Reduction in Workplace Deaths in Indiana Reduces WC Costs

Indiana Sees Reduction in Workplace Deaths

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) (2008), as reported by the Indiana Department of Labor (IDOL) has released workplace fatality statistics. While we primarily focus on post-loss management, eliminating injuries is always better than trying to reduce costs after an incident.

The 2008 total was 11% below the ten-year average, even though a total of 132 Hoosiers suffered a fatal injury while working, an increase of five fatalities over 2007. This figure represents the second lowest number since CFOI began releasing data in 1992.

Commissioner of Labor, Lori Torres said, “Although the news of overall improvements or general trending downward is positive, each fatality affects, in a profound way, the family of each victim.” IDOL has greatly increased its enforcement and consultation efforts over the past few years with the explicit goal of lowering the number of workplace fatalities, injuries, and illnesses. In 2008 IOSHA conducted just under 2000 inspections-this is a nearly 70% increase over the number of inspections in 2007.

INSafe, the training arm of the IDOL, conducted over 500 consultations in 2008 representing a 25% increase over 2007. In addition, IOSHA collected 8% more money in fines over 2007 from out of compliance. IDOL also entered into partnerships and awarded recognition to those companies with superior safety records.

The top three industries with occupational fatalities in 2008 are agriculture (22), construction (19) and manufacturing (18).

Nineteen of the 22 agricultural-related fatalities were in crop production, with one-third of the fatalities resulting from overturned farm equipment.

Manufacturing industry fatalities saw an increase from the record-low, seven fatalities, as reported in 2007.

Although Indiana’s construction industry has a comparatively high number of fatalities to other industries, it continues on a three-year downward trend. An industry high was reported in construction in 1992 with 32 fatalities versus 19 in 2008.

The transportation and warehousing sector, usually leading the industry count in occupational fatalities, had the lowest number on record in Indiana with 16 in 2008. This represents a 48% decrease from the 2007. The 10-year average for this industry is 28 deaths.

When combining all industries together, transportation accidents lead as the primary cause of work-related fatalities. In 2008, Indiana reported 61 work-related fatal transportation incidents. This count includes 27 highway accidents and 14 workers struck by vehicles. The industry in Indiana with the highest number of transportation-related fatalities was agriculture. (workersxzcompxzkit)

The next most common event resulting in work-related death is categorized as contact with objects, in which 34 workers were killed. This is the highest number of incidents on record and includes 14 workers struck by a falling object, as well as 11 workers caught in or compressed by equipment or objects.

Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers’ Compensation costs, including airlines, health care, manufacturing, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. He can be contacted at: Robert_Elliott@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com or 860-786-8286.

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