Technical information:	(202) 691-6175		USDL 02-541
Media information:	(202) 691-5902		FOR RELEASE:  10 a.m. EDT
Internet address:                               Wednesday, September 25, 2002
http://stats.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm



National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries in 2001


A total of 8,786 fatal work injuries were reported in 2001, including 
fatalities related to the September 11th terrorist attacks, according to 
the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 
U.S. Department of Labor.  A total of 2,886 work-related fatalities 
resulted from the events of September 11th.  Excluding these fatalities, 
the overall workplace fatality count was 5,900 for 2001.  
     
Profile of fatal work injuries resulting from the September 11th attacks

Most of the more than 3,000 people killed were at work (as defined by the 
fatality census) in the World Trade Center or the Pentagon, were on 
business travel or were crew aboard the commercial airliners that crashed 
in Pennsylvania, New York City, and Virginia, or were involved in rescue 
duties.  The events of that day killed 2,886 workers from a wide range 
of backgrounds - janitors to managers, native and foreign-born workers, 
and the young and the old.   (See tables A. and B.)

Industry

Seventy-eight percent of the 2,198 non-rescue workers killed in the 
World Trade Center were working in the finance, insurance, and real 
estate industry.  All of the 412 fatally injured rescue workers were 
killed at the World Trade Center; 99 percent worked for state and 
local government.  Of the 125 workers killed at the Pentagon, 91 percent 
were civilian or military federal government employees.  Of the 151 
workers who were killed on the planes that crashed in Pennsylvania, 
Virginia, and New York City, 39 percent were employed in the services 
industry.   

Occupation

Of the rescue workers fatally injured, 335 were firefighters and 
61 were police or detectives.  Fifty percent of the other workers fatally 
injured in the World Trade Center were employed as managerial or 
professional specialty workers.  Forty-three percent of the workers 
fatally injured at the Pentagon were working in military occupations 
and slightly less than half, 47 percent, were working in civilian 
managerial and professional specialty occupations. 

Twenty five of the workers killed on the passenger airliners were 
flight attendants, 8 were pilots.  The majority of the workers killed 
on the airliners, 69 percent, were in managerial and professional 
specialty occupations.

Worker characteristics
     
Of the fatally injured workers in the World Trade Center, 66 percent 
were between the ages of 25 and 44, 9 percent were black, 10 percent 
were Hispanic, and 26 percent were women.  Of those working in the 
Pentagon office building, 54 percent were between the ages of 25 and 44, 
33 percent were black, 4 percent were Hispanic, and 37 percent were 
women.  Of the workers involved in the rescue efforts, 70 percent 
were between the ages of 25 and 44.  Ninety-nine percent were male.  
Of the workers on the passenger airliners 62 percent were men, 7 percent 
were black, and 5 percent were Hispanic.  

Overall, two-thirds of the workers fatally injured on September 11th 
were over 34 years old and 23 percent were women. Almost 20 percent of 
the workers were foreign-born. 




Profiles of 2001 fatal work injuries excluding fatalities resulting 
from the September 11th attacks
     
Excluding the fatalities on September 11th, the overall workplace 
fatality count of 5,900 for 2001 was down slightly, less than 1 percent 
from 2000.  Total employment also declined slightly in 2001.  As a 
result, the occupational fatality rate was same in 2001 as in 2000, 4.3 
fatalities per 100,000 employed.  

The construction industry, with fatalities at their highest level since 
the fatality census was first conducted in 1992, continued to report 
the largest number of fatal work injuries of any industry. From 2000 to 
2001, decreases in fatalities from transportation incidents and 
job-related homicides were offset by increases in fatalities from 
falls and from electrocutions.  

Profile of 2001 fatal work injuries (excluding September 11th) by 
type of incident
     
Fatalities resulting from transportation incidents decreased for the 
third year in a row, from 2,573 in 2000 to 2,517 in 2001.  Highway 
incidents, however, increased about 3 percent from 2000 and continued 
to be the leading cause of on-the-job fatalities.  Fatal work injuries 
resulting from workers being struck by vehicles or mobile equipment 
also increased slightly in 2001.  In contrast, the number of workers 
killed in non-highway incidents, aircraft incidents, and railway 
incidents decreased.   Non-highway fatal incidents, which include tractor 
and forklift overturns, were at their lowest levels since the census 
began in 1992.

Work-related homicides, at 639 (excluding fatalities resulting from 
September 11th), fell to their lowest levels since the census began; 
the record high was 1,080 in 1994.  Homicides among technical, sales, 
and administrative support workers decreased 14 percent to 203 fatalities.  
However, homicides increased sharply among workers in service occupations, 
which include police and detectives, food preparation workers, barbers, 
and hairdressers.   The number of workplace suicides and fatal assaults 
by animals increased slightly.  

Fatalities resulting from falls increased to 808 in 2001, a 10 percent 
rise over 2000 levels.  This was the highest total since the fatality 
census began in 1992.    Falls to lower levels increased by 39 to 698 
in 2001.  Falls on the same level increased by 28 to a ten-year high 
of 84 in 2001.

Fatal falls in the construction industry increased 13 percent from 
2000 levels and accounted for over half of all fatal falls. Worker 
deaths resulting from electrocutions and from fires and explosions 
increased to levels of the late 1990's after falling to a near 10-year 
low in 2000.

Profile of fatal work injuries by industry

While fatalities in the construction industry increased 6 percent in 
2001 to a record high, fatalities in manufacturing decreased 10 percent 
from 2000 to their lowest recorded level since the census began in 1992.  
Other industries showing decreases in work-related fatalities were 
transportation and public utilities, wholesale trade, and retail trade.  
The decrease in retail trade fatalities was largely a result of the 
decline in workplace homicides.  Fatalities to workers in services 
remained relatively unchanged, while fatalities in agriculture, forestry 
and fishing; finance, insurance, and real estate, and mining increased.   
Fatalities in government (excluding September 11th) increased 10 percent 
from 2000.  

     
Occupational fatality rates in 2001 were highest in the mining; 
agriculture; forestry and fishing; construction; and transportation 
industries.  The fatality rate for the mining industry, which includes 
oil and gas extraction, remained at 30.0 fatal work injuries per 
100,000 workers for the second year in a row, the highest fatality 
rate. The agriculture, forestry and fishing industry had the second 
highest rate, at 22.8 fatalities per 100,000 employed.   The private 
sector construction industry reported 13.3 fatalities per 100,000 
employed, and the rate was 11.2 fatalities per 100,000 employed in 
the transportation industry.

Profile of fatal work injuries by occupation
     
Operators, fabricators, and laborers again recorded the largest 
number of fatal work injuries of any occupational group, accounting 
for more than one out of every three fatalities in 2001.  However, the 
number of fatalities in this occupational group dropped 4 percent for 
the second year in a row.   Most of this decrease resulted from fewer 
fatalities among motor vehicle operators, particularly truck drivers.  
There also were fewer fatalities among material moving equipment 
operators, machine operators, and workers in railroad transportation 
and water transportation.  Fatalities among handlers, equipment cleaners, 
helpers, and laborers increased, mainly due to an increase in 
fatalities to construction laborers;  fatalities to non-construction 
laborers decreased.

Service occupations showed an increase of 18 percent in fatalities, 
the highest percentage increase among the major occupation categories. 
Within this occupation group, police and detectives, including 
supervisors, had the highest number of fatalities.  Fatalities in 
personal service occupations increased from 37 in 2000 to 59 in 
2001.  Precision production, craft, and repair occupations showed 
a small increase in the number of fatalities (3 percent).   However, 
within this occupation group, fatalities in the extractive 
occupations (drillers and mining machine operators) increased from a 
low of 47 in 1999 to match its 10 year high of 97 fatalities in 1993.

     
While fatalities to truck drivers declined by 6 percent, they 
continued to incur more workplace fatalities than any other 
individual occupation.  Truck drivers reported a rate of 25.3 workplace 
fatalities per 100,000 employed.  Farm occupations had the second 
highest number of fatalities with 499 and rate of 27.9 fatalities, 
which increased from the previous year.  Other occupations that typically 
have large numbers of worker fatalities but showed decreasing 
fatalities in 2001 included timber cutters; groundskeepers and 
gardeners; and aircraft pilots.    

Fatalities to workers in military occupations increased over 25 percent 
from 87 in 2000 to 110 in 2001 (excluding September 11th).  Almost half 
of these fatalities resulted from aircraft crashes.   The occupational 
fatality rate for military occupations increased in 2001 to 9.3 
fatalities per 100,000 employed.

Profile of fatal work injuries by demographic characteristics
     
Fatal injuries to Hispanic or Latino workers were up 9 percent, from 
815 in 2000 to 891 in 2001 (excluding September 11th).  This resulted 
from a rise in Hispanic worker fatalities in the services and agriculture 
industries, rather than in construction as in prior years.  Fatalities 
to white (non-Hispanic) workers fell for the sixth year in a row; 
fatalities among black (non-Hispanic) workers fell for the second 
year in a row.  Fatal work injuries to men were down slightly, although 
fatalities to women increased by 5 percent over 2000.   The number of 
occupational fatalities to workers aged 17 years and younger decreased 
to 53 in 2001 from 73 in 2000.  In 2001 fatalities to the self-employed 
were down by 5 percent to their lowest level recorded since 1992.  

On average, about 16 workers were fatally injured each day during 
2001.   The total number of multiple fatality incidents (incidents 
that resulted in two or more worker deaths) decreased from 214 in 2000 
to 197 in 2001.  However, the total number of job-related deaths in 
multiple fatality incidents increased from 531 in 2000 to 563 in 
2001 (excluding September 11th).

Profile of fatal work injuries by state and region
     
Twenty-six states and the District of Columbia reported fewer fatal 
work injuries in 2001 than in 2000.  The number of work injuries 
also declined in 2 of the 4 census regions in 2001.  For state results 
beyond those presented here, please contact the individual state 
agency responsible for the collection of CFOI data in that state.  A 
list of those agencies, with telephone numbers, is provided in table 6.


Background of the program

The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, part of the BLS occupational 
safety and health statistics program, provides the most complete count 
of fatal work injuries available.  The program uses diverse state and 
federal data sources to identify, verify, and profile fatal work 
injuries.  Information about each workplace fatality (occupation and 
other worker characteristics, equipment being used, and circumstances of 
the event) is obtained by cross-referencing source documents, such as 
death certificates, workers' compensation records, and reports to federal 
and state agencies.  This method assures counts are as complete and 
accurate as possible. 

This is the tenth year that the fatality census has been conducted in 
all 50 states and the District of Columbia.  The BLS fatality census is 
a federal/state cooperative venture in which costs are shared 
equally.  Additional state-specific data are available from the 
participating agencies, listed in table 6.

Another BLS program, the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, 
profiles worker and case characteristics of nonfatal workplace injuries 
and illnesses that result in lost worktime and presents frequency counts 
and incidence rates by industry.  Copies of the news release on nonfatal 
injuries and illnesses in 2000 are available from BLS by 
calling (202) 691-6179 or by accessing the website listed below.  
Incidence rates for 2001 by industry will be published in December 
2002, and information on 2001 worker and case characteristics will be 
available in April 2003.  For additional data, access the BLS Internet 
site: http://www.bls.gov/iif/. 

To request a copy of BLS Report 961 which includes several articles and 
highlights 2000 fatality data, e-mail your address to 
CFOIstaff@bls.gov or write to Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2 Massachusetts 
Avenue, NE, Room 3180, Washington, DC  20212.

The following charts appear in the print version of this release.  For copies 
of these charts, contact CFOIstaff@bls.gov or write to Bureau of Labor Statistics, 
2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Room 3180, Washington, DC  20212.  


Chart 1: The three most frequent work-related fatal events, 1992-2001
Chart 2: Numbers and rates of fatal occupational injuries by industry division, 2001
Chart 3: Numbers and rates of fatal occupational injuries for selected occupations, 2001
 
 

 
Table A.  Fatal occupational injuries from events on September 11, 2001, by industry and occupation

              Characteristics                                                                Passenger      
                                                            Total        Office building      airliner        Rescue efforts
                                                       Number  Percent   Number  Percent   Number  Percent   Number  Percent
                                                       ---------------   ---------------   ---------------   ---------------
  Total                                                 2,886     100     2,323     100       151     100       412     100
                  Industry
Private industry                                        2,264      78     2,119      91       141      93        -       -
  Construction                                             58       2        57       2        -       -         -       -
    General building contractors                           12      (1)       11      (1)       -       -         -       -
    Heavy construction, except building                    13      (1)       13       1        -       -         -       -
    Special trade contractors                              32       1        32       1        -       -         -       -
  Transportation and public utilities                      78       3        35       2        42      28        -       -
    Transportation by air                                  37       1        -       -         36      24        -       -
  Wholesale trade                                          27       1        18       1         9       6        -       -
  Retail trade                                            118       4       108       5        10       7        -       -
    Eating and drinking places                            103       4       103       4        -       -         -       -
  Finance, insurance, and real estate                   1,715      59     1,708      74         7       5        -       -
    Depository institutions                               192       7       192       8        -       -         -       -
    Security and commodity brokers                        973      34       971      42        -       -         -       -
    Insurance carriers                                    202       7       202       9        -       -         -       -
    Insurance agents, brokers, and service                330      11       329      14        -       -         -       -
    Real estate                                            13      (1)       12       1        -       -         -       -
    Holding and other investment offices                    5      (1)       -       -          3       2        -       -
  Services                                                230       8       168       7        59      39         3       1
    Business services                                     141       5       120       5        21      14        -       -
Government(2)                                             622      22       204       9        10       7       408      99
  Federal government (including resident armed forces)    124       4       116       5         7       5        -       -
    National security                                     118       4       114       5         4       3        -       -
  State government                                         49       2        43       2         3       2         3       1
  Local government                                        449      16        45       2        -       -        404      98
    Police protection                                      25       1        -       -         -       -         23       6
    Fire protection                                       344      12        -       -         -       -        343      83
    Administration of economic programs                    79       3        41       2        -       -         38       9
                                                                                                            
                 Occupation
Managerial and professional specialty                   1,271      44     1,157      50       104      69        10       2
  Executive, administrative, and managerial             1,072      37       993      43        70      46         9       2
  Professional specialty                                  199       7       164       7        34      23        -       -
Technical, sales, and administrative support              930      32       905      39        19      13         6       1
  Technicians and related support occupations              92       3        78       3         8       5         6       1
    Health technologists and technicians                    8      (1)       -       -         -       -          6       1
    Airplane pilots and navigators                          8      (1)       -       -          8       5        -       -
  Sales occupations                                       565      20       557      24         8       5        -       -
Service occupations                                       549      19       128       6        25      17       396      96
  Protective service occupations                          433      15        37       2        -       -        396      96
    Firefighting, including supervisors                   336      12        -       -         -       -        335      81
    Police and detectives, including supervisors           64       2         3      (1)       -       -         61      15
    Guards, including supervisors                          33       1        33       1        -       -         -       -
  Food preparation and service occupations                 64       2        64       3        -       -         -       -
  Cleaning and building service                            25       1        25       1        -       -         -       -
  Personal service occupations                             27       1         -       -        25      17        -       -
    Transportation attendants                              25       1         -       -        25      17        -       -
Precision production, craft, and repair                    61       2        60       3        -       -         -       -
  Mechanics and repairers                                  20       1        20       1        -       -         -       -
  Construction trades                                      39       1        38       2        -       -         -       -
Operators, fabricators, and laborers                       14      (1)       12       1        -       -         -       -
Military occupations                                       54       2        54       2        -       -         -       -

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------                                                                                                            
1 Less than 0.5 percent.
2 Includes fatalities to workers employed by governmental organizations regardless of industry

NOTE:  These totals include work-related fatalities only.   They may differ from totals published by other organizations
primarily due to the differences in how work relationship, industry and occupation are categorized.  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, and federal
agencies, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries.

Table B.  Fatal occupational injuries from events on September 11, 2001, by selected demographic characteristics

  Characteristics                                                                    Passenger
                                        Total             Office building             airliner                Rescue efforts
                                    Number  Percent       Number  Percent          Number  Percent           Number  Percent
                                    ---------------       ---------------          ---------------           ---------------
Total                               2,886     100           2,323     100             151     100             412     100

              State

New York (New York City only)       2,699      94           2,198      95              89      59             412     100
Virginia                              165       6             125       5              40      26              -       -
Pennsylvania                           22       1              -       -               22      15              -       -

               Sex

Men                                 2,212      77           1,710      74              93      62             409      99
Women                                 674      23             613      26              58      38               3       1

               Age

20 to 24 years                        112       4             104       4               4       3               4       1
25 to 34 years                        822      28             682      29              32      21             108      26
35 to 44 years                      1,068      37             831      36              56      37             181      44
45 to 54 years                        608      21             465      20              43      28             100      24
55 to 64 years                        237       8             211       9              13       9              13       3
65 and over                            30       1              25       1               3       2              -       -

     Race or ethnic origin(1)

White                               2,122      74           1,653      71             117      77             352      85
Black or African American             261       9             232      10              10       7              19       5
Hispanic or Latino(2)                 259       9             231      10               8       5              20       5
Asian                                 149       5             142       6               6       4              -       -
Native Hawaii or Pacific Islander      29       1              29       1              -       -               -       -
Other races or not reported            63       2              33       1              10       7              20       5
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 The categories "White" and "Black or African American" do not include "Hispanic or Latino" persons.
2 Persons identified as Hispanic may be of any race.
NOTE:  These totals include work-related fatalities only.  They may differ from totals published by other organizations
primarily due to the differences in how work relationship, industry and occupation are categorized.  Totals for major categories
may include subcategories no 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 and federal agencies,
Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries.


Table 1.  Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, 1996-2001

            Event or exposure(1)                                                   Fatalities

                                                                     1996-2000         2000(2)              2001
                                                                       average         Number          Number  Percent
                                                                     ---------         -------         ---------------
     Total, including fatalities from September 11th                      N/A             N/A           8,786      --
     Total, excluding fatalities from September 11th                    6,094           5,920           5,900     100

Transportation incidents                                                2,608           2,573           2,517      43
    Highway                                                             1,408           1,365           1,404      24
        Collision between vehicles, mobile equipment                      685             696             723      12
             Moving in same direction                                     117             136             142       2
             Moving in opposite directions, oncoming                      247             243             256       4
             Moving in intersection                                       151             154             137       2
        Vehicle struck stationary object or equipment                     289             279             295       5
        Noncollision                                                      372             356             339       6
             Jackknifed or overturned--no collision                       298             304             273       5
    Nonhighway (farm, industrial premises)                                378             399             324       5
             Overturned                                                   212             213             157       3
    Aircraft                                                              263             280             247       4
    Worker struck by a vehicle                                            376             370             383       6
    Water vehicle                                                         105              84              90       2
    Rail vehicle                                                           71              71              62       1
Assaults and violent acts                                               1,015             930             902      15
    Homicides                                                             766             677             639      11
        Shooting                                                          617             533             505       9
        Stabbing                                                           68              66              58       1
        Other, including bombing                                           80              78              76       1
    Self-inflicted injuries                                               216             221             228       4
Contact with objects and equipment                                      1,005           1,006             962      16
    Struck by object                                                      567             571             553       9
        Struck by falling object                                          364             357             343       6
        Struck by flying object                                            57              61              60       1
    Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects                       293             294             266       5
        Caught in running equipment or machinery                          157             157             144       2
    Caught in or crushed in collapsing materials                          128             123             122       2
Falls                                                                     714             734             808      14
    Fall to lower level                                                   636             659             698      12
        Fall from ladder                                                  106             110             122       2
        Fall from roof                                                    153             150             159       3
        Fall from scaffold                                                 90              85              91       2
    Fall on same level                                                     55              56              84       1
Exposure to harmful substances or environments                            535             481             499       8
    Contact with electric current                                         290             256             285       5
        Contact with overhead powerlines                                  132             128             124       2
    Contact with temperature extremes                                      40              29              35       1
    Exposure to caustic, noxious, or allergenic substances                112             100              96       2
        Inhalation of substance                                            57              48              49       1
    Oxygen deficiency                                                      92              94              83       1
        Drowning, submersion                                               73              75              59       1
Fires and explosions                                                      196             177             188       3
Other events or exposures(3)                                               20              19              24       -
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 Based on the 1992 BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification Structures.
2 The BLS news release issued Aug. 14, 2001, reported a total of 5,915 fatal work injuries for calendar year
  2000.  Since then, an additional 5 job-related fatalities were identified,
  bringing the total job-related fatality count for 2000 to 5,920.
3 Includes the category "Bodily reaction and exertion."

NOTE:  Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately.  Percentages may not add to totals
because of rounding.  Dashes indicate less than 0.5 percent.
SOURCE:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, in cooperation with state, New York City, District
of Columbia, and federal agencies, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 1996-2001.



Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries and employment by industry, 2001
           
                                                                                                   Fatalities                                                       
                                                             ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Industry                                
                                                                                         
                                                                                 1996-2000           2000                                    Employment(3)    Fatalities   Relative
                                                                SIC               average          (revised)(2)           2001              (in thousands)   per 100,000   standard     
                                                               Code(1)             Number           Number       Number           Percent        Number       employed(4)   error(5)
--------------------------------------------------            -----------         --------         -----------   ------------------------    --------------  -----------   --------   

 Total, including fatalities from September 11th                                    N/A               N/A        8,786                -         136,252          6.4         0.1

 Total, excluding fatalities from September 11th                                   6,094             5,920       5,900               100        136,252          4.3         0.1

Private industry                                                                   5,501             5,347       5,270                89        115,934          4.5         0.2
    Agriculture, forestry, and fishing                                               803               720         740                13          3,208         22.8         1.4
        Agricultural production - crops                               1              345               277         301                 5            888         33.3         2.7
        Agricultural production - livestock                           2              162               132         128                 2            966         13.0         2.6
        Agricultural services                                         7              179               213         191                 3          1,277         15.0         2.3
    Mining(6)                                                                        147               156         170                 3            566         30.0         3.4
        Coal mining                                                  12               35                40          42                 1             88         47.7         8.7
        Oil and gas extraction                                       13               75                83          98                 2            353         27.8         4.4
    Construction                                                                   1,135             1,155       1,225                21          9,125         13.3         0.8
        General building contractors                                 15              190               175         201                 3             -            -           -
        Heavy construction, except building                          16              267               284         267                 5             -            -           -
        Special trades contractors                                   17              663               673         735                12             -            -           -
    Manufacturing                                                                    711               668         599                10         18,897          3.2         0.6
        Food and kindred products                                    20               75                68          57                 1          1,632          3.5         2.0
        Lumber and wood products                                     24              190               186         151                 3            691         21.9         3.1
    Transportation and public utilities                                              971               957         911                15          8,131         11.2         0.9
        Local and interurban passenger transportation                41               91                84          80                 1            622         12.9         3.3
        Trucking and warehousing                                     42              566               566         533                 9          2,691         19.8         1.6
        Transportation by air                                        45               89                97          85                 1            884          9.6         2.7
        Electric, gas, and sanitary services                         49               86                84          88                 1            982           -           -
    Wholesale trade                                                                  242               230         220                 4          5,086          4.3         1.1
    Retail trade                                                                     606               594         537                 9         22,478          2.4         0.5
        Food stores                                                  54              154               145         132                 2          2,862           -           -
        Automotive dealers and service stations                      55              102                95          83                 1             -            -           -
        Eating and drinking places                                   58              142               138         147                 2          6,870          2.1         1.0
    Finance, insurance, and real estate                                               98                79          86                 1          8,616          1.0         0.9
    Services                                                                         754               769         767                13         39,904          1.9         0.4
        Business services                                            73              181               199         191                 3          9,698          2.0         0.8
        Automotive repair, services, and parking                     75              122               132         115                 2             -            -           -
Government(7)                                                                        593               573         630                11         20,318          3.1         0.5
    Federal (including resident armed forces)                                        161               149         161                 3          4,436          3.6         1.2
    State                                                                            122               109         112                 2          5,678          2.0         1.1
    Local                                                                            306               311         332                 6         10,205          3.3         0.8
       Police protection                                           9221               99               112         121                 2             -            -           -

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

1 Standard Industrial Classification Manual, 1987 Edition.
2 The BLS news release issued Aug. 14, 2001, reported a total of 5,915 fatal work injuries for calendar year 2000.  Since then, an additional 5 job-related fatalities were 
  identified, bringing the total job-related fatality count for 2000 to 5,920.
3 Employment is an annual average of employed civilians 16 years of age and older from the Current Population Survey, 2001, adjusted to include data for resident armed forces from 
  the Department of Defense.
4 The employment figures, except for military, are annual average estimates of employed civilians, 16 years of age and older, from the Current Population Survey (CPS), 2001.  The 
  resident military figure, obtained from the Department of Defense, was added to the CPS employment total.
5 The rate represents the number of fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 employed workers and was calculated as 
  follows:  (N/W) x 100,000, where N = the number of fatal work injuries, and W = the number of employed workers.  There were 20 fatally injured workers under the age of 16 years 
  that were not included in the rate calculations to maintain consistency with the CPS employment.
6 Includes fatalities at all establishments categorized as Mining (Division B) in the Standard Industrial Classification Manual, 1987 Edition, including establishments not governed 
  by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) rules and reporting, such as those in Oil and Gas Extraction.
7 Includes fatalities to workers employed by government organizations regardless of industry.

NOTE:  Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately.  Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding.  There were 15 fatalities for which there 
was insufficient information to determine a specific industry classification, although a distinction between private sector and government was made for each.  Dashes indicate less 
than 0.5 percent or data that are not available or that do not meet publication criteria.

SOURCE:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, in cooperation with state, New York City, District of Columbia, and federal agencies, Census of Fatal 
Occupational Injuries, 1996-2001.




Table 3. Fatal occupational injuries by occupation and selected event or exposure, 2001

                     Occupation(1)                                                  Fatalities                Selected event or exposure(2)(percent of total for occupation)

                                                                            Number          Percent         Highway(3)      Homicide        Struck by      Fall to lower level
                                                                                                                                             object                         
----------------------------------------------------------------           -----------------------         --------        --------        ----------      -------------                                                  

    Total, including fatalities from September 11th                         8,786              -               -               -                -               -
    Total, excluding fatalities from September 11th                         5,900             100              24              11               9              12

Managerial and professional specialty                                         637              11              23              19               5               8
    Executive, administrative, and managerial                                 378               6              20              24               5              10
        Managers, food serving and lodging establishments                      63               1             -                67             -                 -
    Professional specialty                                                    259               4              27              11               5               7
Technical, sales, and administrative support                                  641              11              25              32               3               4
    Technicians and related support occupations                               154               3              20               3             -                 3
        Airplane pilots and navigators                                         87               1             -               -               -               -
    Sales occupations                                                         388               7              23              47               2               3
        Supervisors and proprietors, sales occupations                        191               3              18              53               3               3
        Sales workers, retail and personal services                           148               3              17              51             -                 4
            Cashiers                                                           55               1             -                82             -               -
    Administrative support occupations, including clerical                     99               2              39              16               8               7
Service occupations                                                           511               9              19              33               3               6
    Protective service occupations                                            287               5              24              35               4               3
        Firefighting occupations, including supervisors                        50               1              22             -               -               -
        Police and detectives, including supervisors                          159               3              34              39             -               -
        Guards, including supervisors                                          78               1             -                49               9             -
    Cleaning and building services                                             78               1              12              13             -                24
Farming, forestry, and fishing                                                805              14              13               1              18               7
    Farm operators and managers                                               321               5              12             -                17               4
         Farmers, except horticultural                                        305               5              11             -                16               4
         Managers, farms, except horticultural                                 11               0             -               -               -               -
    Other agricultural and related occupations                                327               6              19             -                 9              13
         Farm occupations, except managerial                                  185               3              23             -                 6               5
            Farm workers, including supervisors                               170               3              22             -                 6               6
         Related agricultural occupations                                     142               2              15             -                13              22
            Groundskeepers and gardeners, except farm                         120               2              12             -                15              23
    Forestry and logging occupations                                           95               2             -               -                63               6
         Timber cutting and logging occupations                                82               1             -               -                67               6
    Fishers, hunters, and trappers                                             62               1             -               -               -               -
         Fishers, including vessel captains and officers                       62               1             -               -               -               -
Precision production, craft, and repair                                     1,140              19              11               3              11              29
    Mechanics and repairers                                                   287               5              15               4              20              11
    Construction trades                                                       666              11               8               2               5              42
        Carpenters and apprentices                                            112               2               6             -                 4              62
        Electricians and apprentices                                          109               2               8             -               -                16
        Roofers                                                                78               1             -               -               -                72
        Structural metal workers                                               45               1             -               -               -                87
    Extractive occupations                                                     97               2              12             -                21             -
Operators, fabricators, and laborers                                        2,043              35              37               5              10              10
    Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors                             208               4               5               2              15              12
    Transportation and material moving occupations                          1,185              20              55               6               8               3
        Motor vehicle operators                                               966              16              65               7               5               3
            Truck drivers                                                     799              14              68               2               6               3
            Taxicab drivers and chauffeurs                                     62               1              40              55             -               -
        Material moving equipment operators                                   183               3              11             -                20               8
    Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers                       650              11              14               3              14              20
        Construction laborers                                                 349               6              13             -                13              26
        Laborers, except construction                                         167               3              14               4              14              14
Military(4)                                                                   110               1              15              -                6              -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1 Based on the 1990 Occupational Classification System developed by the Bureau of the Census.
   2 The figure shown is the percent of the total fatalities for that occupational group.
   3 "Highway" includes deaths to vehicle occupants resulting from traffic incidents that occur on the public roadway, shoulder, or surrounding area.  It excludes 
     incidents occurring entirely off the roadway, such as in parking lots and on farms; incidents involving trains; and deaths to pedestrians or other nonpassengers.
   4 Resident armed forces.

NOTE:  Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately.  Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding.  There were 13 fatalities 
for which there was insufficient information to determine an occupation classification.  Dashes indicate less than 0.5 percent or data that are not available or that 
do not meet publication criteria.
SOURCE:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, in cooperation with state, New York City, District of Columbia, and federal agencies, Census of 
Fatal Occupational Injuries, 2001.





Table 4. Fatal occupational injuries and employment by selected worker characteristics, 2001

             Characteristics                          Fatalities               Employment (in thousands)(1)        Most frequent events(2)
                                                 Number          Percent         Number          Percent              (percent of total)
-------------------------------------------      -----------------------       ---------------------------    -------------------------------                

Total, including fatalities from Sept. 11th       8,786             --              --              --
Total, excluding fatalities from Sept. 11th       5,900             100         136,252             100           Highway (24), falls (14)

             Employee status

Wage and salary workers                           4,770              81         126,298              93           Highway (26), falls (14)
Self-employed(3)                                  1,130              19           9,954               7        Homicides (15), highway (14)

                   Sex
Men                                               5,429              92          73,087              54           Highway (23), falls (14)
Women                                               471               8          63,164              46        Highway (29), homicides (27)

                  Age(4)
Under 16 years                                       20              -              -                -                 Nonhighway (25)
16 to 17 years                                       33               1           2,576               2                 Highway (30)
18 to 19 years                                      122               2           4,432               3        Highway (25), homicides (11)
20 to 24 years                                      440               7          13,682              10           Highway (24), falls (15)
25 to 34 years                                    1,140              19          30,091              22           Highway (27), falls (12)
35 to 44 years                                    1,474              25          36,474              27        Highway (23), homicides (12)
45 to 54 years                                    1,363              23          30,627              22           Highway (23), falls (14)
55 to 64 years                                      773              13          14,135              10           Highway (24), falls (14)
65 years and over                                   529               9           4,175               3           Falls (20), highway (20)

         Race or ethnic origin(5)
White                                             4,168              71          99,963              73           Highway (25), falls (14)
Black or African American                           563              10          14,815              11        Highway (28), homicides (20)
Hispanic or Latino                                  891              15          14,815              11           Highway (19), falls (18)
American Indian or Alaskan Native                    48               1             -                -         Highway (23), aircraft (21)
Asian                                               172               3             -                -          Homicides (41), falls (13)
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander                   9              -              -                -                        -
Multiple races                                        6              -              -                -                        -
Other races or not reported                          43               1             -                -          Homicides (30), highway (19)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 Employment is an annual average of employed civilians 16 years of age and older, plus resident armed forces, from the Current Population 
  Survey, 2001, adjusted to include data for resident armed forces from the Department of Defense.
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.  "Nonhighway" includes transport-related 
  deaths of vehicle occupants that occur or originate entirely off the roadway.  Incidents involving trains and deaths to pedestrians or other 
  nonpassengers are excluded from both categories.
3 Includes paid and unpaid family workers and may include owners of incorporated businesses or members of partnerships.
4 There were 6 fatalities for which age was not reported.
5 The categories "White" and "Black or African American" do not include "Hispanic or Latino" persons.  Persons identified as Hispanic or Latino 
  may be of any race.
   
NOTE:  Totals may include subcategories not shown separately.  Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding.  Dashes indicate less 
than 0.5 percent or data that are not available or that do not meet publication criteria.
SOURCE:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, in cooperation with state, New York City, District of Columbia, and federal 
agencies, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 2001




Table 5.  Fatal occupational injuries by state and event or exposure, 2001

                                                            Total fatalities                     Event or exposure2   (percent of state total for 2001)
                                                      ------------------------     ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                       Contact                       Exposure to                                                
                                                                                                      Assaults        with objects                     harmful           Fires                                                         
                                                                                   Transportation    and violent         and                         substances or        and                
          State of injury                             2000(3)           2001(4)       incidents         acts          equipment        Falls         environments      explosions               
                                                     (revised) 
--------------------------------------------         --------------------------    ---------------   -----------     -------------   ---------      --------------    -------------                                                      

Total, including fatalities from Sept. 11th             N/A            8,786             --              --              --              --              --              --
Total, excluding fatalities from Sept. 11th            5,920           5,900              43              15              16              14               8               3

                     Northeast                           733             722              39              19              15              16               7               5
Connecticut                                               55              40              48              15            -                 22            -               -
Maine                                                     26              23              43            -               -                 22            -               -
Massachusetts                                             70              53              21              25              21              21            -               -
New Hampshire                                             13               9            -               -               -               -               -               -
New Jersey                                               115             129              33              19              14              17               9               7
New York (including N.Y.C.)                              233             220              40              20              15              17               4               5
  New York City                                          111             100              39              27              12              13            -                  5
Pennsylvania                                             199             225              42              17              17              12               8               4
Rhode Island                                               7              17              35            -               -               -               -               -
Vermont                                                   15               6            -               -               -               -               -               -

                      Midwest                          1,335           1,368              42              14              18              13               8               4
Illinois                                                 206             231              32              19              16              17              12               4
Indiana                                                  159             152              43              16              18               9               8               7
Iowa                                                      71              62              48            -                 26              13               8            -
Kansas                                                    85              93              53               6              15              14               9            -
Michigan                                                 156             175              37              21              18              13               6               4
Minnesota                                                 68              76              37            -                 29              21               9            -
Missouri                                                 148             143              41              12              21              14              10            -
Nebraska                                                  59              57              58            -                 19               9            -               -
North Dakota                                              34              25              64            -               -               -               -               -
Ohio                                                     207             209              40              21              11              12               9               7
South Dakota                                              35              35              51            -                 23            -               -               -
Wisconsin                                                107             110              52               7              19              14               5            -

                       South                           2,600           2,513              43              15              16              13              10               3
Alabama                                                  103             138              47               9              16               9               9               9
Arkansas                                                 106              68              53            -                 19              10               7            -
Delaware                                                  13              10              50            -               -               -               -               -
District of Columbia                                      13              11            -                 55            -               -               -               -
Florida                                                  329             368              41              18               9              17              13            -
Georgia                                                  195             235              41              20              13              16               8            -
Kentucky                                                 132             105              39              10              28              11               7               5
Louisiana                                                143             117              49               8              21              11              10            -
Maryland                                                  84              64              38              28              11              11              11            -
Mississippi                                              125             111              48              11              14              11              14            -
North Carolina                                           234             203              46              15              16              13               9            -
Oklahoma                                                  82             115              38              11              22              13              11            -
South Carolina                                           115              89              42              11              11              21               9               6
Tennessee                                                160             136              47               9              19              12               8               4
Texas                                                    572             534              39              18              16              13              10               4
Virginia                                                 148             146              47               7              21              11               8               6
West Virginia                                             46              63              52            -                 21              14            -               -

                        West                           1,248           1,294              45              16              16              14               7               2
Alaska                                                    53              64              75               8               8            -               -               -
Arizona                                                  118              87              43              24              13              10               9            -
California                                               553             510              41              19              12              18               9            -
Colorado                                                 117             139              40              19              19              14               6            -
Hawaii                                                    20              41              44              20              24            -               -               -
Idaho                                                     35              45              47              11              29            -               -               -
Montana                                                   42              58              47              22              17            -               -               -
Nevada                                                    51              40              52              18              12            -               -               -
New Mexico                                                35              59              47              14              22              10            -               -
Oregon                                                    52              44              45            -                 23              18            -               -
Utah                                                      61              65              45              12              22               9               8            -
Washington                                                75             102              43               9              18              18               6               7
Wyoming                                                   36              40              55            -                 22            -                 12            -
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1  Includes other events and exposures such as bodily reaction, in addition to those shown separately.  
2  Based on the 1992 BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification Structures.
3  The BLS news release issued Aug. 14, 2001 reported a total of 5,915 fatal work injuries for 
   calendar year 2000.  Since then, an additional 5 job-related fatalities were identified, bringing the 
   total job-related fatality count for 2000 to 5,920.
4  Includes 3 fatalities that occurred within the territorial boundaries of the United States, but a State of 
   incident could not be determined.
5  Includes highway, nonhighway, air, water, and rail fatalities and fatalities to workers struck by vehicles.
6  Includes homicides, self-inflicted injuries, and animal attacks.

NOTE: Percentages may not add to 100 because of rounding.  Dashes indicate less than 0.5 percent or data that 
are not available or that do not meet publication criteria.
SOURCE:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, in cooperation with state, New York City, District 
of Columbia, and federal agencies, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 2000-2001.



Table 6.  CFOI participating agencies and telephone numbers

State                 Agency                                         Telephone number

Alabama               Department of Labor                            (334) 242-3460
Alaska                Department of Labor and Workforce Development  (907) 465-4539
Arizona               Industrial Commission of Arizona               (602) 542-3739
Arkansas              Department of Labor                            (501) 682-4542
California            Department of Industrial Relations             (415) 703-4776
Colorado              Department of Public Health                    (303) 692-2173
Connecticut           Labor Department                               (860) 566-4380
Delaware              Department of Labor                            (302) 761-8223
District of Columbia  Center for Health Statistics                   (202) 442-5920
Florida               Department of Insurance                        (850) 922-8953

Georgia               Department of Labor                            (404) 679-0687
Hawaii                Department of Labor and Industrial Relations   (808) 586-9001
Idaho                 Industrial Commission                          (208) 334-6090
Illinois              Department of Public Health                    (217) 782-5750
Indiana               Department of Labor                            (317) 232-2668
Iowa                  Division of Labor Services                     (515) 281-5151
Kansas                Department of Health and Environment           (785) 296-1058
Kentucky              Labor Cabinet                                  (502) 564-3070
Louisiana             Department of Labor                            (225) 342-3126
Maine                 Bureau of Labor Standards                      (207) 624-6440

Maryland              Division of Labor and Industry                 (410) 767-2356
Massachusetts         Department of Public Health                    (617) 624-5627
Michigan              Department of Consumer and Industry Services   (517) 322-5258
Minnesota             Department of Labor and Industry               (651) 284-5568
Mississippi           Department of Health                           (601) 576-7186
Missouri              Department of Health                           (573) 751-6155
Montana               Department of Labor and Industry               (406) 444-3297
Nebraska              Workers' Compensation Court                    (402) 471-3547
Nevada                Division of Industrial Relations               (775) 684-7081
New Hampshire         Department of Public Health                    (603) 271-4647

New Jersey            Department of Health and Senior Services       (609) 984-1863
New Mexico            Occupational Health and Safety Bureau          (505) 827-4230
New York State        Department of Health                           (518) 402-7900
New York City         Department of Health                           (212) 788-4585
North Carolina        Department of Labor                            (919) 733-0337
North Dakota          U.S. Department of Labor                       (312) 353-7200
Ohio                  Department of Health                           (614) 466-4183
Oklahoma              Department of Labor                            (405) 528-1500
Oregon                Department of Consumer and Business Services   (503) 947-7051
Pennsylvania          Department of Health                           (717) 783-2548

Rhode Island          Department of Health                           (401) 222-2812
South Carolina        Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation (803) 734-4298
South Dakota          U.S. Department of Labor                       (312) 353-7200
Tennessee             Department of Labor and Workforce Development  (615) 741-1749
Texas                 Workers' Compensation Commission               (512) 804 4637
Utah                  Labor Commission                               (801) 530-6823
Vermont               Department of Labor and Industry               (802) 828-5076
Virginia              Department of Labor and Industry               (804) 786-6427
Washington            Department of Labor and Industries             (360) 902-5512
West Virginia         Department of Labor                            (304) 558-7890
Wisconsin             Department of Workforce Development            (608) 266-7850
Wyoming               U.S. Department of Labor                       (816) 426-2483
TECHNICAL NOTES

Definitions

For a fatality to be included in the census, the decedent must have been employed (that is 
working for pay, compensation, or profit) at the time of the event, engaged in a legal work 
activity, or present at the site of the incident as a requirement of his or her job.  These 
criteria are generally broader than those used by federal and state agencies administering 
specific laws and regulations.  (Fatalities that occur during a person's commute to or from 
work are excluded from the census counts.)

Data presented in this release include deaths occurring in 2001 that resulted from traumatic 
occupational injuries.  An injury is defined as any intentional or unintentional wound or 
damage to the body resulting from acute exposure to energy, such as heat, electricity, or 
kinetic energy from a crash, or from the absence of such essentials as heat or oxygen caused by 
a specific event, incident, or series of events within a single workday or shift.  Included 
are open wounds, intracranial and internal injuries, heatstroke, hypothermia, asphyxiation, 
acute poisonings resulting from short-term exposures limited to the worker's shift, suicides 
and homicides, and work injuries listed as underlying or contributory causes of death.

Information on work-related fatal illnesses is not reported in the BLS census and is 
excluded from the attached tables because the latency period of many occupational illnesses 
and the difficulty of linking illnesses to work make identification of a universe problematic. 


Measurement techniques and limitations

Data for the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries are compiled from various federal, state, 
and local administrative sources--including death certificates, workers' compensation 
reports and claims, reports to various regulatory agencies, medical examiner reports, 
and police reports--as well as news and other non-governmental reports.  Diverse sources 
are used because studies have shown that no single source captures all job-related 
fatalities.  Source documents are matched so that each fatality is counted only once.  
To ensure that a fatality occurred while the decedent was at work, information is verified 
from two or more independent source documents or from a source document and a follow-up 
questionnaire.  Approximately 30 data elements are collected, coded, and tabulated, including 
information about the worker, the fatal incident, and the machinery or equipment involved.


  Identification and verification of work-related fatalities.

In 2001, there were 148 cases included for which work relationship could not be 
independently verified; however, the information on the initiating source document for 
these cases was sufficient to determine that the incident was likely to be job related.  
Data for these fatalities, which primarily affected self-employed workers, are included in 
the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries counts.  An additional 16 fatalities submitted by 
states were not included because the initiating source document had insufficient information 
to determine work relationship and could not be verified by either an independent source 
document or a follow-up questionnaire.

States may identify additional fatal work injuries after data collection closeout for a  
reference year.  In addition, other fatalities excluded from the published count because 
of insufficient information to determine work relationship may subsequently be verified as 
work related.  States have up to one year to update their initial published state counts.  
This procedure ensures that fatality data are disseminated as quickly as possible and that 
no legitimate case is excluded from the counts.  Thus, each year's report should be 
considered preliminary until the next year's data are issued.  Increases in the published 
counts based on additional information have averaged less than 100 fatalities per year or 
less than 1.5 percent of the total. The BLS news release issued August 14, 2001, reported 
a total of 5,915 fatal work injuries for 2000. Since then, an additional 5 fatal work injuries 
were identified, bringing the total for 2000 to 5,920.


Federal/state

The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries includes data for all fatal work injuries, whether 
they are covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) or other 
federal or state agencies or are outside the scope of regulatory coverage.  Thus, any comparison 
between the BLS fatality census counts and those released by other agencies should take 
into account the different coverage requirements and definitions being used.

Several federal and state agencies have jurisdiction over workplace safety and health.  OSHA 
and affiliated agencies in states with approved safety programs cover the largest portion 
of the nation's workers.  However, injuries and illnesses occurring in certain industries or 
activities, such as coal, metal, and nonmetal mining and highway, water, rail, and air 
transportation, are excluded from OSHA coverage because they are covered by other federal 
agencies, such as the Mine Safety and Health Administration and various agencies within the 
Department of Transportation.  Fatalities occurring in activities regulated by federal 
agencies other than OSHA accounted for about 16 percent of the fatal work injuries in 2001.


Fatalities occurring among several other groups of workers are generally not covered by 
any federal or state agencies.  These groups include self-employed and unpaid family workers, 
which accounted for about 19 percent of the fatalities; laborers on small farms, accounting 
for about 1 percent of the fatalities; and state and local government employees in states 
without OSHA-approved safety programs, which accounted for about 4 percent.  (Approximately 
one-half of the states have approved OSHA safety programs, which cover state and local 
government employees.) 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:  BLS thanks the participating states, New York City, and the District of 
Columbia for their efforts in collecting accurate, comprehensive, and useful data on fatal 
work injuries.  BLS would like to thank in particular the New York City Department of Health, 
the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry 
for an exceptional job when faced with a unusually heavy workload.  BLS also appreciates the 
efforts of all federal, state, local, and private sector agencies that submitted source 
documents used to identify fatal work injuries.  Among these agencies are the Occupational 
Safety and Health Administration; the National Transportation Safety Board; the U.S. Coast 
Guard; the Mine Safety and Health Administration; the Employment Standards Administration 
(Federal Employees' Compensation and Longshore and Harbor Workers' divisions); the 
Department of Energy; state vital statistics registrars, coroners, and medical examiners; 
state departments of health, labor and industries, and workers' compensation agencies; state 
and local police departments; and state farm bureaus.