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OPA News Release: [08/20/2008]
Contact Name: Sharon Worthy
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676
Release Number: 08-1197-NAT
U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao applauds Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries report showing decline in worker fatalities
WASHINGTON — In a response to today's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report announcing a decline in worker fatalities, U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao issued the following statement:
"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. In addition to a decline in the overall number of fatalities, the rate for 2007 declined to 3.7 fatalities per 100,000 workers. This is the lowest fatality rate in recorded OSHA history."
The BLS report showed that the number of worker fatalities declined six percent from 2006. Although final results for 2007 will be released in April 2009, the preliminary figure for 2007 is 5,488 fatal injuries recorded in the United States compared to 5,840 reported for 2006.
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