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Persons using assistive technology might not be able to fully access information in this file. For assistance, please send e-mail to: mmwrq@cdc.gov. Type 508 Accommodation and the title of the report in the subject line of e-mail. Fatal Occupational Injuries -- United States, 1980-1994CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) monitors occupational injury deaths through death certificates compiled for the National Traumatic Occupational Fatalities (NTOF) surveillance system * (1). Previous reports analyzed data from 1980-1989 (1-3). This report updates these estimates on the magnitude of work-related injury deaths for the United States from 1980 through 1994, the most recent year for which data are available from this system, and identifies high-risk industries and occupations at national and state-specific levels. The findings indicate that the annual total number of deaths and crude death rates decreased from 7405 (7.5 per 100,000 workers) in 1980 to 5406 (4.4 per 100,000 workers) in 1994. National death rates were calculated using denominators from employment data from the Current Population Survey, a population-based household survey of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) (4). Deaths among military workers were excluded from the analyses because the employment data do not include military employment numbers. Crude death rates per 100,000 workers were calculated as the number of deaths among civilian workers for each year divided by the number of employed civilians for each year. Because published estimates for employment by state exclude self-employed workers and report government workers separately, computerized data files obtained from the 1990-1994 BLS Current Population Survey monthly employment files (5), which include self-employed and government workers by industry categories, were used to calculate death rates by state. National Estimates, 1980-1994 From 1980 through 1994, a total of 88,622 civilian workers died in the United States from occupational injuries, an average of 16 work-related deaths per day. The annual total number of deaths declined 27%, from 7405 in 1980 to 5406 in 1994 (Figure_1). The average rate for occupational injury deaths for all workers decreased 41%, from 7.5 per 100,000 workers in 1980 to 4.4 per 100,000 workers in 1994 (Figure_1). Motor-vehicle-related deaths, ** the leading cause of death for U.S. workers since 1980 (Figure_2), accounted for 23.1% of deaths during the 15-year period. Homicides became the second leading cause of occupational injury deaths in 1990 (13.5% of occupation-related deaths), surpassing machine-related deaths (13.3% of total). The industries in which the largest numbers of deaths occurred during this period were construction (16,091 deaths {18.2%}), transportation/communication/public utilities (15,668 {17.7%}), and manufacturing (12,371 {14.0%}). Industries with the highest death rates per 100,000 workers were mining (30.5), agriculture/ forestry/fishing (20.5), and construction (15.5). The occupation categories in which the largest numbers of deaths occurred were precision production/crafts/repairers (17,392 {19.6%}), transportation/material movers (16,134 {18.2%}), and farmers/foresters/ fishers (10,960 {12.4%}). Occupation categories with the highest death rates per 100,000 workers were transportation/material movers (23.0), farmers/foresters/fishers (20.7), and handlers/equipment cleaners/helpers/laborers (15.1). State Estimates, 1990-1994 From 1990 through 1994, motor-vehicle-related incidents were the leading cause of occupational death in 38 states (Table_1). Machine-related incidents were the leading cause of death in five states; homicides, in three states and the District of Columbia; falls, in two states; and water transport and struck by falling objects, one state each. The construction industry accounted for the largest number of work-related deaths in 19 states; manufacturing, in 12 states; agriculture/forestry/fishing, in 11 states; transportation/communication/public utilities, in five states; retail trade, in one state and the District of Columbia; services, in one state; and mining, in one state. Mining was the highest risk industry in 26 states; agriculture/forestry/fishing, in 19 states; construction, in three states and the District of Columbia; and transportation/communication/public utilities, in two states. The largest numbers of deaths, by occupation, were among precision production/crafts/repairers in 29 states; farmers/foresters/fishers in 14 states; transportation/material movers in eight states; and service workers in the District of Columbia. Occupation categories with the highest rates were farmers/foresters/fishers in 28 states; transportation/material movers in 20 states; handlers/equipment cleaners/helpers/laborers in one state and the District of Columbia; and technicians and related technical support occupations in one state. Reported by: Div of Safety Research, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, CDC. Editorial NoteEditorial Note: The findings in this report indicate a general decrease in occupational injury deaths in the United States during 1980-1994. The decreases include the total numbers and average crude rates of deaths over the years and the average number of work-related deaths per year from the 1980s (6359) through 1994 (5267). In addition, the leading causes of death have changed through the 1990s. Although surveillance data cannot identify the reasons for these changes over time, there have been many changes in the workplace that may have contributed to these changes (e.g., increased regulations and hazard awareness and new technology and mechanization) as well as changes in the economy, the industrial mix, and the distribution of the workforce (3). The findings of this analysis are subject to at least two limitations. First, only 67%-90% of all fatal occupational injuries can be identified through death certificates (1). Second, classification of "on-the-job" differs among medical examiners and coroners (6). Because of these limitations, the numbers presented in this report should be considered as minimum values. The NTOF surveillance system, the most comprehensive source of surveillance data for fatal work-related injuries during 1980-1991, allows examination of trends over time and analysis of data within states, useful tools for identifying injury patterns and suggesting targets for preventive interventions. To address the limitations of death certificates and other existing data sources in the surveillance of fatal occupational injuries, in 1992 the BLS began collecting national work-related death data through the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). CFOI is a multi-source surveillance system that typically requires at least two source documents *** to verify work-relatedness (7-10). Although CFOI and NTOF identified similar patterns for industry and occupation in 1994, NTOF captured 5406 civilian deaths and CFOI captured 6528 (10). Another difference between the two surveillance systems is that the coding systems used to specify cause of death differ: NTOF uses E-codes from the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (1); CFOI uses the BLS-designed Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (7-10). Direct comparisons of the two systems are complicated, but broad results on cause of death appear to be similar. The data presented in this report provide the basis for strategies to prevent traumatic work-related injury deaths by taking into account high-risk industries and occupations and the varying patterns of fatal injuries identified in these data. In particular, state health departments and others involved in prevention of occupational injuries can use the state-specific data to identify high-priority areas for intervention. Additional state-specific data and information about NTOF are available from NIOSH; telephone (800) 356-4674 or (513) 533-8328. References
* NTOF is based on death certificates compiled from 52 vital statistics reporting units in the United States. Inclusion criteria for death certificate submission to the NTOF database include 1) age greater than or equal to 16 years; 2) external cause of death (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, codes E800-E999); and 3) "injury at work" designation. ** The category of motor-vehicle-related deaths includes crashes occurring on and off the roadway, pedestrians struck by motor vehicles, noncollision incidents (e.g., falls from buses or cars), incidents involving off-road motor vehicles (e.g., snowmobiles or all-terrain vehicles), and incidents involving other road vehicles (e.g., bicycles). *** CFOI source documents include death certificates, Workers' Compensation records, and reports to federal and state agencies. Figure_1  Return to top. Figure_2  Return to top. Table_1 Note: To print large tables and graphs users may have to change their printer settings to landscape and use a small font size.
TABLE 1. Leading causes of occupational injury deaths and major industry and occupation categories with highest
numbers and rates of death, by state -- United States, 1990-1994
=================================================================================================================
Industry Occupation
State Loading cause Highest no. Highest rate Highest no. Highest rate
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Alabama Motor vehicle* Manufacturing Mining Crafts+ Transport&
Alaska Water transport Ag/For/Fish@ Ag/For/Fish Farm/For/Fish** Farm/For/Fish
Arizona Struck by falling Construction Mining Crafts Transport
Arkansas Motor vehicle Manufacturing Ag/For/Fish Transport Transport
California Homicide Service Mining Crafts Transport
Colorado Motor vehicle TCPU++ Ag/For/Fish Crafts Farm/For/Fish
Connecticut Motor vehicle Manufacturing Ag/For/Fish Crafts Transport
Delaware Motor vehicle Manufacturing Ag/For/Fish Crafts Farm/For/Fish
District of Columbia Homicide Retail trade Construction Services Laborers
Florida Motor vehicle Construction Ag/For/Fish Crafts Transport
Georgia Motor vehicle Construction Ag/For/Fish Crafts Transport
Hawaii Motor vehicle Construction Ag/For/Fish Crafts Transport
Idaho Motor vehicle Ag/For/Fish Ag/For/Fish Farm/For/Fish Transport
Illinois Motor vehicle Construction Ag/For/Fish Crafts Farm/For/Fish
Indiana Motor vehicle TCPU Ag/For/Fish Transport Farm/For/Fish
Iowa Machine Ag/For/Fish Ag/For/Fish Farm/For/Fish Farm/For/Fish
Kansas Motor vehicle Ag/For/Fish Mining Farm/For/Fish Transport
Kentucky Motor vehicle Ag/For/Fish Mining Crafts Farm/For/Fish
Louisiana Motor vehicle TCPU Mining Crafts Transport
Maine Motor vehicle Manufacturing Ag/For/Fish Farm/For/Fish Farm/For/Fish
Maryland Motor vehicle TCPU Mining Crafts Farm/For/Fish
Massachusetts Falls Construction Ag/For/Fish Crafts Farm/For/Fish
Michigan Homicide Manufacturing Ag/For/Fish Crafts Farm/For/Fish
Minnesota Motor vehicle Ag/For/Fish Mining Farm/For/Fish Farm/For/Fish
Mississippi Motor vehicle Manufacturing TCPU Transport Farm/For/Fish
Missouri Motor vehicle Ag/For/Fish Mining Transport Farm/For/Fish
Montana Machine TCPU Mining Farm/For/Fish Transport
Nebraska Motor vehicle Ag/For/Fish Mining Farm/For/Fish Farm/For/Fish
Nevada Motor vehicle Construction Mining Crafts Transport
New Hampshire Motor vehicle Construction Construction Crafts Farm/For/Fish
New Jersey Motor vehicle Construction Ag/For/Fish Crafts Farm/For/Fish
New Mexico Motor vehicle Construction Mining Transport Transport
New York Homicide Retail trade Mining Transport Laborers
North Carolina Motor vehicle Manufacturing Ag/For/Fish Crafts Farm/For/Fish
North Dakota Machine Ag/For/Fish Mining Farm/For/Fish Transport
Ohio Motor vehicle Manufacturing Mining Crafts Farm/For/Fish
Oklahoma Motor vehicle Construction Mining Crafts Transport
Oregon Motor vehicle Manufacturing Mining Farm/For/Fish Farm/For/Fish
Pennsylvania Motor vehicle Construction Mining Transport Transport
Rhode Island Falls Construction Ag/For/Fish Crafts Farm/For/Fish
South Carolina Motor vehicle Construction Construction Crafts Farm/For/Fish
South Dakota Motor vehicle Ag/For/Fish Ag/For/Fish Farm/For/Fish Farm/For/Fish
Tennessee Machine Construction Mining Crafts Farm/For/Fish
Texas Motor vehicle Construction Mining Crafts Transport
Utah Motor vehicle Construction Mining Crafts Transport
Vermont Motor vehicle Manufacturing TCPU Transport Transport
Virginia Motor vehicle Construction Mining Crafts Farm/For/Fish
Washington Motor vehicle Manufacturing Mining Farm/For/Fish Farm/For/Fish
West Virginia Motor vehicle Mining Mining Crafts Farm/For/Fish
Wisconsin Machine Ag/For/Fish Mining Farm/For/Fish Farm/For/Fish
Wyoming Motor vehicle Construction Construction Crafts Tech/Support&&
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* The category of motor-vehicle-related deaths includes crashes occurring on and off the roadway,
pedestrians struck by motor vehicles, noncollision incidents (e.g., falls from buses or cars), incidents
involving off-road motor vehicles (e.g., snowmobiles or all-terrain vehicles), and incidents involving other
road vehicles (e.g., bicycles).
+ Precision production/Crafts/Repairers.
& Transportation/Material movers.
@ Agriculture/Forestry/Fishing.
** Farmers/Foresters/Fishers.
++ Transportation/Communication/Public utilities.
@@ Technicians and related technical support occupations.
=================================================================================================================
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