Workplace fatalities

Singapore – The economic impact of failing to invest in worker safety and health is nearly equal to the combined gross domestic product of the 130 poorest countries in the world, International Labor Organization Director-General Guy Ryder said Sept. 3 during the opening ceremony of the XXI World Congress on Safety and Health at Work.

Anchorage, AK – Vessel disasters and falls overboard are the primary hazards experienced by workers in commercial fishing – an industry with a fatality rate 29 times higher than the national average – according to a recent NIOSH analysis of four U.S. regions.

Park Ridge, IL – Systematic reporting of – and data collection on – work-related injuries, illnesses and fatalities remains deficient at “sustainable” organizations, according to a new report from the Center for Safety and Health Sustainability.

Silver Spring, MD – Struck-by incidents contributed to 804 construction worker fatalities from 2011 to 2015, the most of any major industry, according to a new report from the Center for Construction Research and Training, also known as CPWR.

Washington – A majority of workers who died from silica-related lung disease were employed in occupations in which exposure to silica dust is prevalent, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, the agency states that more information is needed.

Silver Spring, MD – Fall-related construction worker fatalities increased 36 percent from 2011 to 2015, outpacing an increase in construction employment and total industry fatalities, according to a new report from the Center for Construction Research and Training, also known as CPWR.

Arlington, VA – Mine Safety and Health Administration inspectors will conduct safety “walk and talks” with miners and mine operators during upcoming visits in response to a recent increase in mining deaths involving lone workers.

Washington – Fatal falls among workers in the oil and gas extraction industry occur most often during rigging procedures or when workers remove or insert a drill pipe into a wellbore, according to research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

West Lafayette, IN – Five agricultural dust explosions were recorded in 2016 – the lowest overall number in 10 years – but three workers lost their lives, according to a recently released annual report from Purdue University.

Construction work is one of the most dangerous jobs in the United States, resulting in the deaths of nearly 1,000 workers every year. Most of those fatalities involve one of the "Focus Four" hazards. As the industry experiences another boom and the workforce grows, safety pros are focusing on training and engagement.