While the number was small, Minnesota did have good news recently in reporting a drop in fatal workplace mishaps.
A preliminary total of 67 fatal work-injuries were recorded in Minnesota in 2013, a decrease from the final count of 70 fatal work-injuries in 2012 and higher than the 60 fatal work-injuries in 2011.
The 2013 total is above the average of 65 cases a year for 2008 through 2012.
These and other workplace fatality statistics come from the annual Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Final 2013 data from the CFOI program will be released in spring 2015.
Fatalities Highest in Trade, Transport and Utilities
The CFOI also provided the following statistics for Minnesota’s workplace fatalities during 2013.
Industries
• Trade, transportation and utilities recorded the highest number of worker fatalities, with 16 cases, an increase from 15 cases in 2012.
• Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting had the second-highest number of fatalities, with 15 cases, compared to 20 cases in 2012. Most of the fatalities were caused by either transportation incidents or contact with objects and equipment.
• Construction had the third-highest number of fatalities, with 12 cases, compared to 13 cases in 2012.
Types of incidents
• Transportation incidents accounted for 32 fatalities, the most for any incident type. Eight of these fatalities occurred in the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting industry sector and 10 fatalities occurred in trade, transportation and utilities.
• Contact with objects and equipment was the second most frequent fatal work-injury event in 2013, with 12 fatalities. Most of these cases involved the worker being struck by an object or equipment.
• Eleven of the fatalities were due to falls, with five in construction.
• There were six fatalities resulting from violence in 2013, compared to 11 fatalities in 2012.
Worker characteristics
• Men accounted for 63 of the 67 fatally injured workers in 2013.
• Workers age 55 and older accounted for 34 fatalities, with 10 of these fatalities in the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting industry sector.
• Self-employed workers accounted for 16 fatalities, including 12 fatalities to workers in agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and three in construction. There were 21 fatalities of self-employed workers in 2012.
The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, part of the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ occupational safety and health statistics program, provides the most complete count of fatal work-injuries available. Workplace fatalities due to illnesses are not included.
Author Kori Shafer-Stack, Editor, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. is an expert in post-injury response procedures and part of the Amaxx team helping companies reduce their workers compensation costs by 20% to 50%. www.reduceyourworkerscomp.com. Contact: kstack@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.
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