United States Department of Labor Fatality Statistics
There was a total of 8786 fatal work related injuries were reported in 2001.
Profile of fatal work injuries by industry; in the construction industry increased 6% in 2001 to record high, fatalities in manufacturing decreased 10% from 2000 to their lowest recorded level since the census began in 1992.
The highest occupational fatality rates in 2001 were in mining, agriculture; forestry and fishing; construction; and transportation industries. The mining industry which includes oil and gas extraction remained at 30.0 fatal which is the highest fatality rate work injuries per 100,000 workers for the second year.
In 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.
Once again operators, fabricators and laborers had the largest number of fatal work injuries. They accounted for one out of every three fatalities. There is some good news though in this occupation group the number of fatalities dropped 4% for the second year in a row. This dropped occurred because of the decrease in fatalities among motor vehicle operators particularly truck drivers. Material moving equipment operators, machine operators and workers in railroad transportation and water transportation also decreased. Although handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers and laborers had increases in their fatality numbers.
There was an 18 percent increase in fatalities in the service occupation. This was the largest increase among the major categories. Truck drivers have more workplace fatalities than any other individual occupation. They had a reported rate of 25.3 fatalities per 100,000 employed individuals.
On average 16 workers were fatally injured daily in 2001. Twenty - six states and the District of Columbia reported less fatal work injuries in 2001 than in the previous year.
For additional data access BLS internet site at http://www.bls.gov/iif/
