News

Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212

United States 

Department 

of Labor 

Technical information: (202) 691-6170 USDL 09-0979 

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

Internet address: http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm Thursday, August 20, 2009 

NATIONAL CENSUS OF FATAL OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES IN 2008 

A total of 5,071 fatal work injuries were recorded in the United States in 2008, down from a total 

of 5,657 fatal work injuries reported for 2007. While the 2008 results are preliminary, this figure 

represents the smallest annual preliminary total since the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) 

program was first conducted in 1992. Final results for 2008 will be released in April 2010. 

Based on these preliminary counts, the rate of fatal injury for U.S. workers in 2008 was 3.6 fatal 

work injuries per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers, down from the final rate of 4.0 in 2007. 

Please see the text box at the bottom of this page which describes an important change in the way the 

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) calculated rates this year. 

Key findings of the 2008 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries: 

− Fatal work injuries in the private construction sector in 2008 declined by 20 percent from the 

updated 2007 total, twice the all-worker decline of 10 percent. 

− Fatal workplace falls, which had risen to a series high in 2007, also declined by 20 percent in 

2008. 

− Workplace suicides were up 28 percent to a series high of 251 cases in 2008, but workplace 

homicides declined 18 percent in 2008. 

− The number and rate of fatal work injuries among 16 to 17 year-old workers were higher in 2008. 

− Fatal occupational injuries involving Hispanic or Latino workers in 2008 were 17 percent lower 

than in 2007. Fatalities among non-Hispanic Black or African American workers were down 16 

percent. 

− The number of fatal workplace injuries in farming, fishing, and forestry occupations rose 6 

percent in 2008 after declining in 2007. 

− Transportation incidents, which accounted for approximately two-fifths of all the workplace 

fatalities in 2008, fell 13 percent from the previous series low of 2,351 cases reported in 2007. 

In June of 2009, the Bureau of Labor Statistics introduced improved fatality rates for the Census of Fatal 

Occupational Injuries (CFOI). The new rates, based on hours worked as opposed to employment, are 

considered to be more accurate in measuring the risk of dying from an injury on the job. Further 

information on the rates is available at: http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshnotice10.htm. Hours-based rates for 

years 2006 through 2008 and employment-based rates for years 1992 through 2007 can be found at: 

http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm. 
2

Economic factors likely played a role in the fatality decrease. Average hours worked at the 

national level fell by one percent in 2008, and some industries that have historically accounted for a 

significant share of worker fatalities, such as construction, experienced larger declines in employment or 

hours worked. 

In addition to the impact of declining employment, another factor that should be considered when 

reviewing these preliminary results is how the economy may have impacted the government agencies that 

provide source documents used in the compilation of CFOI data. Budget constraints at some of these 

governmental agencies may have delayed the receipt and processing of the documents that are used by 

our State partners to classify and code CFOI cases. The average net increase in CFOI cases as a result of 

updates over the past two years has been 153 cases, but the updated 2008 counts scheduled for release in 

April 2010 have the potential to be larger because of these delays.

Profile of 2008 fatal work injuries by type of incident 

Most types of transportation fatalities saw decreases in 2008 relative to 2007, including highway 

incidents (down 19 percent); railway incidents (down 31 percent); workers struck by vehicle or mobile 

equipment (down 7 percent); and nonhighway incidents such as tractor overturns (down 4 percent). 

Aircraft-related fatalities were higher in 2008 (189 incidents in 2008, up from 174 incidents in 2007), as 

were water vehicle incidents. 

579 520

585 571

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

Highway incidents Homicides Falls Struck by object

Four most frequent work-related fatal events, 1992–2008*

Number of fatalities

*Data for 2008 are preliminary. Data for prior years are revised and final.

NOTE: Data from 2001 exclude fatalities resulting from the September 11 terrorist attacks.

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2009.

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

602 607 589 651 628

504

643

847

1,414

508

680 

677 517 

1,149

The 680 fatal falls in 2008 represent a 20 percent decline from the series high of 847 fatal falls in 

2007. Fatal falls to a lower level, which accounted for 85 percent of all falls, were down 23 percent in 

2008. Fatal falls from roofs were down 26 percent and falls from ladders decreased by 14 percent. The 

number of fatal falls on same level (to a floor or walkway or against an object) increased slightly in 2008. 

Workplace suicides rose from 196 cases in 2007 to 251 cases in 2008, an increase of 28 percent 

and the highest number ever reported by the fatality census. Suicides among protective service 

occupations rose from 14 in 2007 to 25 in 2008. Workplace homicides fell by 18 percent in 2008. 
3

Overall, the 2008 preliminary workplace homicide count (517 workplace homicides) represents a decline 

of 52 percent from the high of 1,080 homicides reported in 1994. 

The number of fatal work injuries involving fires and explosions was up 14 percent in 2008; 

fatalities involving contact with objects or equipment were also up slightly in 2008. 

Profile of fatal work injuries by industry 

Overall, 90 percent of the fatal work injuries involved workers in private industry. Serviceproviding industries in the private sector recorded 46 percent of all fatal work injuries in 2008, while 

goods-producing industries recorded 43 percent. Ten percent of the fatal work injury cases in 2008 

involved government workers. The number of fatal work injuries in the private sector decreased 11 

percent in 2008, and fatalities among government workers, including resident military personnel, 

decreased 4 percent. Fatality rates were lower in 2008 for both goods-producing industries and serviceproviding industries, but remained unchanged for civilian government workers. 

Manufacturing

Other services (exc. public admin.)

Professional and business services

Utilities

Wholesale trade

Leisure and hospitality 

Government

Construction

Mining

Agriculture, forestry, 

fishing, and hunting

Transportation and warehousing

Retail trade

Information

Educational and health services

Number and rate of fatal occupational injuries, by industry sector, 2008*

1,250 750 250 0 10 20 30 40

172

290

175

404

233

389

522

651

762

969

45

175

137

103

36

9.6

14.2

29.4

2.3

2.7

2.5

2.0

2.2

4.2

18.0

2.5

0.7

1.0

3.8

1.4

Financial activities

Fatality rate

(per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers) Number of fatalities

1,500 1,000 500

Total fatalities = 5,071

All worker fatality rate = 3.6

*Data for 2008 are preliminary. 

NOTE: In 2008, CFOI implemented a new methodology, using hours worked for fatality rate calculations rather 

than employment. For additional information on the fatality rate methodology changes please see 

http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshnotice10.htm. 

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2009.

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

2008, the number of fatalities in construction declined 20 percent, from 1,204 cases in 2007 to 969 cases 

in 2008. Fatalities involving workers in the construction of buildings were down 21 percent from 2007, 

with most of the decrease occurring in residential building construction (down 28 percent to 93 cases). 

Heavy and civil engineering construction was down 14 percent, and the subsector with the largest number 

of fatalities, specialty trade contractors, had 19 percent fewer fatalities in 2008 than in 2007. 

Fatalities rose by 11 percent among private sector workers in the agriculture, forestry, fishing, 

and hunting industry sector in 2008 after declining in 2007. Fatalities to workers in crop production led 

the increase, rising 18 percent, while fatalities to workers in animal production declined 8 percent. 

Fishing and logging, two of the industries with the highest fatality rates, had higher numbers of fatalities 

in 2008. Fatalities were also slightly higher in manufacturing (404 in 2008, up from 400 fatalities in 
4

2007). Included in the manufacturing total are the 14 workers who perished in a sugar refinery explosion 

in Georgia in February 2008. 

Among service-providing industries, workers in the transportation and warehousing sector 

incurred 762 fatalities, a 14 percent decrease. Truck transportation, the largest subsector in transportation 

and warehousing, had a 20 percent decrease in fatalities in 2008. Among other transportation sectors, 

workers in air and water transportation industries incurred fewer fatalities in 2008, but the number of fatal 

work injuries in rail transportation increased. 

Both wholesale and retail trade had fewer fatal work injuries in 2008 than in 2007. Fatalities 

were down 17 percent in retail trade and 15 percent in wholesale trade in 2008. 

Other service-providing industry sectors with large declines in 2008 included the information 

industry (down 43 percent), professional and business services (down 18 percent), the leisure and 

hospitality industry (down 10 percent), and educational and health services (down 8 percent). Fatalities in 

the finance and insurance sector were down nearly 50 percent in 2008, from 46 to 24 fatalities. 

Fatalities among government workers were down 4 percent. While fatalities incurred by federal 

and local government workers decreased in 2008, fatalities among state government workers were at the 

highest level since 1998 (115 fatal work injuries in 2008). 

Profile of fatal work injuries by occupation 

About one-fourth of all occupational fatalities in 2008 involved workers in transportation and 

material moving occupations, though fatalities among these workers declined by 12 percent in 2008. 

Driver/sales workers and truck drivers, the largest occupation group in this sector, led the decline with 16 

percent fewer fatal work injuries in 2008 than in 2007. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver fatalities 

were lower by 13 percent. 

100 0 400 800

815

35

31

69

317

36

82

50

Selected occupations with high fatality rates, 2008*

128.9

115.7

46.4

39.5

34.4

36.8

29.8

22.8

19.3

Logging workers

Aircraft pilots and flight 

engineers

Refuse and recyclable

material collectors

Structural iron and steel 

workers

Farmers and ranchers

Electrical power-line 

installers and repairers

Driver/sales workers and 

truck drivers

Fishers and related

fishing workers

Roofers

Fatality rate

(per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers) Number of fatalities

72.4 90

150 200 600 50

Total fatalities = 5,071

All worker fatality rate = 3.6

1,000

69

*Data for 2008 are preliminary. 

NOTE: In 2008, CFOI implemented a new methodology, using hours worked for fatality rate calculations rather 

than employment. For additional information on the fatality rate methodology changes please see 

http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshnotice10.htm. 

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2009.

Taxi drivers and 

chauffeurs

Fatalities in construction and extraction occupations, which accounted for nearly one-fifth of all 

fatalities in 2008, decreased by 18 percent from the previous year. Construction laborer fatalities were 
5

down 31 percent (from 345 in 2007 to 239 in 2008). Carpenters, brick masons, electricians, roofers, pipe 

layers, plumbers, and extraction workers were among the other groups that saw declines in 2008. Firstline supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers, construction equipment 

operators, and painters/paperhangers were among the occupational groups in construction and extraction 

that had higher numbers of fatal injuries in 2008. 

Fatal work injuries among protective service occupations fell by 13 percent in 2008 after rising 

22 percent from 2006 to 2007. Fewer fatalities among law enforcement workers (down 15 percent), fire 

fighting and prevention workers (down 14 percent), and security guards (down 23 percent) led the decline 

in this occupational group. 

Among the occupation groups with a higher number of fatalities in 2008 were farming, fishing, 

and forestry (up 6 percent) and management occupations (up 2 percent). Four occupations with 

particularly high fatality rates in 2008 were fishers and related fishing workers with a fatality rate of 128.9 

per 100,000 FTE’s, logging workers (115.7), aircraft pilots and flight engineers (72.4), and structural iron 

and steel workers (46.4). 

Profile of fatal work injuries by demographic characteristics 

While the number of fatal work injuries among White, non-Hispanic workers fell 8 percent in 

2008, greater declines were observed among non-Hispanic Black or African American workers (down 16 

percent) and Hispanic or Latino workers (down 17 percent). 

The decline in fatal work injuries among Hispanic or Latino workers in 2008 primarily involved 

foreign-born Hispanic or Latino workers. Fatalities among foreign-born Hispanic or Latino workers were 

lower by 24 percent (from 634 in 2007 to 480 in 2008), but among native-born Hispanics, the decline was 

only 3 percent. 

Overall, 795 fatal work injuries were incurred by workers who were born outside of the United 

States—a decline of 21 percent from 2007. Fatalities involving foreign-born workers accounted for 16 

percent of all fatal work injuries in the U.S. Of the foreign-born workers who were fatally-injured in the 

U.S. in 2008, the largest share (42 percent) was born in Mexico. 

The number of fatalities declined for all age categories in 2008 except for 16 to 17 year-old 

workers. Fatality rates for 16 to 17 year-old workers rose from 1.9 in 2007 to 2.5 in 2008. 

Self-employed workers had a 4 percent drop in fatalities, while fatalities among wage and salary 

workers fell by 12 percent. Workplace fatalities among both male and female workers decreased in 2008. 

Profile of fatal work injuries by State 

Thirty-five States and the District of Columbia reported lower numbers of fatal work injuries in 

2008 than in 2007, 14 States reported higher numbers, and one State was unchanged. For more detailed 

State results, contact the individual State agency responsible for the collection of CFOI data in that State. 

Although data for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are not included in the national 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. 
6

Background of the program 

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

statistics program, compiles a count of all fatal work injuries occurring in the U.S. during the calendar 

year. The program uses diverse State, federal, and independent data sources to identify, verify, and 

describe fatal work injuries. This assures counts are as complete and accurate as possible. For the 2008 

data, over 20,000 unique source documents were reviewed as part of the data collection process. 

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

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

nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses that result in days away from work. Incidence rates for 2008 by 

industry will be published in October 2009, and information on 2008 case circumstances and worker 

characteristics will be available in November 2009. For additional data, access the BLS Internet site: 

http://www.bls.gov/iif/. 

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

on the BLS web site here: http://www.bls.gov/opub/hom/homch9_a1.htm. The technical information and 

definitions for the CFOI Program are in Chapter 9, Part III of the BLS Handbook of Methods.
Table 1. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, 2007-2008

Event or exposure1

Fatalities

20072 2008p

Number Percent

Total ................................................................................................................... 5,657 5,071 100

Transportation incidents ..................................................................................... 2,351 2,053 40

Highway ............................................................................................................. 1,414 1,149 23

Collision between vehicles, mobile equipment ............................................... 687 562 11

Moving in same direction ........................................................................... 164 144 3

Moving in opposite directions, oncoming ................................................... 281 191 4

Moving in intersection ................................................................................ 125 123 2

Vehicle struck object on side of road ............................................................. 368 303 6

Noncollision .................................................................................................... 308 264 5

Jack-knifed or overturned-no collision ........................................................ 271 230 5

Nonhighway (farm, industrial premises) ............................................................. 296 283 6

Overturned ................................................................................................. 166 151 3

Worker struck by a vehicle ................................................................................. 345 322 6

Railway accident ................................................................................................ 49 34 1

Water vehicle accident ....................................................................................... 71 75 1

Aircraft accident ................................................................................................. 174 189 4

Assaults and violent acts .................................................................................... 864 794 16

Homicides .......................................................................................................... 628 517 10

Shooting ......................................................................................................... 503 413 8

Stabbing ......................................................................................................... 45 32 1

Self-inflicted injuries ........................................................................................... 196 251 5

Contact with objects and equipment ................................................................. 920 923 18

Struck by object or equipment ............................................................................ 504 508 10

Struck by falling object or equipment ............................................................. 328 349 7

Struck by flying object or equipment .............................................................. 58 50 1

Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects ............................................ 296 299 6

Caught in running equipment or machinery ................................................... 140 109 2

Caught in or crushed in collapsing materials ..................................................... 108 101 2

Falls ....................................................................................................................... 847 680 13

Fall to lower level ............................................................................................... 746 576 11

Fall from ladder .............................................................................................. 135 116 2

Fall from roof .................................................................................................. 163 121 2

Fall from scaffold, staging .............................................................................. 89 68 1

Fall on same level .............................................................................................. 81 84 2

Exposure to harmful substances or environments .......................................... 497 432 9

Contact with electric current ............................................................................... 212 192 4

Contact with overhead power lines ................................................................ 94 102 2

Contact with temperature extremes ................................................................... 40 35 1

Exposure to caustic, noxious, or allergenic substances ..................................... 161 127 3

Inhalation of substance .................................................................................. 64 56 1

Oxygen deficiency .............................................................................................. 82 77 2

Drowning, submersion ................................................................................... 62 59 1

Fires and explosions ........................................................................................... 152 173 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 2007 are revised and final. The BLS news release issued August 20, 2008, reported a total of 5,488

fatal work injuries for calendar year 2007. Since then, an additional 169 job-related fatalities were identified, bringing

the total job-related fatality count for 2007 to 5,657. p Data for 2008 are preliminary. Revised and final 2008 data are scheduled to be released in April 2010.

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

totals because of rounding.

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

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

7
Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by industry and selected event or exposure, 2008p

Industry1

Fatalities Selected event or exposure2

(percent of total for industry)

Number Percent Highway3 Homicides Falls Struck by object

Total ............................................................................................. 5,071 100 23 10 13 10

Private industry ............................................................................... 4,549 90 22 10 14 11

Goods producing ........................................................................... 2,199 43 12 2 20 15

Natural resources and mining .................................................... 826 16 13 2 5 21

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting ..................................... 651 13 10 2 5 22

Crop production ....................................................................... 304 6 11 3 4 18

Animal production .................................................................... 152 3 9 3 11 11

Forestry and logging ................................................................ 98 2 8 3 – 67

Mining4 ........................................................................................ 175 3 24 – 7 18

Mining, except oil and gas ....................................................... 50 1 10 – – 18

Support activities for mining .................................................... 104 2 31 – 9 17

Construction ................................................................................ 969 19 11 2 34 11

Construction ................................................................................ 969 19 11 2 34 11

Construction of buildings ......................................................... 197 4 7 4 41 13

Heavy and civil engineering construction ................................ 189 4 15 – 11 13

Specialty trade contractors ...................................................... 556 11 12 1 40 10

Manufacturing .............................................................................. 404 8 14 5 14 11

Manufacturing .............................................................................. 404 8 14 5 14 11

Food manufacturing ................................................................. 70 1 26 – 9 6

Fabricated metal product manufacturing ................................. 51 1 10 – 10 18

Service providing .......................................................................... 2,350 46 31 17 9 7

Trade, transportation, and utilities ............................................ 1,263 25 41 15 6 6

Wholesale trade ........................................................................... 175 3 38 8 9 10

Merchant wholesalers, durable goods ..................................... 89 2 30 4 9 16

Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods ............................... 75 1 48 12 7 4

Retail trade .................................................................................. 290 6 18 40 10 7

Motor vehicle and parts dealers .............................................. 55 1 27 22 9 11

Food and beverage stores ....................................................... 54 1 11 74 6 –

Transportation and warehousing ................................................. 762 15 52 7 4 5

Truck transportation ................................................................. 469 9 71 1 5 4

Transit and ground passenger transportation .......................... 76 1 43 49 – –

Utilities ......................................................................................... 36 1 ––––

Information ................................................................................... 45 1 33 13 16 –

Financial activities ....................................................................... 103 2 25 32 16 3

Finance and insurance ................................................................ 24 5( ) 25 50 – –

Real estate and rental and leasing .............................................. 79 2 25 27 20 4

Professional and business services .......................................... 389 8 22 7 16 11

Professional and technical services ............................................ 66 1 24 – 17 –

Administrative and waste services .............................................. 321 6 21 7 16 13

Educational and health services ................................................ 137 3 13 12 7 –

Educational services .................................................................... 27 1 ––––

Health care and social assistance ............................................... 110 2 15 15 7 –

Leisure and hospitality ............................................................... 233 5 7 40 8 4

Arts, entertainment, and recreation ............................................. 88 2 5 15 11 8

Accommodation and food services .............................................. 145 3 9 56 6 –

Other services, except public administration ........................... 172 3 19 19 11 13

Government6 ................................................................................... 522 10 31 14 7 5

Federal government ........................................................................ 100 2 21 8 6 3

State government ............................................................................ 115 2 37 7 9 3

Local government ............................................................................ 306 6 31 19 8 6

1 Based on the North American Industry Classification System, 2002. 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, 2002, including establishments not

governed by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) rules and reporting, such as those in Oil and Gas Extraction. 5 Less than or equal to 0.5 percent. 6 Includes fatalities to workers employed by governmental organizations regardless of industry. p Data for 2008 are preliminary. Revised and final 2008 data are scheduled to be released in April 2010.

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.

There were 8 fatalities for which there was insufficient information to determine a specific industry classification, although a distinction between private and government was

made for each.

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

Occupational Injuries

8
Table 3. Fatal occupational injuries by occupation and selected event or exposure, 2008p

Occupation1

Fatalities Selected event or exposure2

(percent of total for occupation)

Number Percent Highway3 Homicides Falls Struck by

object

Total ................................................................................................................... 5,071 100 23 10 13 10

Management occupations ................................................................................... 538 11 10 9 10 14

Top executives ................................................................................................... 28 1 11 21 – –

Operations specialties managers ....................................................................... 23 4( ) 22 17 – –

Other management occupations ........................................................................ 480 9 9 8 10 15

Business and financial operations occupations .............................................. 24 4( ) 46 – 12 –

Computer and mathematical occupations ........................................................ 7 4() – – – –

Architecture and engineering occupations ....................................................... 39 1 49 – 18 –

Engineers ........................................................................................................... 29 1 41 – 24 –

Life, physical, and social science occupations ................................................ 22 4( ) 18 – – –

Community and social services occupations ................................................... 31 1 52 13 13 –

Legal occupations ............................................................................................... 15 4( ) 33 20 – –

Education, training, and library occupations .................................................... 25 4( ) 28 – – –

Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations ......................... 55 1 16 22 13 –

Entertainers and performers, sports and related workers .................................. 28 1 – – 14 –

Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations ........................................ 60 1 10 8 5 –

Health diagnosing and treating practitioners ...................................................... 36 1 11 8 – –

Health technologists and technicians ................................................................. 23 4( ) – – 13 –

Healthcare support occupations ........................................................................ 18 4( ) 44 – – –

Protective service occupations .......................................................................... 300 6 27 31 5 3

Fire fighting and prevention workers .................................................................. 44 1 25 – – –

Law enforcement workers .................................................................................. 144 3 38 33 3 2

Other protective service workers ....................................................................... 81 2 5 46 7 –

Food preparation and serving related occupations ......................................... 65 1 8 54 9 –

Supervisors, food preparation and serving workers ........................................... 24 4( ) 12 62 – –

Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations ...................... 227 4 12 6 23 15

Building cleaning and pest control workers ........................................................ 64 1 20 17 31 –

Grounds maintenance workers .......................................................................... 128 3 9 – 20 20

Personal care and service occupations ............................................................ 53 1 13 25 9 –

Sales and related occupations ........................................................................... 266 5 17 49 6 6

Supervisors, sales workers ................................................................................ 124 2 8 52 6 9

Retail sales workers ........................................................................................... 90 2 8 58 6 6

Sales representatives, services ......................................................................... 12 4( ) 42 33 – –

Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing ........................................ 16 4( ) 94 – – –

Office and administrative support occupations ............................................... 88 2 35 27 15 –

Material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing workers ............... 39 1 64 8 10 –

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ...................................................... 274 5 11 3 2 27

Agricultural workers ........................................................................................... 133 3 19 4 4 8

Fishing and hunting workers .............................................................................. 50 1 – – – –

Forest, conservation, and logging workers ........................................................ 82 2 – – – 73

Construction and extraction occupations ......................................................... 966 19 10 1 32 12

Supervisors, construction and extraction workers ............................................. 108 2 14 3 24 15

Construction trades workers .............................................................................. 720 14 9 1 37 10

Extraction workers ............................................................................................. 81 2 14 – 9 25

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations .......................................... 345 7 11 3 19 17

Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers ................. 110 2 11 3 5 30

Other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................................... 187 4 11 3 25 11

Production occupations ...................................................................................... 261 5 3 6 10 12

Supervisors, production workers ........................................................................ 34 1 – 9 – 9

Metal workers and plastic workers ..................................................................... 102 2 3 6 13 15

Transportation and material moving occupations ........................................... 1,330 26 47 6 6 7

Air transportation workers .................................................................................. 91 2 – – – –

Motor vehicle operators ..................................................................................... 908 18 66 6 4 6

Water transportation workers ............................................................................. 35 1 – – – 11

Material moving workers .................................................................................... 248 5 9 6 14 12

Military occupations ............................................................................................ 53 1 8 – 6 –

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. p Data for 2008 are preliminary. Revised and final 2008 data are scheduled to be released in April 2010.

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.

There were 9 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, 2008p

Characteristic

Fatalities Selected event or exposure1

(percent of total for characteristic category)

Number Percent Highway2 Homicides Falls Struck by

object

Total ..................................................................................................... 5,071 100 23 10 13 10

Employee status

Wage and salary3 ................................................................................ 4,071 80 25 9 14 9

Self-employed4 .................................................................................... 1,000 20 12 14 11 15

Sex

Men ...................................................................................................... 4,703 93 22 9 14 11

Women ................................................................................................ 368 7 28 26 11 3

Age5

Under 16 years .................................................................................... 11 6() – – – –

16-17 years .......................................................................................... 23 6( ) 30 13 – –

18-19 years .......................................................................................... 63 1 25 16 8 8

20-24 years .......................................................................................... 339 7 20 9 11 11

25-34 years .......................................................................................... 840 17 24 12 10 11

35-44 years .......................................................................................... 1,084 21 24 12 12 9

45-54 years .......................................................................................... 1,257 25 23 9 14 9

55-64 years .......................................................................................... 887 17 25 8 15 11

65 years and older ............................................................................... 559 11 17 7 21 12

Race or ethnic origin7

White ................................................................................................... 3,560 70 23 7 13 11

Black or African-American ................................................................... 514 10 28 23 7 8

Hispanic or Latino ................................................................................ 774 15 18 11 20 10

American Indian or Alaska Native ....................................................... 30 1 40 – – 10

Asian .................................................................................................... 131 3 12 35 11 5

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander ..................................................... 6 6( ) 50 – – –

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

Other or not reported ........................................................................... 50 1 20 16 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 8 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 2008 are preliminary. Revised and final 2008 data are scheduled to be released in April 2010.

NOTE: Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding. Dashes

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

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, in cooperation with State, 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, 2007-2008

State of injury

Total fatalities1 Event or exposure4

2008

20072

(revised) 20083,p

Transportation

incidents5

Assaults

and violent

acts6

Contact with

objects and

equipment

Falls

Exposure to

harmful substances or

environments

Fires and

explosions

Total .................................................................................... 5,657 5,071 2,053 794 923 680 432 173

Alabama .................................................................................. 108 97 48 8 22 3 14 –

Alaska ...................................................................................... 30 33 23 – 4 – 3 –

Arizona .................................................................................... 97 86 37 14 7 16 11 –

Arkansas ................................................................................. 89 85 40 12 13 5 10 5

California ................................................................................. 461 404 153 84 63 56 42 6

Colorado .................................................................................. 126 102 47 13 17 11 10 4

Connecticut ............................................................................. 38 28 9 6 6 4 3 –

Delaware ................................................................................. 10 11 5 – – – – –

District of Columbia ................................................................. 13 9 – – – 5 – –

Florida ..................................................................................... 363 290 107 56 41 39 38 6

Georgia .................................................................................... 193 171 62 26 28 28 11 16

Hawaii ...................................................................................... 23 18 7 – 5 – – –

Idaho ....................................................................................... 31 36 23 – 7 3 – –

Illinois ...................................................................................... 185 193 62 38 34 29 23 7

Indiana ..................................................................................... 127 132 61 12 34 12 10 –

Iowa ......................................................................................... 89 93 47 6 23 10 5 –

Kansas .................................................................................... 101 73 38 9 12 7 6 –

Kentucky .................................................................................. 112 105 45 19 22 9 8 –

Louisiana ................................................................................. 139 134 77 9 23 11 13 –

Maine ....................................................................................... 21 24 16 – 4 – – –

Maryland .................................................................................. 82 59 17 9 10 12 10 –

Massachusetts ........................................................................ 75 61 18 8 8 15 10 –

Michigan .................................................................................. 120 123 43 22 21 23 8 6

Minnesota ................................................................................ 72 65 28 3 26 3 4 –

Mississippi ............................................................................... 93 80 34 7 17 13 4 5

Missouri ................................................................................... 156 147 58 34 23 18 8 5

Montana .................................................................................. 54 39 18 5 7 6 3 –

Nebraska ................................................................................. 63 53 21 8 12 9 – 3

Nevada .................................................................................... 71 40 14 4 12 5 3 –

New Hampshire ....................................................................... 14 7 3 – – – – –

New Jersey .............................................................................. 106 91 39 14 15 14 6 3

New Mexico ............................................................................. 52 31 15 5 – 5 – –

New York (including N.Y.C.) .................................................... 220 212 38 48 51 47 18 9

New York City ...................................................................... 81 90 10 26 15 29 4 6

North Carolina ......................................................................... 167 160 63 34 28 22 7 6

North Dakota ........................................................................... 25 27 12 – 8 3 – –

Ohio ......................................................................................... 165 167 65 31 24 25 11 10

Oklahoma ................................................................................ 104 102 55 5 18 5 9 10

Oregon .................................................................................... 69 54 23 9 13 – 5 3

Pennsylvania ........................................................................... 220 240 83 37 50 36 23 8

Rhode Island ........................................................................... 5 6 – – – – – –

South Carolina ......................................................................... 122 85 36 14 12 11 11 –

South Dakota ........................................................................... 22 30 14 – 6 6 – –

Tennessee ............................................................................... 154 134 51 22 27 24 6 4

Texas ....................................................................................... 528 457 200 76 69 57 32 23

Utah ......................................................................................... 78 65 34 7 6 9 8 –

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

Virginia .................................................................................... 146 154 52 37 27 20 14 4

Washington ............................................................................. 90 83 33 13 20 12 3 –

West Virginia ........................................................................... 61 53 22 5 12 6 5 –

Wisconsin ................................................................................ 104 77 33 6 18 11 3 5

Wyoming ................................................................................. 48 33 17 4 7 3 – –

1 State totals include other events and exposures, such as bodily reaction, in addition to those shown separately. 2 Totals for 2007 are revised and final. The BLS news release issued August 20, 2008, reported a total of 5,488 fatal work injuries for calendar year 2007. Since then, an

additional 169 job-related fatalities were identified, bringing the total job-related fatality count for 2007 to 5,657. Includes 5 fatalities that occurred within the territorial

boundaries of the United States, but a State of incident could not be determined. 3 Includes 2 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 2008 are preliminary. Revised and final 2008 data are scheduled to be released in April 2010.

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

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

Occupational Injuries

11
12 

Table 6. CFOI participating agencies and telephone numbers 

State Agency Telephone number

Alabama Department of Labor (334) 242-3463 

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) 692-2093 

Connecticut Labor Department (860) 263-6933 

Delaware Department of Labor (302) 761-8217 

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

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) 623-7907 

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

Massachusetts Department of Public Health (617) 624-5679 

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

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

Mississippi Department of Health (601) 576-7186 

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

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

Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court (402) 471-3547 

Nevada Division of Industrial Relations (775) 684-7081 

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

New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (908) 584-5367 

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

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

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

North Carolina Department of Labor (919) 733-0337 

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

Ohio Department of Health (614) 728-4116 

Oklahoma Department of Labor (405) 521-6855 

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

Pennsylvania Department of Health (717) 265-8761 

Rhode Island Department of Health (401) 222-2812 

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

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

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

Texas Texas Department of Insurance, Division of 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 Division of Labor (304) 558-7890 ext. 121 

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

Wyoming Department of Employment (307) 473-3819 

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

TECHNICAL NOTES 

Identification and verification of work-related fatalities 

 In 2008, 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 78 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 2008 will be available in April 2010. 

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

averaged 83 fatalities per year or less than 1.5 percent of the revised total. There was a larger-thannormal update last year. The BLS news release issued August 20, 2008 reported a total of 5,488 fatal 

work injuries for 2007. With the April 2009 release of final data, an additional 169 net fatal work injuries 

were added, bringing the total for 2007 to 5,657. 

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 Employment Standards Administration (Federal 

Employees' Compensation and Longshore and Harbor Workers' divisions); the Federal Railroad 

Administration; the Department of Energy; State vital statistics registrars, coroners, and medical 

examiners; State departments of health, labor and industries, and workers' compensation agencies; State 

and local police departments; and State farm bureaus.