transportation and warehousing, had a 32 percent decrease in fatalities in 2009. Among other 

transportation subsectors, workers in air, rail, and water transportation all incurred fewer fatal work 

injuries in 2009. 

Wholesale trade was one of the few major private industry sectors to record a higher number of fatal 

injuries in 2009 than in 2008. Fatal injuries were up 3 percent in wholesale trade in 2009, but were 

down slightly in retail trade. Fatal work injuries in the utilities and information industries were down 

sharply, but declines in most of the other service industries were more moderate, including financial 

activities (down 5 percent), professional and business services (down 2 percent), educational and health 

services (down 4 percent), and leisure and hospitality (down 9 percent). 

Fatal injuries among government workers were down 17 percent. While fatalities incurred by state and 

local government workers decreased in 2009, fatalities among federal government workers were higher 

(up 7 percent to 116 fatal work injuries in 2009), largely due to an increase in the national security 

subsector (resident military). 

Profile of fatal work injuries by occupation 

Fatal work injuries involving workers in transportation and material moving occupations accounted for 

more than one-fifth of all occupational fatalities in 2009, though fatalities in this occupational group 

declined by 28 percent. Driver/sales workers and truck drivers, the subgroup with the highest number of 

fatal work injuries within the transportation and material moving group, led the decline with 32 percent 

fewer fatal work injuries in 2009 than in 2008. 

0 400 800

586

19

60

18

38.5 293

34

56

Selected occupations with high fatal injury rates, 2009*

200.0

61.8

34.7

30.3

18.5

25.2

18.3

18.3 224

Logging workers

Aircraft pilots and flight 

engineers

Refuse and recyclable

material collectors

Structural iron and steel 

workers

Farmers and ranchers

Driver/sales workers and 

truck drivers

Fishers and related

fishing workers

Roofers

Fatal work injury rate

(per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers)

Number of fatal work injuries

57.1 63

150 200 600

Total fatal work injuries = 4,340

All worker fatal injury rate = 3.3

81

*Data for 2009 are preliminary.

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2010.

Industrial machinery installation, 

repair, and maintenance workers

Construction laborers

250 200 100 50

Fatal work injuries in construction and extraction occupations decreased by 16 percent in 2009 after 

declining 17 percent the previous year. Construction trades worker fatalities were down 16 percent 

(from 726 in 2008 to 607 in 2009), though fatal work injuries were higher in 2009 for electricians, 
5 

plumbers, and carpenters, among others. Fatal work injuries involving construction laborers, the worker 

subgroup accounting for the highest number of fatalities in this occupational group, declined by 

7 percent in 2009 to 224 fatal work injuries. 

Fatal work injuries among protective service occupations fell by 21 percent in 2009 and are down 

30 percent from the high for the series reported in 2007. Fewer fatalities among law enforcement 

workers, fire fighting and prevention workers, and security guards led the decline in this occupational 

group in 2009. 

The building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupational group was among the few occupation 

groups with a higher number of fatal injuries in 2009 (up 6 percent), led by an increase in fatal work 

injuries among grounds maintenance personnel (up 12 percent to 147 fatalities). 

Fatal work injuries involving resident military personnel were also higher, up 21 percent in 2009 to 

69 fatalities.

Profile of fatal work injuries by demographic characteristics

The number of fatal work injuries fell 16 percent among non-Hispanic white workers in 2009 and 

declined 17 percent among Hispanic or Latino workers. The largest decline was among non-Hispanic 

black or African-American workers who recorded a 24 percent decline in fatalities in 2009. Since 2007, 

fatal work injuries among black workers have declined by a third. Total hours worked were down 

8 percent in 2009 for black workers, as opposed to 7 percent for Hispanic or Latino workers and 

6 percent for non-Hispanic white workers. 

The decline in fatal work injuries among Hispanic or Latino workers in 2009 primarily involved foreignborn Hispanic or Latino workers. Fatalities among foreign-born Hispanic or Latino workers were lower 

by 22 percent, but among native-born Hispanics, the decline was 9 percent. While the 680 fatal work 

injuries incurred by workers who were born outside of the United States accounted for 16 percent of all 

fatal work injuries in the U.S. in 2009, that total also represented a decline of 19 percent from 2008. Of 

the foreign-born workers who were fatally-injured in the U.S. in 2009, the largest share (40 percent) was 

Mexican-born. 

Total hours worked for both self-employed and wage and salary workers declined by 6 percent in 2009. 

However, self-employed workers had a 3 percent decline in fatalities, while fatalities among wage and 

salary workers fell by 20 percent. The fatality rate for self-employed workers was higher in 2009 

(12.0 fatal work injuries per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers versus 11.6 in 2008) while the fatality 

rate for wage and salary workers was lower. 

Workplace fatalities among both male and female workers decreased in 2009. The number of fatalities 

declined for all age categories in 2009 except for workers under the age of 16, whose total rose slightly. 

Profile of fatal work injuries by state 

Thirty-seven states reported lower numbers of fatal work injuries in 2009 than in 2008, while 13 states 

and the District of Columbia reported higher numbers. 

 

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 and the Virgin Islands are not included in the national 
6 

totals for this release, results for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are available. Participating agencies 

and their telephone numbers are listed in Table 6. 

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 2009 data, over 17,000 unique source documents were reviewed as part of the data collection 

process.

Another OSHS program, the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), presents frequency 

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

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

Incidence rates for 2009 by industry will be published in October 2010, and information on 2009 case 

circumstances and worker characteristics will be available in November 2010. For additional data, 

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

Beginning with 2009 data, the CFOI program began classifying industry using the 2007 version of the 

North American Industry Classification System (NAICS 2007). Industry data from 2003 to 2008 were 

classified using the NAICS 2002. NAICS 2007 includes revisions across several sectors. The most 

significant revisions are in the information sector, particularly within telecommunications. For more 

information, go to http://www.bls.gov/bls/naics.htm. 

For technical information about and definitions for the CFOI program, please go to the BLS Handbook 

of Methods on the BLS web site here: http://www.bls.gov/opub/hom/homch9_a1.htm. 
Table 1. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, 2008-2009

Event or exposure1

Fatalities

20082 2009p

Number Percent

Total ................................................................................................................... 5,214 4,340 100

Transportation incidents ..................................................................................... 2,130 1,682 39

Highway ............................................................................................................. 1,215 882 20

Collision between vehicles, mobile equipment ............................................... 597 421 10

Moving in same direction ........................................................................... 156 97 2

Moving in opposite directions, oncoming ................................................... 202 169 4

Moving in intersection ................................................................................ 130 77 2

Vehicle struck object on side of road ............................................................. 323 222 5

Noncollision .................................................................................................... 275 218 5

Jack-knifed or overturned-no collision ........................................................ 239 183 4

Nonhighway (farm, industrial premises) ............................................................. 284 260 6

Overturned ................................................................................................. 151 134 3

Worker struck by a vehicle ................................................................................. 329 265 6

Railway accident ................................................................................................ 34 33 1

Water vehicle accident ....................................................................................... 76 82 2

Aircraft accident ................................................................................................. 191 156 4

Assaults and violent acts .................................................................................... 816 788 18

Homicides .......................................................................................................... 526 521 12

Shooting ......................................................................................................... 421 420 10

Stabbing ......................................................................................................... 33 48 1

Self-inflicted injuries ........................................................................................... 263 237 5

Contact with objects and equipment ................................................................. 937 734 17

Struck by object or equipment ............................................................................ 520 414 10

Struck by falling object or equipment ............................................................. 356 272 6

Struck by flying object or equipment .............................................................. 51 40 1

Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects ............................................ 302 232 5

Caught in running equipment or machinery ................................................... 109 112 3

Caught in or crushed in collapsing materials ..................................................... 100 80 2

Falls ....................................................................................................................... 700 617 14

Fall to lower level ............................................................................................... 593 518 12

Fall from ladder .............................................................................................. 119 122 3

Fall from roof .................................................................................................. 123 109 3

Fall from scaffold, staging .............................................................................. 68 53 1

Fall on same level .............................................................................................. 92 83 2

Exposure to harmful substances or environments .......................................... 439 390 9

Contact with electric current ............................................................................... 192 168 4

Contact with overhead power lines ................................................................ 102 63 1

Contact with temperature extremes ................................................................... 37 39 1

Exposure to caustic, noxious, or allergenic substances ..................................... 130 119 3

Inhalation of substance .................................................................................. 56 42 1

Oxygen deficiency .............................................................................................. 79 62 1

Drowning, submersion ................................................................................... 60 51 1

Fires and explosions ........................................................................................... 174 113 3

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

exposures, such as bodily reaction, in addition to those shown separately. 2 Totals for 2008 are revised and final. The BLS news release issued August 20, 2009, reported a total of 5,071

fatal work injuries for calendar year 2008. Since then, an additional 143 job-related fatalities were identified, bringing

the total job-related fatality count for 2008 to 5,214. p Data for 2009 are preliminary. Revised and final 2009 data are scheduled to be released in April 2011.

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

7
Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by industry and selected event or exposure, 2009p

Industry1

Fatalities Selected event or exposure2

(percent of total for industry)

Number Percent Highway3 Homicides Falls Struck by object

Total ............................................................................................. 4,340 100 20 12 14 10

Private industry ............................................................................... 3,890 90 20 11 15 10

Goods producing ........................................................................... 1,772 41 12 2 20 14

Natural resources and mining .................................................... 652 15 13 1 6 18

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting ..................................... 551 13 11 1 6 18

Crop production ....................................................................... 278 6 13 1 6 17

Animal production .................................................................... 141 3 12 – 9 14

Forestry and logging ................................................................ 51 1 18 – – 51

Mining4 ........................................................................................ 101 2 25 – 5 19

Mining, except oil and gas ....................................................... 28 1 14 – – 21

Support activities for mining .................................................... 55 1 29 – 5 20

Construction ................................................................................ 816 19 10 2 34 10

Construction ................................................................................ 816 19 10 2 34 10

Construction of buildings ......................................................... 150 3 6 – 49 9

Heavy and civil engineering construction ................................ 167 4 14 2 7 13

Specialty trade contractors ...................................................... 477 11 10 2 39 9

Manufacturing .............................................................................. 304 7 12 2 12 15

Manufacturing .............................................................................. 304 7 12 2 12 15

Food manufacturing ................................................................. 47 1 21 9 11 9

Fabricated metal product manufacturing ................................. 37 1 – – 8 30

Service providing .......................................................................... 2,118 49 26 19 11 7

Trade, transportation, and utilities ............................................ 1,073 25 37 16 8 6

Wholesale trade ........................................................................... 186 4 35 5 13 10

Merchant wholesalers, durable goods ..................................... 94 2 29 5 17 18

Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods ............................... 85 2 40 5 9 –

Retail trade .................................................................................. 291 7 14 45 9 7

Motor vehicle and parts dealers .............................................. 51 1 27 20 6 12

Food and beverage stores ....................................................... 77 2 8 75 6 –

Transportation and warehousing ................................................. 579 13 49 6 6 5

Truck transportation ................................................................. 340 8 67 2 5 5

Transit and ground passenger transportation .......................... 57 1 37 44 – 5

Utilities ......................................................................................... 17 5( ) – – 24 –

Information ................................................................................... 32 1 34 12 25 –

Financial activities ....................................................................... 101 2 12 32 10 4

Finance and insurance ................................................................ 30 1 20 37 – –

Real estate and rental and leasing .............................................. 71 2 8 30 11 4

Professional and business services .......................................... 394 9 18 8 19 12

Professional and technical services ............................................ 80 2 21 9 8 4

Administrative and waste services .............................................. 313 7 18 7 22 14

Educational and health services ................................................ 136 3 24 22 11 –

Educational services .................................................................... 25 1 16 – 12 –

Health care and social assistance ............................................... 111 3 25 26 11 –

Leisure and hospitality ............................................................... 216 5 8 44 11 6

Arts, entertainment, and recreation ............................................. 76 2 5 13 14 13

Accommodation and food services .............................................. 140 3 10 61 9 3

Other services, except public administration ........................... 166 4 14 25 7 16

Government6 ................................................................................... 450 10 25 18 8 3

Federal government ........................................................................ 116 3 16 16 7 3

State government ............................................................................ 75 2 28 9 9 7

Local government ............................................................................ 256 6 29 21 9 3

1 Based on the North American Industry Classification System, 2007. 2 Based on the 2007 BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification Manual. The figure shown is the percent of the total fatalities for that industry group. 3 "Highway" includes deaths to vehicle occupants resulting from traffic incidents that occur on the public roadway, shoulder, or surrounding area. It excludes incidents

occurring entirely off the roadway, such as in parking lots and on farms; incidents involving trains; and deaths to pedestrians or other nonpassengers. 4 Includes fatalities at all establishments categorized as Mining (Sector 21) in the North American Industry Classification System, 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 fatalities to workers employed by governmental organizations regardless of industry. p Data for 2009 are preliminary. Revised and final 2009 data are scheduled to be released in April 2011.

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 zero fatalities 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

8
Table 3. Fatal occupational injuries by occupation and selected event or exposure, 2009p

Occupation1

Fatalities Selected event or exposure2

(percent of total for occupation)

Number Percent Highway3 Homicides Falls Struck by

object

Total ................................................................................................................... 4,340 100 20 12 14 10

Management occupations ................................................................................... 514 12 14 11 9 13

Top executives ................................................................................................... 37 1 19 22 8 –

Operations specialties managers ....................................................................... 27 1 19 11 11 11

Other management occupations ........................................................................ 433 10 12 10 9 15

Business and financial operations occupations ............................................... 24 1 17 – – –

Computer and mathematical occupations ......................................................... 6 4( )– – – –

Architecture and engineering occupations ....................................................... 41 1 15 7 20 –

Engineers ........................................................................................................... 18 4( ) – – 33 –

Life, physical, and social science occupations ................................................ 16 4( ) 19– – –

Community and social services occupations ................................................... 29 1 34 31 17 –

Legal occupations ................................................................................................ 12 4( ) 42– – –

Education, training, and library occupations .................................................... 21 4() – 19 43 –

Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations .......................... 41 1 12 15 15 12

Entertainers and performers, sports and related workers .................................. 31 1 13 10 13 13

Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations ........................................ 54 1 24 19 6 –

Health diagnosing and treating practitioners ...................................................... 30 1 27 17 – –

Health technologists and technicians ................................................................. 23 1 22 22 – –

Healthcare support occupations ........................................................................ 24 1 29 33 12 –

Protective service occupations .......................................................................... 243 6 26 37 6 2

Fire fighting and prevention workers .................................................................. 29 1 24 – 21 –

Law enforcement workers .................................................................................. 108 2 36 45 – –

Other protective service workers ........................................................................ 81 2 10 46 7 4

Food preparation and serving related occupations ......................................... 55 1 7 56 11 7

Supervisors, food preparation and serving workers ........................................... 13 4() – 62 – –

Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations ...................... 248 6 7 5 27 17

Building cleaning and pest control workers ........................................................ 55 1 – 16 36 7

Grounds maintenance workers .......................................................................... 147 3 9 – 27 17

Personal care and service occupations ............................................................. 42 1 12 38 7 –

Sales and related occupations ........................................................................... 269 6 16 50 7 4

Supervisors, sales workers ................................................................................ 150 3 10 53 6 5

Retail sales workers ........................................................................................... 72 2 6 65 8 –

Sales representatives, services ......................................................................... 11 4( ) 45– – –

Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing ........................................ 25 1 68 – – –

Office and administrative support occupations ................................................ 86 2 33 23 15 –

Material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing workers ............... 38 1 50 11 13 –

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ...................................................... 229 5 10 2 4 18

Agricultural workers ............................................................................................ 120 3 15 – 7 8

Fishing and hunting workers .............................................................................. 57 1 – – – –

Forest, conservation, and logging workers ........................................................ 37 1 11 – – 65

Construction and extraction occupations ......................................................... 818 19 10 2 32 12

Supervisors, construction and extraction workers .............................................. 111 3 14 3 21 10

Construction trades workers .............................................................................. 607 14 8 1 38 10

Extraction workers .............................................................................................. 58 1 19 – 7 29

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ........................................... 317 7 11 6 16 16

Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers ................. 120 3 8 4 628

Other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................................... 164 4 12 6 22 9

Production occupations ...................................................................................... 191 4 5 4 10 17

Supervisors, production workers ........................................................................ 22 1 – – 14 –

Metal workers and plastic workers ..................................................................... 72 2 6 – 11 24

Transportation and material moving occupations ............................................ 988 23 45 6 7 6

Air transportation workers .................................................................................. 66 2 – – – –

Motor vehicle operators ...................................................................................... 660 15 64 7 5 4

Water transportation workers ............................................................................. 27 1 – – – –

Material moving workers .................................................................................... 187 4 10 3 14 15

Military occupations5 .......................................................................................... 69 2 4 22 – –

1 Based on the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification system. 2 Based on the 2007 BLS Injury and Illness Classification Manual. The figure shown is the percent of the total fatalities for that occupation group. 3 "Highway" includes deaths to vehicle occupants resulting from traffic incidents that occur on the public roadway, shoulder, or surrounding area. It excludes incidents

occurring entirely off the roadway, such as in parking lots and on farms; incidents involving trains; and deaths to pedestrians or other non passengers. 4 Less than or equal to 0.5 percent. 5 Includes fatalities to persons identified as resident armed forces regardless of individual occupation listed. p Data for 2009 are preliminary. Revised and final 2009 data are scheduled to be released in April 2011.

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

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

Occupational Injuries

9
Table 4. Fatal occupational injuries by selected worker characteristics and selected event or exposure, 2009p

Characteristic

Fatalities Selected event or exposure1

(percent of total for characteristic category)

Number Percent Highway2 Homicides Falls Struck by

object

Total ..................................................................................................... 4,340 100 20 12 14 10

Employee status

Wage and salary3 ................................................................................ 3,335 77 23 11 14 9

Self-employed4 .................................................................................... 1,005 23 11 15 14 13

Sex

Men ...................................................................................................... 4,021 93 20 11 14 10

Women ................................................................................................ 319 7 25 26 13 3

Age5

Under 16 years .................................................................................... 13 6() – – – –

16-17 years .......................................................................................... 14 6( ) 36 – – –

18-19 years .......................................................................................... 55 1 20 16 7 9

20-24 years .......................................................................................... 261 6 18 13 13 7

25-34 years .......................................................................................... 681 16 19 15 11 9

35-44 years .......................................................................................... 872 20 21 15 11 9

45-54 years .......................................................................................... 1,113 26 21 11 14 10

55-64 years .......................................................................................... 806 19 21 11 18 9

65 years and older ............................................................................... 521 12 19 5 20 11

Race or ethnic origin7

White ................................................................................................... 3,059 70 22 8 14 10

Black or African-American ................................................................... 407 9 25 28 7 7

Hispanic or Latino ................................................................................ 668 15 14 13 20 11

American Indian or Alaska Native ....................................................... 32 1 19 22 12 9

Asian .................................................................................................... 122 3 12 43 7 6

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander ..................................................... 7 6() – – – –

Multiple races ...................................................................................... 7 6() – – – –

Other or not reported ........................................................................... 38 1 8 21 8 –

1 Based on the 2007 BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification Manual. The figure shown is the percent of the total fatalities for that

demographic group. 2 "Highway" includes deaths to vehicle occupants resulting from traffic incidents that occur on the public roadway, shoulder, or surrounding area. It

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

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

may include owners of incorporated businesses. 5 There were 4 fatalities for which there was insufficient information to determine the age of the decedent. 6 Less than or equal to 0.5 percent. 7 Persons identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. The race categories shown exclude Hispanic and Latino workers. p Data for 2009 are preliminary. Revised and final 2009 data are scheduled to be released in April 2011.

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

10
Table 5. Fatal occupational injuries by state and event or exposure, 2008-2009

State of injury

Total fatalities1 Event or exposure4

2009

20082

(revised) 20093,p

Transportation

incidents5

Assaults

and violent

acts6

Contact with

objects and

equipment

Falls

Exposure to

harmful substances or

environments

Fires and

explosions

Total .................................................................................... 5,214 4,340 1,682 788 734 617 390 113

Alabama .................................................................................. 107 70 33 14 12 5 5 –

Alaska ...................................................................................... 33 17 9 – 4 – – –

Arizona .................................................................................... 100 50 23 6 10 5 6 –

Arkansas ................................................................................. 85 75 35 10 12 7 8 –

California ................................................................................. 465 301 95 79 41 54 24 6

Colorado .................................................................................. 105 80 34 16 9 13 6 –

Connecticut ............................................................................. 28 34 9 13 3 7 – –

Delaware ................................................................................. 11 7 3 – – – – –

District of Columbia ................................................................. 9 10 3 6 – – – –

Florida ..................................................................................... 291 243 90 35 31 36 47 –

Georgia .................................................................................... 182 96 47 14 11 11 10 3

Hawaii ...................................................................................... 19 13 8 – 3 – – –

Idaho ....................................................................................... 36 26 14 – 7 – – –

Illinois ...................................................................................... 193 158 46 36 32 26 16 –

Indiana ..................................................................................... 143 123 47 20 25 20 9 –

Iowa ......................................................................................... 93 78 47 3 15 7 4 –

Kansas .................................................................................... 73 76 33 8 16 11 5 3

Kentucky .................................................................................. 106 97 37 15 21 10 12 –

Louisiana ................................................................................. 135 138 60 13 30 15 16 3

Maine ....................................................................................... 24 16 10 – – – – –

Maryland .................................................................................. 60 65 23 17 9 10 4 –

Massachusetts ........................................................................ 68 59 20 9 12 11 7 –

Michigan .................................................................................. 123 93 27 23 22 11 9 –

Minnesota ................................................................................ 65 60 22 10 14 9 4 –

Mississippi ............................................................................... 80 64 33 12 4 6 4 5

Missouri ................................................................................... 148 142 59 24 27 20 10 –

Montana .................................................................................. 40 50 22 13 7 – 3 –

Nebraska ................................................................................. 53 57 26 4 9 13 4 –

Nevada .................................................................................... 41 24 13 3 3 3 – –

New Hampshire ....................................................................... 7 6 3 – – – – –

New Jersey .............................................................................. 92 99 33 23 12 23 5 3

New Mexico ............................................................................. 31 42 20 7 6 5 4 –

New York (including N.Y.C.) .................................................... 213 184 63 47 29 24 12 8

New York City ...................................................................... 90 63 11 28 9 8 – –

North Carolina ......................................................................... 161 125 47 25 17 18 9 9

North Dakota ........................................................................... 28 25 11 – 4 6 3 –

Ohio ......................................................................................... 168 132 39 26 22 28 10 4

Oklahoma ................................................................................ 102 77 43 6 14 4 8 –

Oregon .................................................................................... 55 66 34 10 14 4 3 –

Pennsylvania ........................................................................... 241 166 55 37 25 31 13 5

Rhode Island ........................................................................... 6 7 – – 4 – – –

South Carolina ......................................................................... 87 73 29 12 11 10 9 –

South Dakota ........................................................................... 30 24 10 – 10 – – –

Tennessee ............................................................................... 135 105 42 18 24 12 6 3

Texas ....................................................................................... 463 480 163 93 65 82 61 15

Utah ......................................................................................... 64 48 27 – 7 4 – 6

Vermont ................................................................................... 10 12 7 – – – – –

Virginia .................................................................................... 156 118 42 31 21 16 8 –

Washington ............................................................................. 84 75 23 22 19 5 3 –

West Virginia ........................................................................... 53 41 19 – 12 – 3 4

Wisconsin ................................................................................ 77 94 32 18 21 14 7 –

Wyoming ................................................................................. 33 19 11 – – 4 – –

1 State totals include other events and exposures, such as bodily reaction, in addition to those shown separately. 2 Totals for 2008 are revised and final. The BLS news release issued August 20, 2009, reported a total of 5,071 fatal work injuries for calendar year 2008. Since then, an

additional 143 job-related fatalities were identified, bringing the total job-related fatality count for 2008 to 5,214. Includes two fatalities that occurred within the territorial

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

4 Based on the 2007 BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification Manual. 5 Includes highway, nonhighway, air, water, rail fatalities, and fatalities resulting from being struck by a vehicle. 6 Includes violence by persons, self-inflicted injuries, and attacks by animals. p Data for 2009 are preliminary. Revised and final 2009 data are scheduled to be released in April 2011.

 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

11
12 

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 of Arizona (602) 542-3739

Arkansas Department of Labor (501) 682-4542

California Department of Industrial Relations (510) 286-0702

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (303) 692-2710

Connecticut Labor Department (860) 263-6933

Delaware Department of Labor (302) 761-8219

Dist. of Columbia Bureau of Labor Statistics – Philadelphia Region (215) 861-5637

Florida Department of Financial Services (850) 413-1611

Georgia Department of Labor (404) 679-1656

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

Idaho Industrial Commission (208) 334-6090

Illinois Department of Public Health (217) 558-0500

Indiana Department of Labor (317) 232-2668

Iowa Division of Labor Services (515) 281-5151

Kansas Department of Labor (785) 296-1640

Kentucky Labor Cabinet (502) 564-4136

Louisiana Louisiana Workforce Commission (225) 342-3126

Maine Bureau of Labor Standards (207) 623-7902

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

Massachusetts Department of Public Health (617) 624-5679

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

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

Mississippi Department of Health (601) 576-7186

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

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

Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court (402) 471-3547

Nevada Division of Industrial Relations (775) 684-7081

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

New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (609) 826-4984

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

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

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

North Carolina Department of Labor (919) 733-0337

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

Ohio Department of Health (614) 728-4116

Oklahoma Department of Labor (405) 521-6855

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

Pennsylvania Department of Health (717) 783-2548

Rhode Island Department of Health (401) 222-2812

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

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

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

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

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

Vermont Department of Labor (802) 828-5076

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

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

West Virginia Bureau of Labor Statistics – Philadelphia Region (215) 861-5628 

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

Wyoming Department of Employment (307) 473-3819

Puerto Rico Negociado de Estadisticas (787) 754-5300 ext.3058
13 

TECHNICAL NOTES

Identification and verification of work-related fatalities

In 2009, there were 27 cases included for which work relationship could not be independently verified; 

however, the information on the initiating source document for these cases was sufficient to determine 

that the incident was likely to be job-related. Data for these fatalities are included in the Census of Fatal 

Occupational Injuries counts. An additional 59 fatalities submitted by states were not included because 

the source documents had insufficient information to determine work relationship and could not be 

verified by either an independent source document or a follow-up questionnaire. 

States may identify additional fatal work injuries after data collection closeout for a reference year. In 

addition, other fatalities excluded from the published count because of insufficient information to 

determine work relationship may subsequently be verified as work related. States have up to seven 

months from this release to update their initial published state counts. This procedure ensures that 

fatality data are disseminated as quickly as possible and that legitimate cases are not excluded from the 

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

released in the Spring of the following year. Revised counts for 2009 will be available in April 2011. 

Over the last 2 years, increases in the published counts based on additional information have averaged 

156 fatalities per year or about 3 percent of the revised total. The BLS news release issued August 20, 

2009 reported a total of 5,071 fatal work injuries for 2008. With the April 2010 release of final data, an 

additional 143 net fatal work injuries were added, bringing the total for 2008 to 5,214. 

Federal/State agency coverage

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

was working in a job covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) or other 

federal or state agencies or was outside the scope of regulatory coverage. Thus, any comparison 

between the BLS fatality census counts and those released by other agencies should take into account 

the different coverage requirements and definitions being used by each agency. 

Several federal and state agencies have jurisdiction over workplace safety and health. OSHA and 

affiliated agencies in states with approved safety programs cover the largest portion of the nation's 

workers. However, injuries and illnesses occurring in certain industries or activities, such as coal, metal, 

and nonmetal mining, and highway, water, rail, and air transportation, are excluded from OSHA 

coverage because they are covered by other federal agencies, such as the Mine Safety and Health 

Administration and various agencies within the Department of Transportation. 

Acknowledgements

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

Virgin Islands 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.