For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Wednesday, December 16, 2020		                                   USDL-20-2265
Technical information:	(202) 691-6170 • iifstaff@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/iif
Media contact:		(202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov

NATIONAL CENSUS OF FATAL OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES IN 2019

There were 5,333 fatal work injuries recorded in the United States in 2019, a 2 percent increase from the 5,250 in 2018, 
the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (See chart 1 and table 1.) The fatal work injury rate was 3.5 fatalities 
per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers, which was the rate reported in 2018. (See chart 2.) These data are from the 
Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). 

(Charts 1 and 2 appear here in the printed release) 
             
Key findings from the 2019 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

  - The 5,333 fatal occupational injuries in 2019 represents the largest annual number since 2007. 
  - A worker died every 99 minutes from a work-related injury in 2019.
  - Fatalities among workers age 55 and over increased 8 percent from 1,863 in 2018 to 2,005 in 2019, which is the largest 
    number ever recorded for this age group.
  - Hispanic or Latino worker fatalities were up 13 percent to 1,088 in 2019–a series high since 1992.
  - Workplace deaths due to suicides (307) and unintentional overdoses (313) increased slightly in 2019.
  - Fatalities in the private construction industry increased 5 percent to 1,061–the largest total since 2007.
  - Driver/sales workers and truck drivers incurred 1,005 fatal occupational injuries, the highest since this series 
    began in 2003.

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|                            Changes in Industry and Occupation Classification Structure                                |
|                                                                                                                       |
| Information in this release incorporates revisions to both the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)  |
| and the Standard Occupational Classification codes (SOC). Comparison of data for 2019 to prior years should be done   |
| with caution due to these changes. More information on NAICS can be found at www.bls.gov/bls/naics.htm. More          | 
| information on SOC can be found at www.bls.gov/soc/2018/home.htm.                                                     | 
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Worker demographics

  - In 2019, workers age 55 and over accounted for 38 percent of all workplace fatalities. In 1992, workers age 55 and over 
    accounted for 20 percent. (See table 1.)
  - Hispanic or Latino workers made up 20 percent of fatal occupational injuries in 2019, and 9 percent in 1992, the first 
    year of this series. 
  - A total of 28 states had more fatal injuries in 2019 than in 2018, while 21 states had fewer. Alabama and the District 
    of Columbia had the same number as 2018. (See table 6.) 

Fatal event or exposure

  - Transportation incidents increased 2 percent in 2019 to 2,122 cases, the most cases since this series began in 2011. 
    Events involving transportation incidents continued to account for the largest share of fatalities. 
    (See chart 3 and table 2.)
  - Falls, slips, and trips increased 11 percent in 2019 to 880.
  - Exposure to harmful substances or environments led to the deaths of 642 workers in 2019, the highest figure 
    since the series began in 2011. 
  - Unintentional overdoses due to nonmedical use of drugs or alcohol increased for the seventh consecutive year 
    to 313 in 2019.
  - Fatalities due to fires and explosions decreased 14 percent to 99 in 2019.

(Chart 3 appears here in the printed release)
 
Occupation

  - Nearly 1 out of every 5 fatally injured workers was employed as a driver/sales worker or truck driver. 
  - Grounds maintenance workers had 229 fatalities in 2019–the largest number since the series began in 2003. 
    (See table 3.)
  - Fatal occupational injuries among law enforcement workers fell 24 percent between 2018 and 2019 (from 127 to 97). 
  - Construction and extraction occupations increased by 6 percent in 2019 to 1,066–the highest figure since 2007. 
  - Fishing and hunting workers had a fatal injury rate of 145.0 fatal work injuries per 100,000 FTEs in 2019. 
    (See table 5 and chart 4.)
  - Resident military fatalities decreased by 21 percent to 65 in 2019. (See table 3.)
 
Fatal injury counts by occupation will be available shortly at www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm. Fatality rates by occupation, 
industry, and worker demographics will be available shortly at www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/cfoi/cfoi_rates_2019hb.xlsx. 

(Chart 4 appears here in the printed release)

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|                   Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Impact on the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries                       |
|                                                                                                                             |
| Data in this news release are for reference year 2019. No changes in collection procedures or outputs were necessary        |
| due to COVID-19. Additional information is available at                                                                     |
| www.bls.gov/covid19/effects-of-covid-19-on-workplace-injuries-and-illnesses-compensation-and-occupational-requirements.htm. |
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