U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS COMPENSATION AND WORKING CONDITIONS

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Fatal Occupational Injuries to Government Workers, 1992 to 2001

by Stephen M. Pegula

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Originally Posted: February 25, 2004

During the 10-year period from 1992 to 2001, 6,455 government workers suffered a fatal work injury; more than half of these

fatalities resulted from transportation incidents. Local government employees incurred the most fatalities among the public

sector groups, although at a lower rate than private sector workers.

Over the period from 1992 to 2001, 6,455 employees of a government entity were fatally injured while at work.1 During that

period, the annual number fluctuated from a high of 780 in 1995 to a low of 566 in 1999. Because government workers are

employed in a wide variety of occupations, they provide a diverse cross section of workers to examine. Among the three

levels of government, workers in local government, which accounted for 50 percent of all government employment, incurred

the highest number (3,227) of occupational fatalities over the period.2 (See table 1.) Workers in Federal government, which

accounted for 23 percent of all government employment over the period, faced the highest workplace fatality rate. The

workplace fatality rate for all government workers was 3.2 per 100,000 employed, and the fatality rate for private sector

workers was 5.1 per 100,000 employed.3

Demographics

Of the 6,455 government employees that were fatally injured on the job from 1992 to 2001, 5,694 (88 percent) were men.

(See table 2.) The remaining 761 (12 percent) were women. In contrast, women accounted for only 8 percent of all

occupational fatalities over the period. In terms of age, 12 percent of the fatally injured workers were aged 24 years and

under, 26 percent were aged 25 to 34, 24 percent were aged 35 to 44, 22 percent were aged 45 to 54, and 16 percent were

aged 55 and over.

Whites accounted for 77 percent of all workplace fatalities in government over the 10-year span; they accounted for 73

percent of total workplace fatalities. Black workers accounted for 12 percent of the fatalities in government and 10 percent of

overall workplace fatalities. Finally, Hispanic workers represented 6 percent of the fatalities in government and 11 percent of

overall workplace fatalities.

Event Or Exposure

Approximately half of the fatal occupational injuries to government workers resulted from transportation incidents. Nearly half

(1,718) of these were highway incidents. Of the 1,718 highway incidents, 988 involved a collision between vehicles or mobile

equipment, 276 involved a vehicle striking a stationary object or equipment on the side of the road, and 259 involved a

jackknifed or overturned vehicle. Additionally, aircraft incidents accounted for 808 workplace fatalities in government over the

period. Helicopters were the source of 37 percent of aircraft fatalities among government workers, but only 21 percent of all

occupational fatalities from aircraft incidents. Finally, 641 fatal injuries occurred when a worker was struck by a vehicle or

mobile equipment.

The next largest event or exposure category was assaults and violent acts, which accounted for 22 percent of the workplace

fatalities in government over the 1992-2001 period. Of these 1,425 deaths from assaults and violent acts, 1,058 were

homicides and 352 resulted from self-inflicted injuries.4 The next most common event or exposure category among

government workers was exposure to harmful substances or environments, which accounted for 426 (7 percent) workplace

fatalities during the period. Of these, 159 involved contact with electric current, and 139 involved oxygen deficiency (122 were

drownings). A total of 423 government workers were killed through contact with objects or equipment--most (257) from being

struck by an object. In such fatalities, the victims most often were struck by trees and bullets.5 Finally, 359 government

workers lost their lives in falls, and 270 died in fires and explosions.
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Worker Activity And Location

Approximately half of the government workers who suffered fatal workplace injuries over the 1992-2001 period were

performing vehicular and transportation operations at the time of their deaths. Another 1,063 were engaged in protective

service activities--such as apprehending, breaking up a fight, and chasing (267); and fighting a fire (231). A total of 544

government workers were killed while they were constructing, repairing, and cleaning. A street or highway was the site of

2,735 fatal occupational injuries to government employees over the period. In addition, 744 workers were killed in a public

building, 475 workers were killed in an industrial place or premise, and 357 workers were killed in a private residence (while

on the job).

Occupation

Among the occupational groups, government workers in protective service occupations were the most likely to incur a fatal

workplace injury over the period. Within protective service occupations, police and detectives, including supervisors,

accounted for 1,448 workplace fatalities, and firefighting and fire prevention occupations, including supervisors, accounted for

437. In addition, 1,135 workplace fatalities occurred in military occupations.6 Other occupations with a large number of fatal

occupational injuries to government employees include transportation and material moving occupations (434); handlers,

equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers (375); and construction trades (310).

Government Levels And Industry

About half (3,227) of the fatalities in government over the 1992-2001 period occurred in local government, which accounted

for half of overall government employment during the period. Among the total number of local government fatalities, almost

half (1,505) worked in justice, public order, and safety--including 1,033 in police protection and 401 in fire protection. Also,

327 of the fatalities occurred in educational services; 245 in electric, gas, and sanitary services; 177 in highway and street

construction; and 111 in the environmental quality and housing sector.

Among the three levels of government, Federal workers had the second-largest number (1,923) of fatalities over the

1992-2001 period. Federal workers accounted for nearly 30 percent of all government fatalities during the period, although

they made up 23 percent of government employment.7 The majority (1,253) of these fatalities occurred in the areas of

national security and international affairs. In addition, 146 members of the U.S. Postal Service and 105 workers in the

environmental quality and housing sector suffered a fatal workplace injury over the period.

State government had the fewest workplace fatalities within overall government. During the study period, 1,224 State

government employees died while on the job. Among these fatalities, 343 worked in the justice, public order, and safety

industry; 176 in the administration of economic programs; 162 in educational services; and 156 in highway and street

construction.

The government category also contains workers from other governments that were killed on the job while working in the

United States. Over the 1992-2001 period, 48 workers of another country’s government were victims of an occupational

fatality in the United States. An additional 33 workers classified in "other government" were also killed during this period. This

category includes regional cooperative entities that are not classified in any other government category.

The workplace fatality rate in overall government during the period was 3.2 per 100,000 workers.8 The fatality rate in the

private sector for the same period was 5.1 per 100,000 workers. Within government, the fatality rate was 4.1 for Federal

workers, 2.4 for State workers, and 3.2 for local government workers.

Large Fatality Incidents

Government workers frequently are fatally injured in incidents that claim the life of at least one other worker.9 Over the

1992-2001 period, 1 in 6 government workplace fatalities had another fatality associated with it. More than half of these

fatalities occurred in three occupational categories: firefighters, police officers, and military personnel. Other occupations
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within government that had multiple fatality incidents over the period include teachers, painters, truck drivers, pilots, janitors,

engineers, and construction laborers.

Two historical events in which a large number of government workers were killed on the job were the Oklahoma City bombing

in 1995 and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. In the Oklahoma City bombing, 98 government employees lost their

lives; nearly all were Federal workers. The occupations with the highest number of fatalities due to this event were

administrators and officials, public administration; police and detectives, public service; and general office clerks.

The September 11th attacks claimed the lives of 622 government workers. Among those killed, 408 suffered a fatal injury

while performing rescue efforts, 204 were in an office building, and 10 were passengers on a commercial airliner. (See table

3.) More than 80 percent of the fatalities resulting from the terrorist attacks occurred in New York City. (See table 4.)

Approximately three-quarters of the fatally injured government workers were employees of local government. Of those killed

during rescue efforts, 99 percent worked for local government. This figure included 343 workers in fire protection and 23

workers in police protection. About 20 percent of the fatalities occurred in Federal government, predominately in national

security; 9 percent were in military occupations.

Conclusion

Over the period from 1992 to 2001, more than 10 percent of all occupational fatalities occurred among government workers.

Most of the government workers who died on the job were male and white. More than three-fourths of these deaths were

attributable either to transportation incidents or to assaults and violent acts. (The comparable figure for workers in general is

60 percent.) The occupations in which government workers were most likely to suffer a fatal workplace injury were protective

service occupations (such as police and firefighters) and military occupations. Within the three branches of government,

workers in local government suffered the most fatal workplace injuries during the period, while workers in Federal

government faced the highest fatality rate.

Stephen M. Pegula

Economist, Office of Safety, Health, and Working Conditions, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Telephone: (202) 691-6166; E-mail: Pegula.Stephen@bls.gov

Notes

1 The total number of workplace fatalities in overall government includes fatalities among employees of Federal, State, and local governments,

as well as fatalities among persons working in the United States for another country’s government or for other government entities such as

regional cooperative organizations. These totals do not include the fatalities that resulted from the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001,

which are discussed later in the article. Data on workplace fatalities are from the BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). Preliminary 2001 CFOI data were used in this analysis. For more information on workplace fatalities data, visit the CFOI page of the BLS

website at http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm.

2 The estimates of total government employment used in this analysis include the resident armed forces. The estimate combines data from the 

Current Population Survey (CPS) on civilian government employment with data on the number of resident military personnel from the

Department of Defense. For more information on the CPS, visit the CPS page of the BLS website at http://www.bls.gov/cps/home.htm.

3 The overall government rate is the combined fatality rate for Federal, State, and local government workers from 1992 to 2001.

4 The total number of assaults and violent acts includes homicides, suicides, and attacks by animals.

5 These are cases in which the death was not intentional. If a worker is shot and killed during a training exercise or in an accident, the fatality

is classified as resulting from being struck by a discharged object rather than from an assault or violent act.

6 These fatalities are for the resident military population only. Fatalities occurring among U.S. military personnel outside the United States are

not included.

7 See note 2.

8 The fatality rate is the number of workplace fatalities per 100,000 workers employed. Employment data for this calculation are from the BLS 

Current Population Survey (CPS). Employment data for resident military personnel, which are included in the fatality rate calculations for

Federal government employees, are taken from the U.S. Department of Defense. The fatality rate takes into account only those government

employees aged 16 and over. Decedents with an undetermined age were excluded from the fatality rate calculations.

9 These other workers could have been employed by either government or the private sector.
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Table 1. Fatal occupational injuries to government workers by government level and event, 1992–2001

Characteristics Fatalities

Federal government (including resident armed forces) 1,923

Transportation incidents 1,191

Highway 366

Collision between vehicles, mobile equipment 173

Aircraft 649

Assaults and violent acts 344

Homicides 206

Suicide, self-inflicted injury 136

State government 1,224

Transportation incidents 778

Highway 419

Collision between vehicles, mobile equipment 274

Worker struck by vehicle, mobile equipment 216

Assaults and violent acts 229

Homicides 153

Local government 3,227

Transportation incidents 1,491

Highway 917

Collision between vehicles, mobile equipment 537

Moving in opposite directions, oncoming 190

Moving in intersection 159

Vehicle struck stationary object or equipment on side of road 180

Noncollision 151

Worker struck by vehicle, mobile equipment 366

Worker struck by vehicle, mobile equipment in roadway 211

Assaults and violent acts 841

Homicides 692

Shooting 614

Suicide, self-inflicted injury 139

Contact with objects and equipment 222

Falls 200

Fall to lower level 139

Exposure to harmful substances or environments 255

Fires and explosions 193

Fires--unintended or uncontrolled 161

Fire in residence, building, or other structure 135

NOTE: This table shows workplace fatalities among employees of Federal, State, and local governments. It excludes fatalities among persons

working in the United States for another country's government or for other government entities such as regional cooperative organizations;

such fatalities are included in the totals for overall government discussed in the article and shown in table 2. Totals for 2001 exclude fatalities

resulting from the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Also, the totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown

separately.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI).
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Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries to government workers by selected characteristics, 1992–2001

Characteristics Fatalities

Total 6,455

Sex

Men 5,694

Women 761

Age

20 to 24 years 598

25 to 34 years 1,662

35 to 44 years 1,552

45 to 54 years 1,390

55 to 64 years 784

65 and over 278

Race or ethnic origin (1)

White 4,991

Black or African American 789

Hispanic or Latino 390

Industry

Government(2) 6,455

Federal government (including resident armed forces) 1,923

Public Administration 1,641

National security and international affairs 1,253

National security 1,242

State government 1,224

Services 245

Public Administration 740

Justice, public order, and safety 343

Public order and safety 339

Police protection 207

Local government 3,227

Construction 224

Heavy construction, except building 211

Transportation and public utilities 357

Electric, gas, and sanitary services 245

Footnotes:

(1) In this study, the racial categories "White" and "Black or African American" do not include persons from the ethnic category "Hispanic or

Latino." Persons identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.

(2) Included in the overall "Government" category are workplace fatalities among employees of Federal, State, and local governments, as

well as fatalities among persons working in the United States for another country's government or for other government entities such as

regional cooperative organizations. These totals include fatalities to workers employed in all governmental organizations regardless of

industry.

NOTE: Totals for 2001 exclude fatalities resulting from the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Also, totals for major categories may

include subcategories not shown separately.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI).
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Characteristics Fatalities

Services 497

Educational services 327

Elementary and secondary schools 292

Public Administration 2,106

Executive, legislative, and general government 377

Justice, public order, and safety 1,505

Public order and safety 1,495

Police protection 1,033

Fire protection 401

Footnotes:

(1) In this study, the racial categories "White" and "Black or African American" do not include persons from the ethnic category "Hispanic or

Latino." Persons identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.

(2) Included in the overall "Government" category are workplace fatalities among employees of Federal, State, and local governments, as

well as fatalities among persons working in the United States for another country's government or for other government entities such as

regional cooperative organizations. These totals include fatalities to workers employed in all governmental organizations regardless of

industry.

NOTE: Totals for 2001 exclude fatalities resulting from the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Also, totals for major categories may

include subcategories not shown separately.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI).

Table 3. Fatal occupational injuries to government workers resulting from the events of September 11, 2001, by

industry and occupation

Characteristics

Total Office building Passenger airliner Rescue efforts

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

Total 622 100 204 100 10 100 408 100

 Industry

Government(1) 622 100 204 100 10 100 408 100

Federal government (including resident

armed forces) 124 20 116 57 7 70 - - National security 118 19 114 56 4 40 - - State government 49 8 43 21 3 30 3 1

Local government 449 72 45 22 - - 404 99

Police protection 25 4 - - - - 23 6

Fire protection 344 55 - - - - 343 84

Footnotes:

(1) Included in the overall "Government" category are workplace fatalities among employees of Federal, State, and local governments, as

well as fatalities among persons working in the United States for another country's government or for other government entities such as

regional cooperative organizations. These totals include fatalities to workers employed in all governmental organizations regardless of

industry.

NOTE: Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Dashes indicate that either no data were reported or the

data do not meet publication criteria.

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

agencies, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI).
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Characteristics

Total Office building Passenger airliner Rescue efforts

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

Administration of economic programs 79 13 41 20 - - 38 9

 Occupation

Managerial and professional specialty 140 23 120 59 10 100 10 2

Executive, administrative, and

managerial 120 19 107 52 4 40 9 2

Professional specialty 20 3 13 6 6 60 - - Technical, sales, and administrative

support 25 4 23 11 - - - - Technicians and related support

occupations 4 1 - - - - - - Service occupations 400 64 4 2 - - 396 97

Protective service occupations 400 64 4 2 - - 396 97

Firefighting, including supervisors 335 54 - - - - 335 82

Police and detectives, including

supervisors 64 10 3 1 - - 61 15

Military occupations 54 9 54 26 - - - - Footnotes:

(1) Included in the overall "Government" category are workplace fatalities among employees of Federal, State, and local governments, as

well as fatalities among persons working in the United States for another country's government or for other government entities such as

regional cooperative organizations. These totals include fatalities to workers employed in all governmental organizations regardless of

industry.

NOTE: Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Dashes indicate that either no data were reported or the

data do not meet publication criteria.

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

agencies, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI).

Table 4. Fatal occupational injuries to government workers resulting from the events of September 11, 2001, by

selected demographic characteristics

Characteristics

Total Office building Passenger airliner Rescue efforts

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

Total 622 100 204 100 10 100 408 100

 State

New York (New York City only) 500 80 90 44 - - 408 100

Virginia 120 19 114 56 6 60 - - Footnotes:

(1) In this study, the racial categories "White" and "Black or African American" do not include persons from the ethnic category "Hispanic or

Latino." Persons identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.

NOTE: Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Dashes indicate that either no data were reported or the

data do not meet publication criteria.

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

agencies, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI).
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Characteristics

Total Office building Passenger airliner Rescue efforts

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

 Sex

Men 548 88 136 67 6 60 406 100

Women 74 12 68 33 4 40 - -

 Age

20 to 24 years 9 1 7 3 - - - - 25 to 34 years 133 21 26 13 - - 106 26

35 to 44 years 243 39 60 29 - - 181 44

45 to 54 years 168 27 64 31 4 40 100 25

55 to 64 years 56 9 41 20 - - 13 3

65 and over 9 1 6 3 - - - -

 Race or ethnic origin(1)

White 480 77 123 60 6 60 351 86

Black or African American 73 12 51 25 3 30 19 5

Hispanic or Latino 32 5 13 6 - - 18 4

Asian 15 2 15 7 - - - - Other races or not reported 21 3 - - - - 20 5

Footnotes:

(1) In this study, the racial categories "White" and "Black or African American" do not include persons from the ethnic category "Hispanic or

Latino." Persons identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.

NOTE: Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Dashes indicate that either no data were reported or the

data do not meet publication criteria.

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

agencies, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI).

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