Fatal work injuries totaled 34 in 2021 for North Dakota, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Jason Palmer noted that the number of work-related fatalities in North Dakota was up from the previous year. (See chart 1.) Fatal occupational injuries in the state have ranged from a high of 65 in 2012 to a low of 20 in 1992.

Nationwide, a total of 5,190 fatal work injuries were recorded in 2021, a 9-percent increase from 4,764 in 2020, according to the results from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI).

Fatal event or exposure

In North Dakota, transportation incidents resulted in 10 fatal work injuries, and contact with objects or equipment accounted for 8 fatalities. These two major categories accounted for 53 percent of all fatal workplace injuries in the state. (See chart 2 and table 1.) Worker deaths from transportation incidents were up from nine over the year, and worker fatalities due to contact with objects or equipment were up from seven.

Exposure to harmful substances or environments was the third-most frequent fatal work event with six fatalities. Falls, slips, or trips resulted in five work-related deaths compared to four in 2020.

Nationally, transportation incidents were the most frequent fatal event in 2021, accounting for 38 percent of fatal work injuries. Falls, slips, and trips was the second-most common fatal event (16 percent), followed by both exposure to harmful substances or environments and violence and other injuries by persons or animals (15 percent each) and contact with objects and equipment (14 percent).

Industry

The private agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting industry sector had the highest number of fatalities in North Dakota with 11, down from 13 in the previous year. (See table 2.) The crop production subsector accounted for 7 of the 11 fatal workplace injuries in the agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting industry.

The private manufacturing industry sector and the other services, except public administration, sector had four fatal workplace injuries each. The repair and maintenance subsector accounted for all four of the fatal workplace injuries in the other services, except public administration, sector.

Occupation

The transportation and material moving occupational group had the highest number of fatal workplace injuries with 10. (See table 3.) Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers accounted for 5 of the 10 fatalities among transportation and material moving workers.

The management occupational group had the second-highest number of fatal workplace injuries with nine, followed by installation, maintenance, and repair occupations with five. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers suffered eight of the work-related deaths within the management group. Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers accounted for 3 of the 5 work-related deaths within the installation, maintenance, and repair occupational group.

Additional highlights

• Men accounted for 88 percent of the work-related fatalities in North Dakota, compared to the national share of 91 percent. (See table 4.) Transportation incidents made up 30 percent of the fatalities for men in North Dakota.
• White non-Hispanics accounted for 82 percent of those who died from a workplace injury. Nationwide, this group accounted for 60 percent of work-related deaths.
• Workers 55 years old and older accounted for 56 percent of the state’s work-related fatalities in 2021, compared to 35 percent of on-the-job fatalities nationally.
• Of the 34 fatal work injuries in North Dakota, 68 percent worked for wages and salaries; the remainder were self-employed. The most frequent fatal event for wage and salary workers was transportation incidents; contact with objects and equipment was the most frequent fatal event for self-employed workers.

Technical Note

Background of the program. The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), part of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Safety and Health Statistics (OSHS) program, is a count of all fatalities resulting from workplace injuries occurring in the U.S. during the calendar year. The CFOI uses a variety of state, federal, and independent data sources to identify, verify, and describe fatal work injuries. This ensures counts are as complete and accurate as possible. For the 2021 national data, over 23,900 unique source documents were reviewed as part of the data collection process. For technical information and definitions for the CFOI, see the BLS Handbook of Methods at www.bls.gov/opub/hom/cfoi/home.htm and the CFOI definitions at www.bls.gov/iif/definitions/occupational-safety-and-health-definitions.htm.

Federal/State agency coverage. The CFOI includes data for all fatal work injuries, some of which may be outside the scope of other agencies or regulatory coverage. Comparisons between CFOI counts and those released by other agencies should account for the different coverage requirements and definitions used by each agency. For more information on the scope of CFOI, see www.bls.gov/iif/overview/cfoi-scope.htm and www.bls.gov/opub/hom/cfoi/concepts.htm.

Latency Cases. Latent fatal occupational injury cases occur when the date of injury differs from the date of death. In some cases, the death occurs in a different year than the occupational injury and are known as cross-year latent cases. In 2021, there were 197 cases nationally where this occurred, and 174 of these latent cases occurred more than 30 days prior to the start of 2021. For more information on latent cases, see www.bls.gov/opub/btn/volume-10/latency-in-fatal-occupational-injuries.htm.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic and the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. CFOI reports fatal workplace injuries only. These may include fatal workplace injuries complicated by an illness such as COVID-19. Fatal workplace illnesses not precipitated by an injury are not in scope for CFOI. CFOI does not report any illness related information, including 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.

Acknowledgments. BLS 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.

Information in this release will be made available to individuals with sensory impairments upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Telecommunications Relay Service: 7-1-1.

Table 1. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, North Dakota, 2020–21

Event or exposure (1)	2020	2021
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	26	34	100
Transportation incidents	9	10	29
Aircraft incidents	--	1	3
Other in-flight crash	--	1	3
Other in-flight crash into structure, object, or ground	--	1	3
Pedestrian vehicular incident	--	1	3
Pedestrian struck by vehicle in work zone	--	1	3
Pedestrian struck by vehicle backing up in work zone	--	1	3
Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicle	5	8	24
Roadway collision with other vehicle	4	5	15
Roadway collision--moving in same direction	--	4	12
Roadway collision--moving in opposite directions, oncoming	--	1	3
Roadway collision with object other than vehicle	--	1	3
Vehicle struck object or animal on side of roadway	--	1	3
Roadway noncollision incident	1	2	6
Jack-knifed or overturned, roadway	1	2	6
Falls, slips, trips	4	5	15
Exposure to harmful substances or environments	--	6	18
Contact with objects and equipment	7	8	24
Struck, caught, or crushed in collapsing structure, equipment, or material	--	4	12
Footnotes: (1) Based on the BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) 2.01 implemented for 2011 data forward.
NOTE: Data for all years are final. Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. For complete information on how the data are coded and presented see our definitions page at https://www.bls.gov/iif/definitions/census-of-fatal-occupational-injuries-definitions.htm. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria. CFOI fatal injury counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event.

Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by industry, North Dakota, 2020–21

Industry (1)	2020	2021
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	26	34	100
Private industry (2)	24	33	97
Goods producing	--	--	--
Natural resources and mining	13	--	--
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting	13	11	32
Crop production	8	7	21
Oilseed and grain farming	6	2	6
Soybean farming	--	1	3
Corn farming	1	1	3
Other crop farming	--	1	3
All other crop farming	--	1	3
Sugar beet farming	--	1	3
Animal production and aquaculture	5	3	9
Cattle ranching and farming	5	3	9
Support activities for agriculture and forestry	--	1	3
Support activities for crop production	--	1	3
Support activities for crop production	--	1	3
Soil preparation, planting, and cultivating	--	1	3
Manufacturing	--	4	12
Manufacturing	--	4	12
Food manufacturing	--	1	3
Dairy product manufacturing	--	1	3
Plastics and rubber products manufacturing	--	2	6
Plastics product manufacturing	--	2	6
Other plastics product manufacturing	--	2	6
Fabricated metal product manufacturing	--	1	3
Architectural and structural metals manufacturing	--	1	3
Ornamental and architectural metal products manufacturing	--	1	3
Service providing (3)	--	--	--
Trade, transportation, and utilities	--	--	--
Wholesale trade	--	1	3
Merchant wholesalers, durable goods	--	1	3
Machinery, equipment, and supplies merchant wholesalers	--	1	3
Farm and garden machinery and equipment merchant wholesalers	--	1	3
Financial activities	--	1	3
Real estate and rental and leasing	--	1	3
Real estate	--	1	3
Professional and business services	--	--	--
Professional, scientific, and technical services	--	1	3
Professional, scientific, and technical services	--	1	3
Architectural, engineering, and related services	--	1	3
Testing laboratories	--	1	3
Educational and health services	--	3	9
Health care and social assistance	--	3	9
Social assistance	--	1	3
Vocational rehabilitation services	--	1	3
Vocational rehabilitation services	--	1	3
Leisure and hospitality	--	1	3
Accommodation and food services	--	1	3
Food services and drinking places	--	1	3
Drinking places (alcoholic beverages)	--	1	3
Drinking places (alcoholic beverages)	--	1	3
Other services, except public administration	--	4	12
Other services, except public administration	--	4	12
Repair and maintenance	--	4	12
Government (4)	2	1	3
Local government	1	1	3
Footnotes: (1) CFOI has used several versions of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) since 2003 to define industry. For complete information on the version of NAICS used in this year, see our definitions page at https://www.bls.gov/iif/definitions/census-of-fatal-occupational-injuries-definitions.htm. Cases where ownership is unknown are included in private industry counts. Cases where industry is unknown are included in the service sector counts. (2) Cases where ownership is unknown are included in private industry counts. (3) Cases where industry is unknown are included in the service sector counts. (4) Includes fatal injuries to workers employed by governmental organizations regardless of industry. Cases classified as foreign government and other government are included in all government counts, but not displayed separately.
NOTE: Data for all years are final. Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. For complete information on how the data are coded and presented see our definitions page at https://www.bls.gov/iif/definitions/census-of-fatal-occupational-injuries-definitions.htm. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria. CFOI fatal injury counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event.

Table 3. Fatal occupational injuries by occupation, North Dakota, 2020–21

Occupation (1)	2020	2021
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	26	34	100
Management occupations	12	9	26
Other management occupations	--	8	24
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers	--	8	24
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers	--	8	24
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations	--	1	3
Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners	--	1	3
Chiropractors	--	1	3
Chiropractors	--	1	3
Protective service occupations	--	2	6
Other protective service workers	--	2	6
Sales and related occupations	--	1	3
Other sales and related workers	--	1	3
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	--	5	15
Supervisors of installation, maintenance, and repair workers	--	1	3
First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers	--	1	3
First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers	--	1	3
Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers	--	3	9
Other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	--	1	3
Control and valve installers and repairers	--	1	3
Transportation and material moving occupations	--	10	29
Air transportation workers	--	1	3
Aircraft pilots and flight engineers	--	1	3
Commercial pilots	--	1	3
Motor vehicle operators	--	5	15
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers	--	5	15
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers	--	5	15
Material moving workers	--	4	12
Laborers and material movers	--	4	12
Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand	--	4	12
Footnotes: (1) CFOI has used several versions of the Standard Occupation Classification (SOC) system since 2003 to define occupation. For complete information on the version of SOC used in this year, see our definitions page at https://www.bls.gov/iif/definitions/census-of-fatal-occupational-injuries-definitions.htm. Cases where occupation is unknown are included in the total.
NOTE: Data for all years are final. Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. For complete information on how the data are coded and presented see our definitions page at https://www.bls.gov/iif/definitions/census-of-fatal-occupational-injuries-definitions.htm. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria. CFOI fatal injury counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event.

Table 4. Fatal occupational injuries by selected demographic characteristics, North Dakota, 2020–21

Worker characteristics	2020	2021
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	26	34	100
Employee status
Wage and salary workers (1)	15	23	68
Self-employed (2)	11	11	32
Gender
Men	25	30	88
Women	1	4	12
Age (3)
25 to 34 years	8	7	21
35 to 44 years	--	3	9
45 to 54 years	4	3	9
55 to 64 years	4	8	24
65 years and over	8	11	32
Race or ethnic origin (4)
White, non-Hispanic	21	28	82
Black or African-American, non-Hispanic	--	--	--
Hispanic or Latino	--	--	--
Footnotes: (1) May include volunteers and workers receiving other types of compensation. Cases where employment status is unknown are included in the counts of wage and salary workers. (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 data for Hispanics and Latinos. Cases where ethnicity is unknown are included in counts of non-Hispanic workers.
NOTE: Data for all years are final. Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. For complete information on how the data are coded and presented see our definitions page at https://www.bls.gov/iif/definitions/census-of-fatal-occupational-injuries-definitions.htm. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria. CFOI fatal injury counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event.