Fatal work injuries totaled 57 in 2011 for Oregon, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Richard J. Holden noted that while the 2011 count was preliminary, the number of work-related fatalities in Oregon had increased by 10 over the year. Fatal occupational injuries in the state have ranged from a high of 88 in 1992 to a low of 44 in 2001. (See chart 1.)

Nationwide, a preliminary total of 4,609 fatal work injuries were recorded in 2011, down from a final count of 4,690 fatal work injuries recorded in 2010, according to results from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) program. Final 2011 CFOI data will be released in Spring 2013.

Of the 57 fatal work injuries reported in Oregon in 2011, 20 resulted from transportation incidents and 12 from contact with objects or equipment; together these two major categories accounted for 56 percent of all fatal work injuries. Other major event categories reported 10 or fewer deaths each. (See table 1.) Within transportation incidents, roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicles was the most frequent type of workplace fatality with 11 deaths, accounting for 19 percent of all on-the-job fatalities in the state. In the contact with objects or equipment category, eight deaths occurred from being struck by falling object or equipment-other than powered vehicle.

In the United States, transportation incidents were also the most frequent fatal workplace event in 2011, accounting for 41 percent of fatal work injuries. However, Oregon’s 35-percent share of on-the-job fatalities due to this event was smaller than the nationwide share. (See chart 2.) Violence and other injuries by persons or animals was the second most frequent type event nationally with 17 percent of work related fatalities, a percentage point lower than the share in Oregon. Contact with objects or equipment (15 percent) and falls, slips, and trips (14 percent) were the third and fourth most frequent events, respectively, in the nation.

Additional key characteristics:

• The agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting industry sector had the largest number of fatalities in the state with 19, up from 7 the previous year. (See table 3.) Transportation incidents accounted for eight of the worker deaths, while six fatalities were due to contact with objects or equipment.
• The trade, transportation, and utilities industry had the second highest fatality count with 10, down from 18 the previous year. Transportation incidents accounted for six worker deaths in this sector.
• Transportation and material moving occupations had the highest number of fatal work injuries with 13. (See table 3.) The majority of these fatalities were heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (8). Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations had the next highest count with 10 on-the-job fatalities.
• Men accounted for 51, or 89 percent, of the work-related fatalities in the state. (See table 4.) Transportation incidents made up more than one out of every three (37 percent) of these fatalities.
• In Oregon, 86 percent of those who died from a workplace injury were white non-Hispanics. Nationwide, this group accounted for 72 percent of work-related deaths.
• Workers 25-54 years old—the prime working age group—accounted for 28, or 49 percent, of the state’s work-related fatalities in 2011. Nationally, workers in this group accounted for 60 percent of on-the-job fatalities.
• Of the 57 persons that suffered fatal work injuries in Oregon, 72 percent worked for wages and salaries; the remainder was self-employed. The most frequent fatal event for both groups was transportation incidents.

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.

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 here: http://www.bls.gov/opub/hom/homch9_a1.htm. The technical information and definitions for the CFOI Program are in Chapter 9, Part III of the BLS Handbook of Methods.

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, in particular the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services.

Table 1. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, Oregon, 2011(P)

Event or exposure(1)	Number	Percent
Total	57	100
Violence and other injuries by persons or animals	10	18
Intentional injury by person	7	12
Intentional injury by other person	5	9
Shooting by other person--intentional	3	5
Animal and insect related incidents	3	5
Struck by animal	3	5
Transportation incidents	20	35
Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicle	11	19
Roadway collision with other vehicle	4	7
Roadway collision--moving in opposite directions, oncoming	3	5
Roadway collision with object other than vehicle	7	12
Vehicle struck object or animal on side of roadway	7	12
Nonroadway incident involving motorized land vehicles	4	7
Nonroadway noncollision incident	4	7
Fires and Explosions	3	5
Falls, slips, trips	9	16
Falls on same level	3	5
Falls to lower level	6	11
Other fall to lower level	4	7
Contact with objects and equipment	12	21
Struck by object or equipment	12	21
Struck by falling object or equipment--other than powered vehicle	8	14
Footnotes: (1) Based on the BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) 2.01 implemented for 2011 data forward. (P) Data are preliminary. Revised and final 2011 data are scheduled to be released in Spring 2013.
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. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, in cooperation with State, New York City, District of Columbia, and Federal agencies, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by industry, Oregon, 2010-2011

Industry(1)	2010	2011(P)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	47	57	100
Private industry	42	52	91
Natural resources and mining	7	19	33
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting	7	19	33
Crop production	--	4	7
Animal production	--	6	11
Cattle ranching and farming	--	5	9
Beef cattle ranching and farming, including feedlots	--	4	7
Beef cattle ranching and farming	--	3	5
Forestry and logging	4	7	12
Logging	4	7	12
Logging	4	7	12
Construction	--	5	9
Construction	--	5	9
Specialty trade contractors	--	3	5
Manufacturing	4	4	7
Manufacturing	4	4	7
Wood product manufacturing	--	3	5
Sawmills and wood preservation	--	3	5
Sawmills and wood preservation	--	3	5
Sawmills	--	3	5
Trade, transportation, and utilities	18	10	18
Wholesale trade	--	3	5
Transportation and warehousing	15	7	12
Truck transportation	13	6	11
General freight trucking	4	4	7
General freight trucking, long-distance	--	3	5
Leisure and hospitality	4	4	7
Other services, except public administration	--	4	7
Other services, except public administration	--	4	7
Repair and maintenance	--	3	5
Government(2)	5	5	9
Local government(3)	--	4	7
Footnotes: (1) Industry data are based on the North American Industry Classification System, 2007. Total may include other industries not shown. (2) Includes fatal injuries to workers employed by governmental organizations regardless of industry. Includes all fatal occupational injuries meeting this ownership criterion across all specified years, regardless of industry classification system. (3) Includes all fatal occupational injuries meeting this ownership criterion across all specified years, regardless of industry classification system. (P) Data are preliminary. Revised and final 2011 data are scheduled to be released in Spring 2013.
NOTE: Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria. CFOI fatality counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, in cooperation with State, New York City, District of Columbia, and Federal agencies, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

Table 3. Fatal occupational injuries by occupation, Oregon, 2010-2011

Occupation(1)	2010	2011(P)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	47	57	100
Management occupations	7	9	16
Industrial production managers	--	4	7
Industrial production managers	--	4	7
Transportation, storage, and distribution managers	--	3	5
Transportation, storage, and distribution managers	--	3	5
Other management occupations	4	9	16
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers	--	9	16
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers	--	9	16
Protective service occupations	--	4	7
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations	5	10	18
Forest, conservation, and logging workers	--	8	14
Logging workers	--	7	12
Fallers	--	3	5
Construction and extraction occupations	3	6	11
Construction trades workers	--	5	9
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	--	6	11
Other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	--	3	5
Transportation and material moving occupations	20	13	23
Motor vehicle operators	19	11	19
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers	18	11	19
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers	18	8	14
Footnotes: (1) Occupation data for 2010 are based on the Standard Occupational Classification system, 2000. Occupation data for 2011 are based on the Standard Occupational Classification system, 2010. Total may include occupations not shown. (P) Data are preliminary. Revised and final 2011 data are scheduled to be released in Spring 2013.
NOTE: Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria. CFOI fatality counts exclude illness-related deaths unless precipitated by an injury event. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, in cooperation with State, New York City, District of Columbia, and Federal agencies, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

Table 4. Fatal occupational injuries by worker characteristics, Oregon, 2010-2011

Worker characteristics	2010	2011(P)
	Number	Number	Percent
Total	47	57	100
Employee status
Wage and salary workers(1)	34	41	72
Self-employed(2)	13	16	28
Gender
Men	44	51	89
Women	3	6	11
Age(3)
25 to 34 years	5	6	11
35 to 44 years	9	10	18
45 to 54 years	18	12	21
55 to 64 years	11	17	30
65 years and over	--	9	16
Race or ethnic origin(4)
White, non-Hispanic	37	49	86
Hispanic or Latino	6	6	11
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) 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 Hispanic and Latino workers. (P) Data are preliminary. Revised and final 2011 data are scheduled to be released in Spring 2013.
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. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, in cooperation with State, New York City, District of Columbia, and Federal agencies, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

 

Last Modified Date: December 26, 2012