Fatal Workplace

Injuries in 2006:

A Collection of Data

and Analysis

U.S. Department of Labor

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Report 1015
Fatal Workplace

Injuries in 2006:

A Collection of Data

and Analysis

U.S. Department of Labor

Hilda L. Solis, Secretary

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Keith Hall, Commissioner

May 2009

Report 1015
P R E F A C E

The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), administered 

by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in conjunction with the 

50 States, the District of Columbia, and New York City, compiles 

detailed information on all work-related fatal injuries occurring in the 

United States. In an effort to compile counts that are as complete 

as possible, the fatality census uses diverse sources to identify, 

verify, and profile fatal work injuries. Source documents such as 

death certificates, news accounts, workers’ compensation reports, 

and Federal and State agency administrative records are crossreferenced to gather key information about each workplace fatality.

The annual CFOI report provides detailed tabulations of data from 

the fatality census, as well as analytical articles on various topics 

related to fatal workplace injuries. The report contains charts and 

text highlighting fatality data from the Census of Fatal Occupational 

Injuries, including charts derived from three analytical articles 

using CFOI data.

User-created tables and supplemental tables can be accessed 

on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/iif. The online version of 

the Profiles System can be accessed at http://data.bls.gov/GQT/

servlet/InitialPage.

Additional data are available on request from BLS:

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Office of Safety and Health Statistics

Room 3180

2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE.

Washington, DC 20212

(202) 691–6170

Fax: (202) 691–6196

E-Mail: iifstaff@bls.gov

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

This report was prepared in the Office of Compensation and 

Working Conditions under the administration of Associate 

Commissioner William Wiatrowski and Assistant Commissioner 

John Ruser and under the direction of Katharine Newman, Chief 

for the Division of Safety and Health Program Analysis and 

Control. Scott Richardson, CFOI Program Manager, supervised 

the preparation of the report by staff members Dino Drudi, 

Gregory Fayard, Matt Gunter, Jill Janocha, Joyce Northwood, and 

Stephen Pegula. Editorial production of this report was provided 

by Edith S. Baker, and graphic design by Bruce Boyd, both of the 

Office of Publications and Special Studies, Division of Publishing, 

William Parks II, Chief. Many other organizations contributed to 

the success of the census, including the participating State and 

local agencies that collected the data, the BLS regional offices 

that helped review and process the data, and the BLS Office of 

Field Operations, whose staff oversaw the census’ implementation 

in the regions and States.

With the exception of articles reprinted from nongovernmental 

sources, material in this publication is in the public domain and 

may, with appropriate credit, be reproduced without permission. 

The information is available to sensory-impaired individuals 

upon request. Voice telephone: (202) 691–5200; Federal Relay 

Service: (800) 877–8339.
C O N T E N T S

Chart 1. Number of fatal work injuries, 1992–2006

Chart 2. Rate of fatal work injuries per 100,000 workers, 1992–2006

Chart 3. Manner in which workplace fatalities occurred, 2006

Chart 4. Difference in workplace fatality counts, by event, 2005–06

Chart 5. Four most frequent work-related fatal events, 1992–2006

Chart 6. Change in events 2004–06 versus 2001–03

Chart 7. Selected transportation events, 1992–2006

Chart 8. Highway collisions between vehicles and other mobile equipment, 2003–06

Chart 9. Falls, by type, 2006

Chart 10. How workers died in multiple-fatality incidents, 2006

Chart 11. Number of fatal work injuries involving Hispanic or Latino workers, 1992–2006

Chart 12. Fatal occupational injuries to foreign-born workers, by region of origin, 2006

Chart 13. Employment and fatalities, by gender of worker, 2006

Chart 14. Fatal injury events, by gender of worker, 2006

Chart 15. Perpetrators of workplace homicides, by gender of decedent, 1997–2006

Chart 16. Fatal work injury rates, by age group, 2006

Chart 17. Number and rate of fatal occupational injuries, by industry sector, 2006

Chart 18. Fatal occupational injuries in the private mining industry, 2003–06

Chart 19. Number and rate of fatal occupational injuries, by major occupation group, 2006

Chart 20. Selected occupations with high fatality rates, 2006

Chart 21. Distribution of fatalities for selected occupations in the private construction industry, 2005–06

Chart 22. Number of fatal work injuries, by State, 2006

Chart 23. Fatal work injuries, by day of incident, selected major industries, all ownerships, 2006 

Chart 24. Sources of data on fatal work injuries, 2006

Previously published analyses

Chart 25. Workplace fatalities related to railroads, 1993–2002

Chart 26. Number of fatalities, coal mining industry, 2003–05 and 2006 

Chart 27. Fatal occupational injuries related to golf courses, by month of incident, 2001–06
Number of fatal work injuries,

1992–2006

6,800

6,400

6,000

5,600

5,200

4,800

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

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.

6,217

6,331

6,632

6,275

6,202 6,238

6,055 6,054

5,920 5,915

5,534 5,575

5,764 5,734

5,840

C H A R T 1

A total of 5,840 work-related fatalities 

were recorded in 2006, an increase 

of 1.8 percent over the 5,734 fatal 

work injuries reported for 2005. The 

general trend of workplace fatalities 

from CFOI’s inception in 1992 until 

2002 has been downward. However, 

since 2002, the number of fatal work 

injuries has trended higher.

The series high for the fatality 

census was recorded in 1994 (6,632 

fatalities). The series low (5,534 

fatalities) occurred in 2002.
The rate of fatal work injuries in 

2006 was 4.0 fatalities per 100,000 

workers, unchanged from 2005. 

Fatality rates have remained at or 

near 4.0 since 2002.

Employment data, except for the 

military, come from the Current 

Population Survey (CPS). Prior to 

1999, the resident military figure 

was derived from U.S. Bureau 

of the Census data. From 1999 

to the present, the military figure 

was based on U.S. Department of 

Defense (DOD) data.

C H A R T 2

Rate of fatal work injuries per

100,000 workers, 1992–2006

NOTE: Data from 2001 exclude fatalities resulting from the September 11 terrorist attacks. Rates for 1992–2006 were calculated with the use of revised fatality data.

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Current Population Survey, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries,

U.S. Bureau of the Census, and U.S. Department of Defense.

6.0

5.0

4.0

3.0

2.0

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

5.2 5.2 5.3

4.9

4.8 4.8

4.5 4.5

4.3 4.3

4.0 4.0 4.1 4.0 4.0
A number of different types of 

events led to fatal work injuries in 

2006. Highway incidents accounted 

for the largest number of fatal 

events—almost 1 out of every 4 

fatalities in 2006.

Falls accounted for another 14 

percent of the fatal injuries recorded 

in 2006. Workers who were fatally 

injured after being struck by an 

object accounted for 10 percent 

of all fatal work injuries, while 

homicides accounted for 9 percent

C H A R T 3

NOTE: Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding.

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

Manner in which workplace

fatalities occurred, 2006

Homicide

9%

Fall to

lower level

13%

Struck

 by

object

10%

Exposure to harmful

substances and

environments

(9%)

Highway

23%

Fires and

explosions

(3%)

Assaults and

violent acts

(13%)

Falls

(14%)

 Contact with objects and equipment

(17%)

Transportation

incidents

(42%)

Total fatalities = 5,840
C H A R T 4

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

Difference in workplace fatality

counts, by event, 2005–06

ALL EVENTS

Transportation incidents

Contact with objects

and equipment

Assaults and violent acts

Fires and explosions

Exposure to harmful

substances and

environments

Falls

–40 –20 0 20 40 60 80 100 120

2005 Total = 5,734

2006 Total = 5,840

2005 level

–34

–12

–4

106

43

46

57

Change in fatal events from 2005 level

Although the total number of fatal 

work injuries rose in 2006, fatal 

injuries resulting from transportation 

incidents, contact with objects and 

equipment, and assaults and violent 

acts decreased.

By contrast, fatal injuries resulting 

from fires and explosions, exposure 

to harmful substances and environments, and falls increased in 2006.
C H A R T 5

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.

Four most frequent work-related

fatal events, 1992–2006

1,600

1,400

1,200

1,000

800

600

400

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

Highway incidents Homicides Falls Struck by object

Number of fatalities

Four types of events have been 

the most frequent since the 

workplace fatality census began. 

Highway incidents have been 

the leading event since 1992. 

Workplace homicides have declined 

substantially since 1994, while 

falls and highway incidents have 

trended higher. 

Struck-by-object deaths overtook 

homicides as the third-most-frequent 

fatal event in 2004.
C H A R T 6

Change in events, 2004–06

versus 2001–03

Fewer fatalities in 2004–06 than in 2001–03 (percent)

All events/exposures +1.8%

More fatalities in 2004–06 than in 2001–03 (percent)

ALL EVENTS 

Pedestrian struck by vehicle or mobile equipment in roadway

Highway collision

Pedestrian struck by vehicle or mobile equipment in nonroad area

Caught in running equipment or machinery

Fall from ladder

Vehicle struck stationary object on side of road

Struck by falling object

Struck by rolling, sliding objects on floor or ground level

Fall from roof

Shooting

Contact with wiring, transformers, or other electrical components

Aircraft accident

Suicide, self-inflicted injury

Highway jackknife or overturn

Contact with overhead power lines

Fall from scaffold, staging

–15.0 –10.0 –5.0 0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0

–11.4

–8.9

–8.4

–8.2

–5.7

–2.3

–0.4

1.5

1.8

3.3

6.1

8.8

9.1

13.3

17.6

21.6

22.1

Between 2001–03 and 2004–06, 

the number of fatal work injuries 

rose 1.8 percent.

Large percentage increases in 

events such as falls from roofs, being 

struck by rolling and sliding objects, 

and being struck by falling objects 

led to the increase. However, some 

events decreased between the two 

periods: fatalities due to shootings; 

contact with wiring, transformers, or 

other electrical equipment; aircraft 

accidents; and suicides all fell.

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.
C H A R T 7

Transportation incidents have 

historically made up over 40 percent 

of all work-related fatalities.

Although highway vehicle incidents 

have been the most common fatal 

event, accounting for 1 out of every 

4 fatalities in 1992–2006, pedestrian 

and nonhighway vehicle incidents 

together accounted for, on average, 

more than 700 fatalities a year, or 

12 percent of fatalities during this 

period. (Pedestrian injuries may 

occur on or off highways.)

Aircraft fatalities have been

generally declining since 1992.

The year-to-year percentage 

increase in aircraft fatalities 

between 2005 and 2006 was the 

second largest ever recorded,

rising 46 percent, from 149 to 217.

Selected transportation events,

1992–2006

Nonhighway Pedestrian Aircraft Railway Water vehicle

500

450

400

350

300

250

200

150

100

50

0

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

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.

Number of events
C H A R T 8

Of the 5,544 fatal occupational 

injuries resulting from highway 

incidents during 2003–06, 49 

percent involved multivehicle 

collisions.

During the 4 years, occupants of 

semitrailer, tractor-trailer, and trailer 

trucks (semi/TTs) experienced 695 

fatalities involving multivehicle 

collisions. More than half of these 

fatalities involved collisions with 

other semi- and tractor-trailers.

Occupants of automobiles experienced 

627 fatalities in multivehicle collisions. 

About one-third of these deaths 

resulted from collisions with other 

automobiles. For fatally injured 

occupants of pickup trucks, vans, 

delivery trucks, and dump trucks, 

the most common vehicle collisions 

involved semi- or tractor-trailers.

Note that collisions can occur 

between a variety of vehicles and 

mobile equipment, including, but not 

limited to, semitrailer, tractor-trailer, 

and trailer trucks, pickup trucks, 

vans, delivery trucks, dump trucks, 

buses, and motorcycles.

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

Highway collisions between vehicles

and other mobile equipment, 2003–06 

Total Fatalities = 2,725

59% semi/TT

13% auto

10% pickup

695 fatalities

semi/TT

32% auto

20% semi/TT

18% pickup

automobile

627 fatalities

van

267 fatalities

37% semi/TT 33% semi/TT

20% auto

19% pickup

444 fatalities

pickup
C H A R T 9

Falls accounted for about 14 percent 

of fatal work injuries in 2006. 

Of the 827 fatal falls that year, 

nearly 2 in 5 involved falls from 

roofs or ladders.

Falls from scaffolds and staging, 

falls from nonmoving vehicles, 

and falls on the same level each 

accounted for about one-tenth of 

fatal falls.

NOTE: Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding.

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

Falls, by type, 2006

Other or unknown

20%

Down stairs or steps

3%

From building girders

or structural steel

4%

From floor, dock,

or ground level

6%

On same level

8%

From nonmoving vehicle

9%

From roof

22%

From ladder

16%

From scaffold, staging

11%

Total Falls = 827
C H A R T 1 0

Multiple-fatality incidents are defined 

as single incidents in which two or 

more workers were fatally injured. 

In 2006, 518 workers, representing 9 

percent of all fatal work injuries, were 

killed in multiple-fatality incidents. 

Transportation incidents accounted 

for 61 percent of the workers killed 

in multiple-fatality incidents. Fatal 

injuries resulting from homicides 

accounted for another 14 percent of 

these fatalities.

How workers died in multiple-fatality

incidents, 2006

Fires and

explosions

12%

NOTE: Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding.

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

Highway

incidents

24%

Aircraft

incidents

26%

All other

transportation

incidents

11%

Other

14%

Homicides

14%

Transportation

incidents

61%

Total workers = 518
C H A R T 1 1

Fatal work injuries involving Hispanic 

or Latino workers increased in 2006, 

reaching 990, the highest ever 

recorded for these workers. Fatalities 

suffered by foreign-born Hispanics or 

Latinos rose 4.5 percent, while those 

suffered by native-born Hispanics or 

Latinos rose 13 percent.

At the beginning of the census, fatal 

work injuries to Hispanic or Latino 

workers were divided almost equally 

between native and foreign-born 

workers. In 2006, more than two-thirds 

of fatal work injuries to Hispanics or 

Latinos involved foreign-born workers.

Although work-related fatalities 

to foreign-born Hispanic or Latino 

workers increased 143 percent from 

1992 to 2006, fatalities to native-born 

Hispanic or Latino workers increased 

by 25 percent.

The rate of fatal work injuries to civilian 

native-born Hispanic workers in 2006 

was 3.6 fatalities per 100,000 workers, 

compared with the fatality rate of 4.0 for 

all U.S. workers. However, the fatality 

rate for civilian foreign-born Hispanic 

workers in 2006 was 6.0, or 50 percent 

higher than the rate for all workers.

Number of fatal work injuries

involving Hispanic or Latino

workers, 1992–2006

1,000

900

800

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

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

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.

Number of fatalities

 Foreign born  Native born

533

634 624 619 638 658

707 730

815

895

841

794

902 923

990

258

275

314

320

288

336

277

342

267

371

279

379

302

405

262 321

323 263

275

306

285

323

468

494 572 578 519 596 638

667
C H A R T 1 2

The percentage of fatal injuries 

involving foreign-born workers has 

been increasing in recent years. For 

example, in 2006, 18 percent of fatal 

work injuries involved foreign-born 

workers, compared with 12 percent 

in 1996.

The country of origin of workers 

killed on the job encompassed 

approximately 100 foreign nations 

in 2006. Workers born in Mexico 

accounted for the largest portion (45 

percent) of foreign-born workers who 

died at work in the United States.

Fatal occupational injuries to

foreign-born workers, by region

of origin, 2006

NOTE: Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding. 

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

Mexico

45%

Caribbean

9%

Total workers = 1,046

South America

6%

Africa

3%

Canada

2%

Australia and Oceania

1%

Europe

9%

Central America,

except Mexico

11%

Asia

16%
C H A R T 1 3

Men experience a disproportionate 

share of fatalities relative to their 

employment. Although men make up 

just over half of the workforce, they 

experience more than 90 percent of 

workplace fatalities.

Since 1995, the number of fatal 

work injuries involving women has 

declined. In 2005, the 406 fatalities 

to women represented a series low 

for the fatality census. However, 

in 2006, women experienced an 

increase of 9 percent, to 444 

fatalities.

Fatalities to men generally declined 

from 1995 to 2002, but have risen 

from a series low of 5,092 in 2002 to 

5,396 in 2006. 

Employment data come from the 

Current Population Survey (CPS) 

for nonmilitary workers and from the 

U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) 

for resident military workers.

Employment and fatalities, by gender

of worker, 2006

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Current Population Survey,

Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, and U.S. Department of Defense, 2009.

Men Men

Employment = 145,501,000 Fatalities = 5,840

46% 54%

Women Women

8%

92%
C H A R T 1 4

In addition to having fewer fatal 

work injuries than men relative to 

their share of employment, women 

experienced, for the most part, 

different types of fatal events

than men.

Women had a higher percentage 

of fatal work injuries resulting from 

homicides and highway incidents.

Men had a higher percentage of fatal work injuries resulting from falls, 

contact with objects and equipment, 

and fires and explosions.

Fatal injury events, by gender

of worker, 2006

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

Highway incidents

Homicides

Falls

Exposure to

harmful substances 

and environments

Contact with objects 

and equipment 

Fires and

explosions

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

Percent of fatalities within gender

23

30

8

27

15

9

8

10

18

5

4

0

 Men = 5,396

 Women = 444
C H A R T 1 5

For the 10 years from 1997 to 

2006, there were a total of 6,452 

workplace homicides. In 40 percent 

of these homicides, the perpetrators 

were robbers. Another 16 percent 

resulted from violence between 

work associates.

When the victims were men, the 

assailant was a robber in about 

two-fifths of the cases. The assailant 

was more likely to be a relative or 

personal acquaintance for fatally 

assaulted women than for fatally 

assaulted men. Nevertheless, a 

robber was the assailant in nearly 

one-third of homicides committed 

against women.

Perpetrators of workplace homicides,

by gender of decedent, 1997–2006

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.

Work associates

15%

Men (total = 5,183 workers) Women (total = 1,269 workers)

Robbers

42%

Robbers

32%

Other

perpetrators

28%

Other

perpetrators

40%

Relatives

1%

Other personal

acquaintances

2%

Work associates

17%

Relatives

13%

Other personal

acquaintances

10%
C H A R T 1 6

Fatal work injury rates, by age

group, 2006

Work-related fatality rates are higher 

for older workers. In 2006, workers 

45 years and older recorded fatality 

rates higher than the all-worker rate, 

while workers 44 years and younger 

recorded fatality rates lower than the 

all-worker rate.

The fatality rate for workers 65 years 

and older (11.2 fatal work injuries per 

100,000 workers) was nearly 3 times 

higher than the all-worker rate of 4.0. 

Meanwhile, the fatality rate for 

workers 16 and 17 years old (0.9 

fatalities per 100,000 workers) 

was considerably less than the 

all-worker rate.

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

16 to 17 18 to 19 20 to 24 25 to 34 35 to 44 45 to 54 55 to 64 65 years

years years years years years years years and older

15.0

10.0

5.0

0.0

3.3

3.7

2.7 2.8

0.9

4.2

5.0

11.2

All-worker fatality rate (4.0)
C H A R T 1 7

Number and rate of fatal occupational 

injuries, by industry sector, 2006

The highest number of fatal work 

injuries in 2006 occurred in the 

private construction sector, followed 

by transportation and warehousing.

The agriculture, forestry, fishing, and 

hunting sector and the mining sector 

each recorded a fatality rate that was 

more than 7 times higher than the 

rate of 4.0 recorded for all workers.

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

1,500 1,250 1,000 750 500 250 0 10 20 30 40

Number of fatalities Fatality rate (per 100,000 employed)

Construction

Transportation and warehousing

Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting

Government

Professional and

business services

Manufacturing

Retail trade

Leisure and hospitality 

Wholesale trade

Mining

Other services

(except public administrative)

Educational and

health services

Financial activities

Information

Utilities

1,239 10.9

860 16.8

30.0

2.4

3.2

2.8

2.2

2.3

4.9

28.1

6.3

2.6

0.9

1.2

66 2.0

53

126

178

183

192

222

265

359

456

459

520

655

Total fatalities = 5,840

All-worker fatality rate = 4.0
C H A R T 1 8

Fatal occupational injuries in the

private mining industry, 2003–06

In 2006, fatalities in the private 

mining sector as a whole were up 

36 percent from 2003. Fatalities in 

oil and gas industries accounted for 

more than 60 percent of fatal work 

injuries in mining from 2003 to 2006.

Since 2003, CFOI has classified 

industries according to the North 

American Industry Classification 

System (NAICS). Oil and gas 

industries include NAICS 211 (oil 

and gas extraction), NAICS 213111 

(drilling oil and gas wells), and 

NAICS 213112 (support activities for 

oil and gas operations).

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

 Oil and gas extraction industries  All other mining

2003 2004 2005 2006

141

56

200

150

100

50

0

Number of fatalities

85

152

54

98

159

61

98

192

67

125
C H A R T 1 9

Number and rate of fatal occupational

injuries, by major occupation group, 2006

Among major occupation groups, 

transportation and material moving 

occupations recorded the highest 

number of fatal injuries in 2006, 

followed by construction and 

extraction occupations.

The fatality rate for farming, 

fishing, and forestry occupations 

was more than 7 times the overall 

rate of 4.0 fatalities per 100,000 

workers and the highest of any 

occupational group.

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

 1,500 1,250 1,000 750 500 250 0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Number of fatalities Fatality rate (per 100,000 employed)

423

1,273

589

732

316

297

285

268

88

57 5.3

0.5

0.9

3.0

1.9

7.9

2.8

3.1

13.4

1,501 17.0

30.0

Total fatalities = 5,840

All-worker fatality rate = 4.0

Transportation

and material

moving

Construction

and extraction

Service

Management,

business, and

financiaI

Installation,

maintenance,

and repair 

Sales and

related

Farming, fishing, and forestry

Production 

Professional

and related

Office and

administrative

support

Military
C H A R T 2 0

Selected occupations with high

fatality rates, 2006

Even though driver/sales workers 

and truck drivers experienced the 

highest number of fatalities, the 

highest fatality rates were recorded 

by fishers and by aircraft pilots and 

flight engineers. The fatality rate 

of 147.2 recorded by fishers was 

nearly 37 times the fatality rate of 

4.0 for all workers.

Logging workers and structural iron 

and steel workers also recorded high 

fatality rates.

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

Fishers and

related fishing workers

Aircraft pilots and 

flight engineers

Logging workers

Structural iron and 

steel workers

Refuse and 

recyclable material collectors

Farmers and 

ranchers

Electrical

power-line installers and repairers

Roofers 

Driver/sales

workers and truck 

drivers

Miscellaneous 

agricultural workers

150 100 50 0 200 400 600 800 1,000

Fatality rate (per 100,000 employed) Number of fatalities

147.2 53

90.4

84.6

61.0 

40.7

37.2

34.9

33.5

27.5

22.2

104

66

36

37

292

38

81

957

162

Total fatalities = 5,840

All-worker fatality rate = 4.0
C H A R T 2 1

Distribution of fatalities for selected

occupations in the private construction 

industry, 2005–06

In the private sector, the highest 

number of fatal work injuries involved 

workers in private construction, 

an industry with a wide variety of 

occupations.

Overall, fatalities in the private 

construction industry rose 4 percent 

from 2005 to 2006. Fatal work 

injuries involving construction 

laborers accounted for approximately 

1 out of every 4 fatalities in private 

construction in both 2005 and 2006.

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

Percent of private construction fatalities

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Construction laborers

Carpenters

First-line managers/ supervisors of construction trades 

workers

Roofers

Electricians

Operating engineers and other

construction

equipment operators

Construction 

managers

Painters, construction 

and maintenance 

 Total fatalities in 2006 = 1,239

 Total fatalities in 2005 = 1,192

27

27

9

10

7

8

6

4

6

5

5

5

5

5

4

3
C H A R T 2 2

Number of fatal work injuries,

by State, 2006

Twenty-nine States reported higher 

numbers of fatalities in 2006, and 21 

States and the District of Columbia 

had lower totals. 

The States with the highest numbers 

of workplace fatalities in 2006 were 

California, Texas, and Florida. These 

three States are among those with 

the largest workforce. The States 

with the lowest numbers were Rhode 

Island and Delaware. The District of 

Columbia had fewer fatalities than 

any State.

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

 Decreased in 2006

 Increased in 2006

WA

 87

OR 

87

CA

537

UT

60

ID

38

AZ

112

NM

59

CO

137

HI

30

AK

45

ND

31

SD

37

NE

57

KS

85

IL

207

MI

157

OH

193 

KY

147

TN

 153

LA

118

GA

201

NC

168

PA

240

WV

79

ME

20

NH

VT 13

14

MA

66

NJ

88

MD

106 DC

7

RI

CT 10

38

DE

15

NV

49

MT

45

WY

36

TX

489

AR

78

OK

91

MO

167

IA

71

MN

78

WI

91

IN

148

MS

96

AL

100

SC

95

VA

165

NY

234

FL

360
C H A R T 2 3

Fatal work injuries, by day of incident,

selected major industries,

all ownerships, 2006

Overall, more fatal work injuries 

occurred on Wednesdays than on 

any other day of the week. The 

same holds true for fatal injuries in 

the construction, agriculture, and 

transportation and warehousing 

industries.

Aside from the weekend, Fridays 

reported the least amount of fatal 

work injuries overall.

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

All industries Agriculture, forestry, Construction Transportation and

fishing, and hunting	 warehousing

25

20

15

10

5

0

Percent

 Monday  Tuesday  Wednesday  Thursday  Friday  Saturday  Sunday
C H A R T 2 4

Sources of data on fatal

work injuries, 2006

The Census of Fatal Occupational 

Injuries uses a variety of sources 

to document and verify cases of 

work-related fatal injury. In 2006, 

more than 21,000 source documents 

helped identify and verify information 

on 5,840 fatal work injuries.

At least 25 different types of source 

documents may be used by States 

for worker fatality information. Death 

certificates are the most prevalent 

source document used.

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

Number of documents

Death

certificates

News media

OSHA

State workers’

comp

Coroner/medical 

examiner

Police

Toxicology

All other

Other Federal 

agencies

Autopsy

State follow-ups 

Total fatalities = 5,840

Total source documents = 21,617

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500 4,000 4,500 5,000 5,500 6,000

5,535

3,492

2,313

1,831

1,677

1,429

1,193

1,158

1,054

968

967
C H A R T 2 5

Workplace fatalities related

to railroads, 1993–2002

A total of 1,221 fatal railroad-related 

work injuries occurred from 1993 

through 2002. Fatalities involving 

railroading workers accounted for 

less than two-fifths of the 1,221 

fatal railroad-related work injuries. 

Railroad-related fatalities involving 

nonrailroading workers, such 

as workers in rail transportation 

occupations outside railroading 

or truckdrivers in other industries 

who are fatally injured in at-grade 

crossing collisions with trains, 

accounted for more than three-fifths 

of railroad-related work fatalities.

Total fatalities = 1,221

Nonrailroading 

workers

62%

Railroading workers

in other industries

14%

Workers in the railroad 

transportation industry

24%

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

SOURCE: Drudi, Dino, “Railroad-related Work Injury Fatalities,” Monthly Labor Review, July–August 2007.
C H A R T 2 6

Number of fatalities, coal mining

industries, 2003–05 and 2006

Coal mining had an average of 25 

fatalities a year for the period from 

2003 to 2005. In 2006, coal mining 

experienced an 88-percent increase 

in fatalities over this average.

The increase was accounted 

for mostly by the large increase 

in fatalities in bituminous coal 

underground mining, which almost 

tripled in 2006. This jump was 

attributed in part to the Sago Mine 

disaster and other multiple-fatality 

coal-mining incidents.

NOTE: The “Other coal mining” category includes both anthracite mining and coal mining that could not be specified any further.

SOURCE: Rice, James B., and Jill A. Janocha, “Coal Mining Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities, 2006,” Compensation and Working Conditions,

on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/opub/cwc/sh20080623ar01p1.htm/.

Coal mining, total

Bituminous coal

and lignite surface mining

Bituminous coal

underground mining

Other coal mining

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

47

25

33

13

5

9

8

Data not available

Number of fatalities

 2006

 3-year average (2003–05)
C H A R T 2 7

Fatal occupational injuries related

to golf courses, by month of

incident, 2001–06

Fatal occupational injuries 

related to golf courses occur 

most frequently during the spring 

and summer months. Of the 106 

workplace fatalities related to golf 

courses that took place during 

2001–06, 67 occurred between 

April and September.

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

SOURCE: Pegula, Stephen, “Fatal Occupational Injuries Associated with Golf Courses and Country Clubs, 2001–2006,” Compensation and Working Conditions,

on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/opub/cwc/sh20080416ar01p1.htm/.

16

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

7

6

4

9

11

15

10

9

13

7

6

9

January February March April May June July August September October November December