Fatal work injuries totaled 44 in 2011 for North Dakota, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Charlene Peiffer noted that while the 2011 count was preliminary, the number of work-related fatalities in North Dakota rose by 14 over the year. This was the largest over-the-year increase since the series began in 1992. Fatal occupational injuries in the state have ranged from a low of 20 in 1992 to a series high of 44 in 2011. (See chart 1.)

Nationwide, a preliminary total of 4,609 fatal work injuries were recorded in 2011, down slightly from the final total of 4,690 in 2010, according to results from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) program. Final 2011 CFOI data will be released in Spring 2013.

Of the 44 fatal work injuries reported in North Dakota in 2011, 23 resulted from transportation incidents and 9 from contact with objects and equipment; together these two major categories accounted for 73 percent of all fatal work injuries. Other major event categories each reported five or fewer deaths. Within transportation incidents, roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicles was the most frequent type of workplace fatality with 15 deaths, accounting for 34 percent of all on-the-job fatalities in the state. In the contact with objects and equipment category, five deaths resulted from individuals being struck, caught, or crushed in collapsing structures, equipment, or materials. (See table 1.)

In the United States, transportation incidents were also the most frequent fatal workplace event in 2011, accounting for 41 percent of fatal work injuries. However, North Dakota’s 52-percent share of on-the-job fatalities due to this event was larger than the nationwide share. (See chart 2.) Violence and other injuries was the second most frequent type of event nationally, with 17 percent of work-related fatalities, 6 percentage points higher than the share in North Dakota. Contact with objects or equipment (15 percent) and falls, slips, and trips (14 percent) were the third and fourth most frequent events, respectively, in the nation.

Additional key characteristics:

• The mining industry sector had the largest number of fatalities in the state with 11. (See table 2.) Transportation incidents accounted for six deaths in this sector.
• The construction industry had the second highest fatality count with nine, an increase of four over the previous year. Transportation incidents accounted for five worker deaths in this sector.
• Transportation and material moving occupations had the highest number of fatal work injuries with 13. (See table 3.) Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers accounted for seven of these fatalities. Construction and extraction occupations had the next highest fatality count at 11.
• Men accounted for 42 fatalities, or 95 percent, of the work-related deaths in the state. (See table 4.) Transportation incidents made up 52 percent of these fatalities.
• In North Dakota, 89 percent of those who died from a workplace injury were white non-Hispanics. Nationwide, this group accounted for 71 percent of work-related deaths.
• Workers 25-54 years old—the prime working age group—accounted for 23 fatalities, or 52 percent, of the state’s work-related deaths in 2011. Workers in this group nationally accounted for 60 percent of on-the-job fatalities.
• Of the 44 persons that suffered fatal work injuries in North Dakota, 82 percent worked for wages and salaries; the remaining were self-employed. The most frequent fatal event for both groups was transportation incidents.

Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339.

Technical Note

Background of the program. The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, part of the BLS occupational safety and health statistics program, compiles a count of all fatal work injuries occurring in the U.S. during the calendar year. The program uses diverse state, federal, and independent data sources to identify, verify, and describe fatal work injuries. This assures counts are as complete and accurate as possible.

For technical information about the CFOI program, please go to the BLS Handbook of Methods on the BLS web site here: www.bls.gov/opub/hom/homch9_a1.htm. The technical information and definitions for the CFOI program are in Chapter 9, Part III of the BLS Handbook of Methods.

Federal/State agency coverage. The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries includes data for all fatal work injuries, whether the decedent was working in a job covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) or other federal or state agencies or was outside the scope of regulatory coverage. Thus, any comparison between the BLS fatality census counts and those released by other agencies should take into account the different coverage requirements and definitions being used by each agency.

Acknowledgments. The Bureau of Labor Statistics appreciates the efforts of all federal, state, local, and private sector entities that submitted source documents used to identify fatal work injuries.

Table 1. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, North Dakota, 2011(p)

Event or exposure(1)	Number	Percent
Total	44	100
Violence and other injuries by persons or animals	5	11
Intentional injury by person	3	7
Transportation incidents	23	52
Pedestrian vehicular incident	4	9
Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicle	15	34
Roadway collision with other vehicle	10	23
Roadway collision--moving in opposite directions, oncoming	6	14
Roadway noncollision incident	4	9
Jack-knifed or overturned, roadway	4	9
Falls, slips, trips	3	7
Contact with objects and equipment	9	20
Struck, caught, or crushed in collapsing structure, equipment, or material	5	11
Excavation or trenching cave-in	3	7
Footnotes: (1) Based on the BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) 2.01 implemented for 2011 data forward. (p) Data are preliminary. Revised and final 2011 data are scheduled to be released in Spring 2013.
NOTE: Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding. CFOI fatality counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, in cooperation with State, New York City, District of Columbia, and Federal agencies, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

 

Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by industry, North Dakota, 2010-2011

Industry(1)	2010	2011(p)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	30	44	100
Private industry	28	41	93
Natural resources and mining	11	18	41
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting	10	7	16
Crop production	6	4	9
Animal production	4	3	7
Mining(2)	--	11	25
Support activities for mining	--	9	20
Support activities for mining	--	9	20
Support activities for mining	--	9	20
Drilling oil and gas wells	--	5	11
Support activities for oil and gas operations	--	4	9
Construction	5	9	20
Construction	5	9	20
Heavy and civil engineering construction	--	4	9
Specialty trade contractors	--	4	9
Trade, transportation, and utilities	7	13	30
Wholesale trade	--	3	7
Transportation and warehousing	6	8	18
Truck transportation	5	6	14
Specialized freight trucking	4	5	11
Specialized freight (except used goods) trucking, local	--	3	7
Government(3)	--	3	7
Local government(4)	--	3	7
Footnotes: (1) Industry data are based on the North American Industry Classification System, 2007. Total may include other industries not shown. (2) Includes fatal injuries at all establishments categorized as Mining (Sector 21) in the North American Industry Classification System, including establishments not governed by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) rules and reporting, such as those in Oil and Gas Extraction. (3) Includes fatal injuries to workers employed by governmental organizations regardless of industry. Includes all fatal occupational injuries meeting this ownership criterion across all specified years, regardless of industry classification system. (4) Includes all fatal occupational injuries meeting this ownership criterion across all specified years, regardless of industry classification system. (p) Data are preliminary. Revised and final 2011 data are scheduled to be released in Spring 2013.
NOTE: Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria. CFOI fatality counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, in cooperation with State, New York City, District of Columbia, and Federal agencies, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

 

Table 3. Fatal occupational injuries by occupation, North Dakota, 2010-2011

Occupation(1)	2010	2011(p)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	30	44	100
Management occupations	7	7	16
Other management occupations	7	7	16
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers	6	5	11
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers	6	5	11
Construction and extraction occupations	3	11	25
Supervisors of construction and extraction workers	--	5	11
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers	--	5	11
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers	--	5	11
Construction trades workers	--	4	9
Construction laborers	--	3	7
Construction laborers	--	3	7
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	5	3	7
Production occupations	--	5	11
Metal workers and plastic workers	--	3	7
Transportation and material moving occupations	7	13	30
Motor vehicle operators	5	8	18
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers	5	7	16
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers	5	7	16
Footnotes: (1) Occupation data for 2010 are based on the Standard Occupational Classification system, 2000. Occupation data for 2011 are based on the Standard Occupational Classification system, 2010. Total may include occupations not shown. (p) Data are preliminary. Revised and final 2011 data are scheduled to be released in Spring 2013.
NOTE: Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria. CFOI fatality counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, in cooperation with State, New York City, District of Columbia, and Federal agencies, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

 

Table 4. Fatal occupational injuries by worker characteristics, North Dakota, 2010-2011

Worker characteristics	2010	2011(p)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	30	44	100
Employee status
Wage and salary workers(1)	19	36	82
Self-employed(2)	11	8	18
Gender
Men	30	42	95
Age(3)
20 to 24 years	5	6	14
25 to 34 years	3	5	11
35 to 44 years	5	8	18
45 to 54 years	4	10	23
55 to 64 years	8	9	20
65 years and over	3	3	7
Race or ethnic origin(4)
White, non-Hispanic	25	39	89
Hispanic or Latino	5	3	7
Footnotes: (1) May include volunteers and workers receiving other types of compensation. (2) Includes self-employed workers, owners of unincorporated businesses and farms, paid and unpaid family workers, and may include some owners of incorporated businesses or members of partnerships. (3) Information may not be available for all age groups. (4) Persons identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. The race categories shown exclude Hispanic and Latino workers. (p) Data are preliminary. Revised and final 2011 data are scheduled to be released in Spring 2013.
NOTE: Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding. CFOI fatality counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, in cooperation with State, New York City, District of Columbia, and Federal agencies, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries