Fatal work injuries totaled 50 in 2016 for the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Metropolitan Statistical Area, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Sheila Watkins, the Bureau’s regional commissioner, noted that the number of work-related fatalities in the Baltimore area increased by 14 from the previous year. Fatal occupational injuries in the area have ranged from a high of 59 in 2006 to a low of 28 in 2011. (See chart 1.)

Nationwide, a total of 5,190 fatal work injuries were recorded in 2016, a 7-percent increase from the 4,836 fatal injuries reported in 2015, according to the results from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) program. This was the third consecutive increase in annual workplace fatalities and the first time more than 5,000 fatalities have been recorded since 2008.

Type of incident

In the Baltimore area, transportation incidents resulted in 14 fatal work injuries and falls, slips, or trips accounted for 12 fatalities. These two major categories accounted for 52 percent of all workplace fatalities in the Baltimore area. (See table 1.) The number of worker deaths from transportation incidents increased by two over the year and worker fatalities due to falls, slips, or trips increased by six over the year.

Violence and other injuries by persons or animals and exposure to harmful substances or environments were tied for the third-most frequent fatal work events with nine fatalities each. The number of worker deaths from violence and other injuries by persons or animals increased by one over the year and worker fatalities due to exposure to harmful substances or environments increased by two. Seven of the nine fatalities in 2016 in exposure to harmful substances or environments were unintentional overdoses from the non-medical use of drugs or alcohol at work. Contact with objects and equipment resulted in six work-related deaths, compared to three fatalities in 2015.

Nationally, transportation incidents remained the most frequent fatal workplace event in 2016, accounting for 40 percent of fatal work injuries. (See chart 2.) Violence and other injuries by persons or animals was the second-most frequent type of event, with 17 percent of work-related fatalities, followed by falls, slips, or trips (16 percent) and contact with objects and equipment (15 percent).

Industry

The private construction industry sector had the largest number of fatalities in the Baltimore area with nine, down from 13 in the previous year. (See table 2.) The two most frequent fatal events in the private construction sector were transportation incidents and falls, slips, or trips, each with three fatalities. Eight of the 9 fatally injured in this sector worked in specialty trade contracting.

The transportation and warehousing sector within private industry had eight workplace fatalities. Taxi service accounted for half of the fatal injuries in this industry.

Occupation

Transportation and material moving occupations had the highest number of workplace fatalities with 16, followed by construction and extraction occupations with 7 fatalities, and building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations with 6. (See table 3.) The majority of the fatalities within the transportation and material moving group were motor vehicle operators (13), with heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers and taxi drivers and chauffeurs each accounting for four fatalites. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters accounted for 3 of the 7 fatalities among construction and extraction workers and building cleaning workers accounted for half of the fatalities within building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations.

Contracted Workers

A contracted worker is defined as a worker employed by one firm but working at the behest of another firm that exercises overall responsibility for the operations at the site of the fatal injury. In 2016, the Baltimore area had seven fatal injuries to workers identified as fitting the contracted worker criteria; of those, three were the result of falls, slips, or trips.   

Additional highlights

• Men accounted for 90 percent of the work-related fatalities in the Baltimore area, slightly lower than the 93-percent national share. (See table 4.) Transportation incidents made up 29 percent of the fatalities for men in the Baltimore area.
• White, non-Hispanic workers accounted for 52 percent of those who died from a workplace injury. Black, non-Hispanic workers comprised 30 percent of Baltimore’s fatal injuries at work, while Hispanic or Latino workers made up 16 percent of the fatalities. Nationwide, white, non-Hispanic workers accounted for 67 percent of work-related deaths, while Hispanic or Latino and non-Hispanic black workers represented 17 and 11 percent of the national share, respectively.
• Workers 25-54 years old accounted for 56 percent of the area’s work-related fatalities in 2016, compared to 57 percent of on-the-job fatalities nationally. In the Baltimore area, the single age group with the largest number of fatal injuries was 55-64 years old with 28 percent of the area’s total.
• Of the 50 fatally-injured workers in the Baltimore area, 78 percent worked for wages and salaries; the remainder were self-employed. The most frequent fatal event for wages and salaries workers was transportation incidents with 13 worker deaths, while for self-employed workers, falls, slips, or trips was the most frequent fatal event with 5 fatalities.    

Technical Note

Background of the program. The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), part of the BLS Occupational Safety and Health Statistics (OSHS) program, compiles a count of all fatal work injuries occurring in the U.S. during the calendar year. The CFOI program uses diverse state, federal, and independent data sources to identify, verify, and describe fatal work injuries. This ensures counts are as complete and accurate as possible. Nationwide, for the 2016 data, over 23,300 unique source documents were reviewed as part of the data collection process. For technical information and definitions for CFOI, please go to the BLS Handbook of Methods on the BLS website at www.bls.gov/opub/hom/cfoi/home.htm.

Federal/State agency coverage. The CFOI includes data for all fatal work injuries, even those that may be outside the scope of other agencies or 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. More on the scope of CFOI can be found at www.bls.gov/iif/cfoiscope.htm.

Acknowledgments. BLS thanks the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation for their efforts in collecting accurate, comprehensive, and useful data on fatal work injuries. BLS also appreciates the efforts of all federal, state, local, and private sector entities that provided source documents used to identify fatal work injuries. Among these agencies are the Occupational Safety and Health Administration; the National Transportation Safety Board; the U.S. Coast Guard; the Mine Safety and Health Administration; the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (Federal Employees' Compensation and Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation divisions); the Federal Railroad Administration; the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; state vital statistics registrars, coroners, and medical examiners; state departments of health, labor, and industrial relations and workers' compensation agencies; state and local police departments; and state farm bureaus.

Area definitions. The substate area data published in this release reflect the standards and definitions established by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, Bulletin Number 13-01, February 2013. A detailed list of the geographic definitions is available at https://www.bls.gov/lau/lausmsa.htm.

The Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) consists of Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, Howard, and Queen Anne’s Counties and Baltimore City in Maryland.

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

 

Table 1. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD, 2015-2016

Event of Exposure(1)	2015	2016
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	36	50	100
Violence and other injuries by persons or animals	8	9	18
Intentional injury by person	7	9	18
Homicides	6	7	14
Shooting by other person--intentional	5	7	14
Transportation incidents	12	14	28
Pedestrian vehicular incident	4	3	6
Pedestrian struck by vehicle in nonroadway area	1	3	6
Pedestrian struck by forward-moving vehicle in nonroadway area	1	1	2
Pedestrian struck by vehicle backing up in nonroadway area	-	2	4
Roadway incident involving motorized land vehicle	7	10	20
Roadway collision with other vehicle	4	6	12
Roadway collision moving in opposite directions, oncoming	2	1	2
Roadway collision moving and standing vehicle in roadway	-	1	2
Roadway collision with object other than vehicle	3	3	6
Vehicle struck object or animal on side of roadway	3	3	6
Roadway noncollision incident	-	1	2
Jack-knifed or overturned, roadway	-	1	2
Nonroadway incident involving motorized land vehicle	1	1	2
Nonroadway collision with object other than vehicle	-	1	2
Fall, slip, trip	6	12	24
Fall on same level	-	6	12
Fall to lower level	6	6	12
Other fall to lower level	-	6	12
Other fall to lower level 6 to 10 feet	-	1	2
Other fall to lower level 11 to 15 feet	-	2	4
Exposure to harmful substances or environments	7	9	18
Exposure to electricity	-	1	2
Indirect exposure to electricity	-	1	2
Indirect exposure to electricity, greater than 220 volts	-	1	2
Exposure to other harmful substances	6	8	16
Nonmedical use of drugs or alcohol unintentional overdose	4	7	14
Inhalation of harmful substance	-	1	2
Inhalation of harmful substance single episode	-	1	2
Contact with objects and equipment	3	6	12
Struck by object or equipment	1	4	8
Struck by powered vehicle nontransport	-	1	2
Struck by swinging part of powered vehicle	-	1	2
Struck by falling object or equipment	1	3	6
Struck by object falling from vehicle or machinery other than vehicle part	1	1	2
Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects	-	2	4
Caught in running equipment or machinery	-	2	4
Caught in running equipment or machinery during maintenance, cleaning	-	1	2
Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation	-	1	2
Footnotes:
(1) Based on the BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) 2.01 implementated for 2011 data forward.
Note: Data for all years are final. Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding. CFOI fata injury counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria.

Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by industry, Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD, 2015-2016

Industry(1)	2015	2016
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	36	50	100
Private industry	32	45	90
Goods producing	14	13	26
Construction	13	9	18
Specialty trade contractors	8	8	16
Foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors	3	3	6
Roofing contractors	-	1	2
Residential roofing contractors	-	1	2
Other foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors	-	1	2
Building equipment contractors	4	4	8
Plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors	-	4	8
Residential plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors	-	3	6
Other specialty trade contractors	-	1	2
Site preparation contractors	-	1	2
Nonresidential site preparation contractors	-	1	2
Manufacturing	-	4	8
Food manufacturing	-	2	4
Dairy product manufacturing	-	1	2
Dairy product (except frozen) manufacturing	-	1	2
Fluid milk manufacturing	-	1	2
Bakeries and tortilla manufacturing	-	1	2
Bread and bakery product manufacturing	-	1	2
Commercial bakeries	-	1	2
Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing	-	1	2
Cement and concrete product manufacturing	-	1	2
Concrete pipe, brick, and block manufacturing	-	1	2
Concrete pipe manufacturing	-	1	2
Fabricated metal product manufacturing	-	1	2
Architectural and structural metals manufacturing	-	1	2
Ornamental and architectural metal products manufacturing	-	1	2
Sheet metal work manufacturing	-	1	2
Service providing	18	32	64
Trade, transportation, and utilities	7	15	30
Retail trade	1	6	12
Clothing and clothing accessories stores	-	1	2
Shoe stores	-	1	2
Shoe stores	-	1	2
Sporting goods, hobby, book, and music stores	-	1	2
Sporting goods, hobby, and musical instrument stores	-	1	2
Sporting goods stores	-	1	2
Miscellaneous store retailers	-	1	2
Office supplies, stationery, and gift stores	-	1	2
Gift, novelty, and souvenir stores	-	1	2
Nonstore retailers	-	1	2
Direct selling establishments	-	1	2
Fuel dealers	-	1	2
Transportation and warehousing	4	8	16
Truck transportation	4	1	2
Specialized freight trucking	-	1	2
Specialized freight (except used goods) trucking, local	-	1	2
Transit and ground passenger transportation	-	5	10
Taxi and limousine service	-	4	8
Taxi service	-	4	8
School and employee bus transportation	-	1	2
School and employee bus transportation	-	1	2
Support activities for transportation	-	-	-
Support activities for water transportation	-	1	2
Marine cargo handling	-	1	2
Financial activities	-	3	6
Real estate and rental and leasing	-	3	6
Real estate	-	3	6
Activities related to real estate	-	1	2
Real estate property managers	-	1	2
Residential property managers	-	1	2
Professional and business services	1	5	10
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services	1	3	6
Administrative and support services	1	3	6
Services to buildings and dwellings	1	3	6
Landscaping services	1	3	6
Educational and health services	-	3	6
Health care and social assistance	-	3	6
Nursing and residential care facilities	-	1	2
Residential intellectual and developmental disability, mental health and substance abuse facilities	-	1	2
Residential intellectual and developmental disability facilities	-	1	2
Leisure and hospitality	5	-	-
Other services, except public administration	5	3	6
Repair and maintenance	3	-	-
Personal and household goods repair and maintenance	-	1	2
Government (2)	4	5	10
State government	1	1	2
Service providing	-	1	2
Trade, transportation, and utilities	-	1	2
Transportation and warehousing	-	1	2
Transit and ground passenger transportation	-	1	2
Urban transit systems	-	1	2
Urban transit systems	-	1	2
Mixed mode transit systems	-	1	2
Local government	3	4	8
Service providing	3	4	8
Trade, transportation, and utilities	-	1	2
Utilities	-	1	2
Utilities	-	1	2
Water, sewage and other systems	-	1	2
Water supply and irrigation systems	-	1	2
Public administration	3	-	-
Justice, public order, and safety activities	3	-	-
Justice, public order, and safety activities	3	-	-
Police protection	1	2	4
Footnotes: (1) Industry data are based on the North American Industry Classification System, 2012. (2) Includes fatal injuries to workers employed by governmental organizations regardless of industry.
NOTE: Data for all years are final. Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding. CFOI fatal injury counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria.

Table 3. Fatal occupational injuries by occupation, Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD, 2015-2016

Occupation(1)	2015	2016
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	36	50	100
Management, business, science, and arts occupations	2	5	10
Management, business, and financial occupations	-	3	6
Management occupations	-	2	4
Other management occupations	-	2	4
Property, real estate, and community association managers	-	1	2
Property, real estate, and community association managers	-	1	2
Social and community service managers	-	1	2
Social and community service managers	-	1	2
Service occupations	7	9	18
Protective service occupations	2	2	4
Law enforcement workers	1	2	4
Police officers	1	2	4
Police and sheriff's patrol officers	1	2	4
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations	2	6	12
Building cleaning and pest control workers	-	3	6
Building cleaning workers	-	3	6
Grounds maintenance workers	2	-	-
Grounds maintenance workers	2	-	-
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers	2	1	2
Sales and office occupations	1	5	10
Sales and related occupations	1	3	6
Supervisors, sales workers	1	3	6
First-line supervisors/managers, sales workers	1	3	6
First-line supervisors of retail sales workers	1	3	6
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations	15	11	22
Construction and extraction occupations	12	7	14
Construction trades workers	10	5	10
Pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters	-	3	6
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters	-	3	6
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	-	4	8
Other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	-	-	-
Industrial machinery installation, repair, and maintenance workers	-	1	2
Industrial machinery mechanics	-	1	2
Production, transportation, and material moving occupations	11	20	40
Production occupations	3	4	8
Metal workers and plastic workers	-	2	4
Forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	-	1	2
Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic	-	1	2
Welding, soldering, and brazing workers	-	1	2
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers	-	1	2
Transportation and material moving occupations	8	16	32
Motor vehicle operators	5	13	26
Bus drivers	-	2	4
Bus drivers, transit and intercity	-	1	2
Bus drivers, school or special client	-	1	2
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers	4	6	12
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers	-	4	8
Light truck or delivery services drivers	-	1	2
Taxi drivers and chauffeurs	-	4	8
Taxi drivers and chauffeurs	-	4	8
Material moving workers	3	3	6
Laborers and material movers, hand	-	3	6
Cleaners of vehicles and equipment	-	1	2
Footnotes:
(1) Occupation data are based on the Standard Occupational Classification system, 2010.
NOTE: Data for all years are final. Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding. CFOI fatal injury counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria.

Table 4. Fatal occupational injuries by worker characteristics, Baltimore-Columbia-Townson, MD, 2015-2016

Characteristic	2015	2016
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	36	50	100
Employee status
Wage and salary workers(1)	30	39	78
Self-employed(2)	6	11	22
Gender
Women	2	5	10
Men	34	45	90
Age(3)
16 to 17 years	-	1	2
18 to 19 years	-	1	2
20 to 24 years	4	1	2
25 to 34 years	13	10	20
35 to 44 years	5	11	22
45 to 54 years	7	7	14
55 to 64 years	4	14	28
65 years and over	3	5	10
Race or ethnic origin
White (non-Hispanic)	19	26	52
Black or African-American (non-Hispanic)	7	15	30
Hispanic or Latino	6	8	16
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) Persons identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. The race categories shown exclude Hispanic and Latino workers.
NOTE: Data for all years are final. Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding. CFOI fatal injury counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria.