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News Release Information

15-2003-ATL
Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (404) 893-4220

Fatal Work Injuries in Alabama – 2014

Fatal work injuries totaled 70 in 2014 for Alabama, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Janet S. Rankin noted that while the 2014 count was preliminary, the number of work-related fatalities in Alabama decreased by eight over the year. Fatal occupational injuries in the state have ranged from a high of 155 in 1996 to this year’s low of 70. (See chart 1.)

Nationwide, a preliminary total of 4,679 fatal work injuries were recorded in 2014, up from a revised count of 4,585 fatalities in 2013, according to results from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) program. Final 2014 CFOI data will be released in the late spring of 2016.

Of the 70 fatal work injuries reported in Alabama in 2014, 29 resulted from transportation incidents and 17 from violence and other injuries by persons or animals. Together these two major categories accounted for two-thirds of all fatal work injuries reported in the state. (See table 1.) Other major event categories each reported eight or fewer deaths. Within transportation incidents, roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicles was the most frequent type of workplace fatality with 13 deaths. This category accounted for nearly 19 percent of all on-the-job fatalities in the state. In the violence and other injuries by persons or animals category, 13 of the 17 deaths were homicides (intentional injury by other person). (Note that roadway counts presented in this release are expected to rise when updated 2014 data are released in the late spring of 2016 because key source documentation detailing specific transportation-related incidents has not yet been received.)

In the United States, transportation incidents were also the most frequent fatal workplace event in 2014, accounting for 40 percent of fatal work injuries. In Alabama, transportation incidents accounted for 41 percent of the state’s share of fatalities. (See chart 2.) Falls, slips, and trips, was the second most frequent type of event nationally, with 17 percent of work-related fatalities; the share in Alabama was 11 percent. Violence and other injuries by persons or animals accounted for 16 percent of the nation’s workplace fatalities, while in the state, this event was responsible for 24 percent of workplace fatalities. Contact with objects and equipment was responsible for 15 percent of work-related fatalities nationwide compared to 11 percent in Alabama.

Additional key characteristics:
  • The trade, transportation, and utilities industry had the largest number of fatalities in the state with 17, compared to 26 the previous year. Transportation incidents accounted for 9 fatal work injuries in this industry. (See table 2.)
  • Professional and business services had the second highest fatality count with 13, followed by construction with 9 worker deaths. Transportation incidents accounted for the largest number deaths in professional and business services while falls, slips, trips was the largest number for construction.
  • Transportation and material moving occupations had the highest number of fatal work injuries with 23. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers suffered 11 deaths. (See table 3.)
  • Men accounted for 63, or 90 percent, of the work-related fatalities in the state. (See table 4.) Transportation incidents made up 44 percent of these fatalities.
  • In Alabama, 64 percent of those who died from a workplace injury were white non-Hispanics. Nationwide, this group accounted for 68 percent of work-related deaths.
  • Workers 25-54 years old—the prime working age group—accounted for 38, or 54 percent of the state’s work-related fatalities in 2014. Nationally, workers in this group accounted for 58 percent of on-the-job fatalities.
  • Of the 70 fatal work injuries in Alabama, 79 percent worked for wages and salaries; the remainder was self-employed. The most frequent fatal event for wage and salary workers was transportation incidents. Transportation incidents, and violence and other injuries by persons or animals, were the most frequent fatal events for self-employed workers.

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 United States 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 at www.bls.gov/opub/hom/pdf/homch9.pdf.

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.

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.

Table 1. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, Alabama, 2013–14
Event or exposure (1)2013 (2)2014 (p)
NumberNumberPercent

Total

7870100

Violence and other injuries by persons or animals

111724

Intentional injury by person

91724

Homicides (Intentional injury by other person)

41319

Shooting by other person--intentional

41116

Hitting, kicking, beating, shoving

--11

Multiple violent acts by other person

--11

Suicides (Self-inflicted injury--intentional)

546

Shooting--intentional self-harm

--46

Transportation incidents

422941

Aircraft incidents

269

Aircraft crash during takeoff or landing

246

Aircraft crash during takeoff or landing--into structure, object, or ground

246

Pedestrian vehicular incident

534

Pedestrian struck by vehicle in work zone

--11

Pedestrian struck by forward-moving vehicle in work zone

--11

Pedestrian struck by vehicle in roadway

--11

Pedestrian struck by forward-moving vehicle in roadway

--11

Water vehicle incidents

211

Machinery or equipment incident on water vehicle

111

Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicle

291319

Roadway collision with other vehicle

7710

Roadway collision--moving in opposite directions, oncoming

146

Roadway collision with object other than vehicle

1411

Vehicle struck object or animal on side of roadway

1311

Roadway noncollision incident

857

Jack-knifed or overturned, roadway

757

Nonroadway incident involving motorized land vehicles

357

Nonroadway noncollision incident

346

Ran off driving surface, nonroadway

--11

Falls, slips, trips

11811

Falls to lower level

10811

Fall from collapsing structure or equipment

--23

Fall from collapsing structure or equipment more than 30 feet

--23

Fall through surface or existing opening 21 to 25 feet

--11

Other fall to lower level

746

Exposure to harmful substances or environments

457

Exposure to electricity

334

Contact with objects and equipment

9811

Struck by object or equipment

869

Struck by falling object or equipment--other than powered vehicle

--46

Struck by object falling from vehicle or machinery--other than vehicle part

--11

Footnotes:
(1) Based on the BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) 2.01 implemented for 2011 data forward.
(2) Totals for 2013 are revised and final.
(p) Data for 2014 are preliminary. Revised and final 2014 data are scheduled to be released in spring 2016.
 

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. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication guidelines.
 


Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by industry, Alabama, 2013–14
Industry (1)2013 (2)2014 (p)
NumberNumberPercent

Total

7870100

Private industry

686390

Natural resources and mining

969

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

857

Forestry and logging

534

Mining (3)

111

Mining (except oil and gas)

111

Construction

20913

Heavy and civil engineering construction

446

Specialty trade contractors

1046

Manufacturing

5710

Primary metal manufacturing

123

Miscellaneous manufacturing

--11

Trade, transportation, and utilities

261724

Utilities

111

Retail trade

657

Food and beverage stores

223

Health and personal care stores

--11

Transportation and warehousing

161217

Air transportation

211

Rail transportation

--11

Truck transportation

1269

Support activities for transportation

111

Couriers and messengers

134

Financial activities

--11

Real estate and rental and leasing

--11

Real estate

--11

Lessors of real estate

--11

Professional and business services

31319

Professional and technical services

--46

Professional, scientific, and technical services

--46

Architectural, engineering, and related services

--23

Management of companies and enterprises

--23

Administrative and waste services

3710

Administrative and support services

346

Educational and health services

--46

Educational services

111

Health care and social assistance

--34

Nursing and residential care facilities

--11

Leisure and hospitality

--34

Accommodation and food services

--34

Food services and drinking places

--34

Other services, except public administration

--34

Personal and laundry services

--11

Government (4)

10710

Local government

757

Footnotes:
(1) Industry data for 2013 are based on the North American Industry Classification System, 2007. Industry data for 2014 are based on the North American Industry Classification System, 2012.
(2) Totals for 2013 are revised and final.
(p) Data for 2014 are preliminary. Revised and final 2014 data are scheduled to be released in spring 2016.
(3) Includes fatal injuries at all establishments categorized as Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (Sector 21) in the North American Industry Classification System, 2012, including establishments not governed by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) rules and reporting, such as those in Oil and Gas Extraction.
(4) Includes fatal injuries to workers employed by governmental organizations regardless of industry.
 

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. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria.
 


Table 3. Fatal occupational injuries by occupation, Alabama, 2013–14
Occupation (1)2013 (2)2014 (p)
NumberNumberPercent

Total

7870100

Management occupations

346

Operations specialties managers

--11

Administrative services managers

--11

Other management occupations

--34

Property, real estate, and community association managers

--11

Architecture and engineering occupations

211

Drafters, engineering technicians, and mapping technicians

--11

Engineering technicians, except drafters

--11

Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations

--23

Media and communication equipment workers

--23

Photographers

--23

Protective service occupations

757

Law enforcement workers

423

Police officers

223

Police and sheriff's patrol officers

223

Other protective service workers

211

Security guards and gaming surveillance officers

211

Security guards

211

Food preparation and serving related occupations

--11

Supervisors of food preparation and serving workers

--11

First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers

--11

Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations

--46

Supervisors of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers

--23

First-line supervisors of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers

--23

First-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial workers

--11

First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers

--11

Personal care and service occupations

--11

Personal appearance workers

--11

Barbers, hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists

--11

Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

--11

Sales and related occupations

446

Retail sales workers

311

Cashiers

111

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations

346

Construction and extraction occupations

151217

Construction trades workers

121217

Construction laborers

--11

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations

669

Other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations

457

Maintenance workers, machinery

--23

Transportation and material moving occupations

312333

First-line supervisors of transportation and material-moving machine and vehicle operators

--11

Air transportation workers

257

Aircraft pilots and flight engineers

257

Commercial pilots

--57

Motor vehicle operators

251420

Driver/sales workers and truck drivers

241420

Driver/sales workers

--23

Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

241116

Light truck or delivery services drivers

--11

Rail transportation workers

--11

Railroad conductors and yardmasters

--11

Material moving workers

311

Laborers and material movers, hand

--11

Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand

--11

Footnotes:
(1) Occupation data are based on the Standard Occupational Classification system, 2010.
(2) Totals for 2013 are revised and final.
(p) Data for 2014 are preliminary. Revised and final 2014 data are scheduled to be released in spring 2016.
 

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. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria.
 


Table 4. Fatal occupational injuries by worker characteristics, Alabama, 2013–14
Worker characteristics2013 (1)2014 (p)
NumberNumberPercent

Total

7870100

Employee status

 

Wage and salary (2)

695579

Self-employed (3)

91521

Gender

 

Men

766390

Women

2710

Age (4)

 

18 to 19 years

--11

25 to 34 years

181014

35 to 44 years

111521

45 to 54 years

211319

55 to 64 years

191927

65 years and over

51014

Race or ethnic origin (5)

 

White, non-Hispanic

564564

Black or African-American, non-Hispanic

162029

Hispanic or Latino

6----

Asian, non-Hispanic

--34

Footnotes:
(1) Totals for 2013 are revised and final.
(p) Data for 2014 are preliminary. Revised and final 2014 data are scheduled to be released in spring 2016.
(2) May include volunteers and workers receiving other types of compensation.
(3) 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.
(4) Information may not be available for all age groups.
(5) Persons identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. The race categories shown exclude Hispanic and Latino workers.
 

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. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria.
 

 

Last Modified Date: Tuesday, December 22, 2015