Fatal Occupational Injuries
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has released its National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries in 2018. While the overall rate of fatal work injuries remained the same from 2017 to 2018, the nature of the injuries has changed. Transportation incidents are still the most common cause of fatal work injuries, with about the same number of deaths in 2018 as 2017, even though taxi driver and chauffer deaths were down by 24%. There were some major changes in other categories.
Falls to a Lower Level Lowest since 2013
Deaths from slips, trips, and falls reached an all-time high in 2017, but went down by 11% in 2018. Breaking down the types of falls, falls to a lower level decreased by 14% and were at their lowest since 2013.
Equipment and Machinery Deaths and Falling Objects
The fatal fall number might make it seem like safety has improved, but the number of deaths from falls shifted to death from contact with objects. In 2018, there was a 17% increase in workers killed by falling objects or equipment and a 39% increased in workers who died because they got caught in running equipment or machinery.
Suicide and Unintentional Overdose
Unintentional overdose, from alcohol use or nonmedical drug use, has been on the rise for over half a decade, from 65 in 2012 to 305 in 2018. In 2018 overdose deaths increased by 12% over 2017.
Intentional suicides also increased. The report includes suicides in a category called “violence and other injuries by persons or animals” which overall increased by three percent. Work-related suicides alone increased by 11% from 275 to 304.
About Sandra Dalton
