August 26, 2008 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Workplace homicides in 2007

Workplace homicides rose 13 percent to 610 in 2007 after reaching a series low of 540 in 2006.

[Chart data—TXT]

Even with the increase, workplace homicides have declined 44 percent from the high of 1,080 reported in 1994.

Workplace homicides involving police officers and supervisors of retail sales workers both saw substantial increases in 2007.

The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, part of the BLS Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities program, provides the most complete count of fatal work injuries available. For more information on fatal work injuries, see "National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries in 2007," (PDF) (HTML) news release USDL 08-1182. Data for 2007 are preliminary. The total for 2001 excludes work-related fatalities that resulted from the September 11 terrorist attacks, which were tabulated separately.

Related TED article:

• Fatal work injuries in 2007