Last week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its 2009 National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). The findings of the survey, while preliminary, reveal some very interesting trends regarding the types and total number of fatal work injuries suffered by American employees over the previous year.

According to the CFOI, the total number of recorded fatal work injuries in 2009 was 4,340. (This translates to a fatality rate of 3.3 per 100,000 full-time employees.) While this figure may seem high, consider that the number of fatal work injuries in 2008 was 5,214, a difference of 874 lives. In fact, the 2009 total is actually the smallest preliminary total since the BLS began conducting the CFOI in 1992.

What is behind this significant drop in the number of fatal workplace injuries?

The CFOI indicates that our nation's current economic woes lead to a six percent reduction in the total number of hours worked in 2009. (Over the past year more and more people were laid off or had their hours reduced by companies looking to stem financial losses.) Accordingly, the number of workplace fatalities dropped precipitously because less people were working.

In addition, reductions in workforce and working hours affected industries with historically higher workplace fatality rates, including the construction and manufacturing sectors.

It is imperative that employers in all industries take the time to analyze these findings and implement the necessary measures to protect employees. 

The next post will continue to examine the findings of the 2009 National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) ...

Please note that these findings are preliminary. The agency will release the final 2009 CFOI findings in April 2011, after all vital statistics have been provided by participating governmental agencies.

Related Resources:
  
• National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries in 2009 (Preliminary Results) (Bureau of labor Statistics)