Job-related Fatalities Fall in 2000

August 15, 2001 (PLANSPONSOR.com) Despite rising employment, the number of workers killed on the job dropped about 2% last year according to the Labor Department.

And while fatal work injuries last year decreased to 5,915 from 6,053 a year earlier, on average about 16 workers were fatally injured each day during 2000.

Topping the list of causes was highway incidents, which still dropped for the first time since the report’s inception in 1992. The measure fell 9% to 1,363 deaths.

However, the number of workers killed in non-highway incidents, such as farm-related work, increased from 352 in 1999 to 399 in 2000, as did workers killed in aircraft and railway incidents.

Falls Down

Deaths from falls increased slightly to a record 734 in 2000. Fatalities from falls from ladders and from nonmoving vehicles increased, but falls from scaffolds, building girders, and roofs declined.

Workplace homicides increased 4% percent last year ? the first increase in six years. Still, the 677 deaths recorded was still 37% lower than 1994’s high reading of 1,080 homicides. Last year robbery was the most common reason cited for workplace homicides, with 291 cases. As a result, deaths in retail rose somewhat.

The construction industry had the highest number of fatal work injuries last year, some 1,154 deaths. That was down about 3% from a year earlier and the first decline since 1996. Fatal injuries were down 7% in manufacturing and down 12% in agriculture, forestry and fishing.

Fatal work injuries to men were down nearly 3%, while fatalities to women increased slightly in 2000.

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