WASHINGTON, Aug. 20, 2008
Fewer Workers Killed On Job In 2007
Labor Report Says Some Types Of Fatal Injuries Increased; Workplace Homicides Also Up
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The construction industry continues to have the most workplace fatalities of any private industry sector. (AP Photo/Dima Gavrysh)
The number of worker deaths dropped to 5,488 last year - the fewest since the Bureau of Labor Statistics began keeping track in 1992. That's down 6 percent from the 5,840 deaths reported in 2006.
Still, the government found significant increases in some types of fatal injuries: a record number of workers died from falls and the number of workplace homicides increased 13 percent.
The nation's most dangerous jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics? Fishers and related fishing workers (with a rate of 111.8 fatal injuries per 100,000 workers), logging workers (86.4), aircraft pilots and flight engineers (66.7) and structural iron and steel workers (45.5).
Construction continued to have the most deaths of any private sector industry, with 1,178 in 2007.
The overall U.S. rate was 3.7 fatal injuries for every 100,000 workers, the lowest annual rate ever reported by the fatality census.
"This is continued evidence that the initiatives and programs to protect workers' safety and health, designed by and implemented in this administration, are indeed working," Labor Secretary Elaine Chao said.
The number of fatal falls on the job rose to a record 835 in 2007, even though the number of deadly falls from roofs decreased.
Workplace homicides also increased 13 percent, to 610, in 2007 after officials recorded an all-time low in 2006.
While the construction industry had led the nation's private sector for five years in a row in workplace fatalities, the number of deaths in that industry dropped from 1,239 in 2006 to 1,178 in 2007, a 5 percent decrease.
The 2007 numbers show that there were 10.3 fatal work injuries for every 100,000 construction workers.
The construction industry has had several deadly crane accidents this year, including one in Houston this month that killed four workers and injured seven. Crane-related deaths have also occurred in New York, Miami and Las Vegas.
The numbers are preliminary, with a final report on 2007 due next year.
For more information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics click here.
By AP Labor Writer Jesse J. Holland
© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Never mind that there are fewer people holding jobs today, which accounts for fewer worker deaths. Never mind that because there are fewer workers working, there is less money going into social security (remember you pay half and the employer pays half!) which is one reason social security is in trouble.
All this from a government who can''t keep track of all the e-mails it produces! Or maybe doesn''t want to keep track of them!!!!!
The neocons only "think" as far as their nose, and maybe even not that far!
Then there is "DRRRRIILLLLLL" McCain who is so rich he can''t even keep track of how many LUXURY homes he owns!!!! He owns TEN, by the way! So much for calling Obama an "elitist"!!!!!
And, by the way, for all you young "patriotic" neocons out there, didn''t McCain leave the "door open" about bringing back the draft????
SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!!!
sig heil, MORE OF THE SAME, "ELITIST" McCain!!!!
The initiatives and programs consisted of subsidizing the movement of businesses out of the country, thus resulting in fewer people having jobs during which they might have fatal accidents.
Talk about throwing the baby out with the bathwater, Chao might as well have said "Honey, we''ve reduced our household expenses by 60%, killing the kids was a good idea."
Great job, McBush! You go!
(Now, please.)
omega and deacon - not the "per 100,000" that makes the data unaffected be the actual number of workers.
Interesting - that is just a little lower than the number per 100,000 of people killed by guns in the country in 2002 (10.5).
- by omega39-2009 August 20, 2008 4:39 PM EDT
- Fewer Workers Killed On Job In 2007
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See all 14 CommentsFewer workers HAD jobs in 2007......