Occupational Fatalities on the Rise

According to the 2014 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, recorded through the Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupational fatalities rose by 2% last year over 2013’s recorded deaths. Thirteen workers die every day, on average, summing to a total of 4,679 in calendar year 2014. These numbers are already grim, but they actually reflect several unfortunate trends at once:

1. 2014 marks the highest rate of fatal occupational injuries for workers over the age of 55
2. Women suffered 13% more fatal injuries in 2014 than in 2013
3. Three industries (mining, law enforcement, and agriculture) had fatality increases of 14% or over
4. Fatal injuries among Asian, African-American, and non-Hispanic white workers were higher than in 2013
5. Self-employed workers saw 10% more fatalities
6. Transportation injuries made up 40% of all workplace fatalities.

However, some of the trends reflected in the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries were more heartening, marking decreases from 2013 fatality rates among the following groups:

1. Government workers
2. Hispanic or Latino workers
3. Those affected by workplace fires
4. Workplace suicides

While no fatality numbers are good fatality numbers, this year’s are a mixed bag. Providing a safer workplace can help to reduce these unfortunate statistics and to encourage positive trends like those four listed above.