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News Release Information

15-154-SAN
Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (415) 625-2270

Fatal Work Injuries in California – 2013

Fatal work injuries totaled 385 in 2013 for California the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Richard J. Holden noted that while the 2013 count was preliminary, the number of work-related fatalities in California increased by 10 over the year. Fatal occupational injuries in the state have ranged from a high of 657 in 1993 to low of 326 in 2010. (See chart 1.)

Nationwide, a preliminary total of 4,405 fatal work injuries were recorded in 2013, down from a revised count of 4,628 fatalities in 2012, according to results from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) program. Final 2013 CFOI data will be released in the late spring of 2015.

Of the 385 fatal work injuries reported in California in 2013, 133 resulted from transportation incidents, accounting for 35 percent of all fatal work injuries. (See table 1.) No other major event category accounted for more than 20 percent of all fatal work injuries. Within transportation incidents, roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicles was the most frequent type of workplace fatality with 58 deaths. This category accounted for 15 percent of all on-the-job fatalities in the state. The second-largest event in transportation incidents, pedestrian vehicular incidents, accounted for 38 fatalities. (Note that transportation counts presented in this release are expected to rise when updated 2013 data are released in the late spring of 2015 because key source documentation detailing specific transportation-related incidents has not yet been received.)

In the United States, transportation incidents were also the most frequent fatal workplace event in 2013, accounting for 40 percent of fatal work injuries. California’s 35-percent share of 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 of event nationally, with 17 percent of work-related fatalities; the share in California for this event was 20 percent. Contact with objects and equipment and falls, slips, and trips each accounted for 16 percent of the nation’s workplace fatalities. In California, these events accounted for 17 and 16 percent of the state’s fatal injuries, respectively.

Additional key characteristics:
  • The transportation and warehousing industry sector had the largest number of fatalities in the state with 65, up from 61 the previous year. (See table 2.) Transportation incidents accounted for 37 of the worker deaths, while 12 fatalities were due to contact with objects or equipment.
  • The construction industry had the second highest fatality count with 57, little changed over the year. Falls, slips, and trips accounted for 21 worker deaths in this sector.
  • Transportation and material moving occupations had the highest number of fatal work injuries with 108. (See table 3.) Sixty-one of these fatalities were heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers. Construction and extraction occupations had the next highest fatality count at 61, with construction trades workers with accounting for 45 of the fatalities.
  • Men accounted for 356, or 92 percent, of the work-related fatalities in the state. (See table 4.) Transportation incidents made up over one third of these fatalities.
  • In California, 49 percent of those who died from a workplace injury were Hispanic or Latino. Nationwide, this group accounted for 18 percent of work-related deaths.
  • Workers 25-54 years old—the prime working age group—accounted for 251, or 65 percent, of the state’s work-related fatalities in 2013. Nationally, workers in this group accounted for 60 percent of on-the-job fatalities.
  • Of the 385 persons that suffered fatal work injuries in California, 86 percent worked for wages and salaries; the remaining were self-employed. The most frequent fatal event for wage and salary workers was transportation incidents.

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 at www.bls.gov/opub/hom/soii/home.htm.

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 California Department of Industrial Relations.

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.

Table 1. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, California, 2012-2013
Event or exposure(1) 2012(2) 2013(p)
Number Number Percent

Total

375 385 100

Violence and other injuries by persons or animals

80 76 20

Intentional injury by person

71 69 18

Intentional injury by other person

43 41 11

Shooting by other person--intentional

32 30 8

Stabbing, cutting, slashing, piercing

4 5 1

Hitting, kicking, beating, shoving

4 3 1

Self-inflicted injury--intentional

28 28 7

Shooting--intentional self-harm

7 13 3

Hanging, strangulation, asphyxiation--intentional self-harm

14 8 2

Jumping from building or other structure--intentional self-harm

-- 3 1

Injury by person--unintentional or intent unknown

4 4 1

Self-inflicted injury--unintentional or intent unknown

4 3 1

Drug overdose--intent unknown

-- 3 1

Animal and insect related incidents

5 3 1

Transportation incidents

142 133 35

Aircraft incidents

14 13 3

Other in-flight crash

10 10 3

Other in-flight crash into structure, object, or ground

3 9 2

Pedestrian vehicular incident

32 38 10

Pedestrian struck by vehicle in work zone

5 3 1

Pedestrian struck by forward-moving vehicle in work zone

3 3 1

Pedestrian struck by vehicle in roadway

6 9 2

Pedestrian struck by forward-moving vehicle in roadway

5 6 2

Pedestrian struck by vehicle on side of road

8 9 2

Pedestrian struck by forward-moving vehicle on side of road

5 7 2

Pedestrian struck by vehicle in nonroadway area

13 16 4

Pedestrian struck by forward-moving vehicle in nonroadway area

7 7 2

Pedestrian struck by vehicle backing up in nonroadway area

6 6 2

Water vehicle incidents

3 4 1

Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicle

72 58 15

Roadway collision with other vehicle

36 28 7

Roadway collision--moving in same direction

10 10 3

Roadway collision--moving in opposite directions, oncoming

12 3 1

Roadway collision--moving perpendicularly

7 7 2

Roadway collision--moving and standing vehicle in roadway

3 3 1

Roadway collision with object other than vehicle

21 22 6

Vehicle struck object or animal on side of roadway

18 20 5

Roadway noncollision incident

15 8 2

Jack-knifed or overturned, roadway

12 7 2

Nonroadway incident involving motorized land vehicles

14 17 4

Nonroadway collision with object other than vehicle

5 7 2

Nonroadway noncollision incident

7 9 2

Jack-knifed or overturned, nonroadway

4 5 1

Fall or jump from and struck by same vehicle in normal operation, nonroadway

-- 3 1

Fires and Explosions

7 10 3

Explosions

7 8 2

Falls, slips, trips

60 63 16

Falls on same level

15 7 2

Fall on same level due to tripping

-- 3 1

Falls to lower level

45 49 13

Fall through surface or existing opening

6 7 2

Other fall to lower level

33 39 10

Other fall to lower level less than 6 feet

3 9 2

Other fall to lower level 6 to 10 feet

6 4 1

Other fall to lower level 11 to 15 feet

5 10 3

Other fall to lower level 16 to 20 feet

-- 5 1

Other fall to lower level more than 30 feet

4 3 1

Exposure to harmful substances or environments

23 38 10

Exposure to electricity

5 15 4

Direct exposure to electricity

-- 7 2

Direct exposure to electricity, 220 volts or less

-- 4 1

Direct exposure to electricity, greater than 220 volts

-- 3 1

Indirect exposure to electricity

-- 6 2

Indirect exposure to electricity, greater than 220 volts

-- 6 2

Exposure to temperature extremes

4 4 1

Exposure to environmental heat

4 3 1

Exposure to other harmful substances

10 15 4

Nonmedical use of drugs or alcohol--unintentional overdose

5 14 4

Exposure to oxygen deficiency, n.e.c.

4 4 1

Contact with objects and equipment

61 64 17

Struck by object or equipment

43 45 12

Struck by powered vehicle--nontransport

19 17 4

Caught between rolling powered vehicle and other object

-- 6 2

Struck or run over by rolling powered vehicle

10 5 1

Struck by swinging part of powered vehicle

-- 3 1

Struck by falling object or equipment--other than powered vehicle

20 25 6

Struck by object falling from vehicle or machinery--other than vehicle part

6 7 2

Struck by discharged or flying object

-- 3 1

Struck by dislodged flying object, particle

-- 3 1

Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects

8 14 4

Caught in running equipment or machinery

4 11 3

Caught in running equipment or machinery during maintenance, cleaning

-- 8 2

Caught in running equipment or machinery during regular operation

4 3 1

Struck, caught, or crushed in collapsing structure, equipment, or material

9 5 1

Footnotes:
(1) Based on the BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) 2.01 implemented for 2011 data forward. Total may include other events not shown.
(2) Data for 2012 are revised and final
(p) Data are preliminary. Revised and final 2013 data are scheduled to be released in spring 2015.
 

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.
 

Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by industry, California, 2012-2013
Industry(1) 2012(2) 2013(p)
Number Number Percent

Total

375 385 100

Private industry

332 338 88

Natural resources and mining

33 33 9

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

29 30 8

Crop production

10 13 3

Vegetable and melon farming

-- 5 1

Fruit and tree nut farming

4 5 1

Noncitrus fruit and tree nut farming

4 4 1

Tree nut farming

-- 3 1

Animal production

5 3 1

Cattle ranching and farming

4 3 1

Forestry and logging

3 5 1

Logging

3 5 1

Logging

3 5 1

Support activities for agriculture and forestry

7 7 2

Support activities for crop production

6 5 1

Support activities for crop production

6 5 1

Farm labor contractors and crew leaders

4 4 1

Mining(3)

4 3 1

Construction

58 57 15

Construction

58 57 15

Construction of buildings

12 8 2

Residential building construction

9 4 1

Residential building construction

9 4 1

Nonresidential building construction

3 4 1

Industrial building construction

3 3 1

Heavy and civil engineering construction

12 10 3

Utility system construction

-- 7 2

Water and sewer line and related structures construction

-- 4 1

Specialty trade contractors

33 37 10

Foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors

12 12 3

Roofing contractors

3 7 2

Building equipment contractors

7 7 2

Electrical contractors

5 4 1

Building finishing contractors

7 7 2

Drywall and insulation contractors

-- 3 1

Painting and wall covering contractors

5 3 1

Other specialty trade contractors

7 9 2

Site preparation contractors

5 6 2

All other specialty trade contractors

-- 3 1

Manufacturing

28 36 9

Manufacturing

28 36 9

Food manufacturing

5 6 2

Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing

-- 6 2

Beverage manufacturing

-- 6 2

Wood product manufacturing

-- 3 1

Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing

5 3 1

Cement and concrete product manufacturing

4 3 1

Fabricated metal product manufacturing

6 6 2

Coating, engraving, heat treating, and allied activities

-- 3 1

Trade, transportation, and utilities

104 114 30

Utilities

-- 3 1

Wholesale trade

18 22 6

Merchant wholesalers, durable goods

11 10 3

Lumber and other construction materials merchant wholesalers

-- 3 1

Brick, stone, and related construction material merchant wholesalers

-- 3 1

Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods

7 12 3

Grocery and related product wholesalers

-- 4 1

Miscellaneous nondurable goods merchant wholesalers

4 5 1

Farm supplies merchant wholesalers

-- 5 1

Retail trade

24 24 6

Motor vehicle and parts dealers

3 3 1

Food and beverage stores

8 5 1

Grocery stores

7 5 1

Gasoline stations

-- 4 1

Gasoline stations

-- 4 1

Gasoline stations with convenience stores

-- 3 1

Transportation and warehousing

61 65 17

Truck transportation

39 43 11

General freight trucking

29 33 9

General freight trucking, local

8 11 3

General freight trucking, long-distance

19 13 3

General freight trucking, long-distance, truckload

14 10 3

Specialized freight trucking

9 9 2

Specialized freight (except used goods) trucking, local

5 4 1

Specialized freight (except used goods) trucking, long-distance

4 3 1

Support activities for transportation

10 8 2

Support activities for water transportation

-- 4 1

Marine cargo handling

-- 3 1

Warehousing and storage

3 7 2

Warehousing and storage

3 7 2

General warehousing and storage

-- 6 2

Information

7 4 1

Information

7 4 1

Financial activities

4 4 1

Real estate and rental and leasing

-- 3 1

Professional and business services

35 48 12

Professional and technical services

7 5 1

Professional, scientific, and technical services

7 5 1

Architectural, engineering, and related services

6 4 1

Administrative and waste services

-- 43 11

Administrative and support services

21 37 10

Investigation and security services

-- 7 2

Investigation, guard, and armored car services

-- 7 2

Security guards and patrol services

-- 7 2

Services to buildings and dwellings

17 28 7

Landscaping services

11 25 6

Waste management and remediation services

7 6 2

Waste collection

5 3 1

Waste collection

5 3 1

Solid waste collection

-- 3 1

Educational and health services

18 13 3

Educational services

5 4 1

Educational services

5 4 1

Elementary and secondary schools

3 2 1

Health care and social assistance

13 9 2

Ambulatory health care services

6 3 1

Leisure and hospitality

25 18 5

Arts, entertainment, and recreation

14 7 2

Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries

6 3 1

Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions

-- 2 1

Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions

-- 2 1

Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries

6 3 1

Accommodation and food services

11 11 3

Accommodation

3 3 1

Food services and drinking places

8 8 2

Other services, except public administration

20 11 3

Other services, except public administration

20 11 3

Repair and maintenance

12 7 2

Commercial machinery repair and maintenance

-- 3 1

Commercial machinery repair and maintenance

-- 3 1

Government(4)

43 47 12

Federal government

22 18 5

State government

4 7 2

Local government

16 22 6

Footnotes:
(1) Industry data are based on the North American Industry Classification System, 2007. Total may include other industries not shown.
(2) Data for 2012 are revised and final
(3) Includes fatal injuries at all establishments categorized as Mining (Sector 21) in the North American Industry Classification System, including establishments not governed by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) rules and reporting, such as those in Oil and Gas Extraction.
(4) Includes fatal injuries to workers employed by governmental organizations regardless of industry.
(p) Data are preliminary. Revised and final 2013 data are scheduled to be released in spring 2015.

 

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.
 

Table 3. Fatal occupational injuries by occupation, California, 2012-2013
Occupation(1) 2012(2) 2013(p)
Number Number Percent

Total

375 385 100

Management occupations

18 14 4

Top executives

-- 3 1

Other management occupations

12 8 2

Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

-- 3 1

Architecture and engineering occupations

11 4 1

Engineers

9 3 1

Education, training, and library occupations

3 5 1

Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations

5 5 1

Media and communication equipment workers

-- 3 1

Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations

4 3 1

Protective service occupations

16 25 6

Fire fighting and prevention workers

-- 3 1

Firefighters

-- 3 1

Law enforcement workers

8 10 3

Police officers

6 9 2

Police and sheriff's patrol officers

6 9 2

Other protective service workers

6 10 3

Security guards and gaming surveillance officers

3 10 3

Security guards

3 10 3

Food preparation and serving related occupations

5 5 1

Cooks and food preparation workers

3 3 1

Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations

18 36 9

Supervisors of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers

-- 6 2

First-line supervisors of building and grounds cleaning and maintenance workers

-- 6 2

First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers

-- 6 2

Building cleaning and pest control workers

6 6 2

Building cleaning workers

5 6 2

Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners

4 5 1

Grounds maintenance workers

11 24 6

Grounds maintenance workers

11 24 6

Landscaping and groundskeeping workers

4 15 4

Tree trimmers and pruners

7 9 2

Personal care and service occupations

8 5 1

Other personal care and service workers

5 3 1

Sales and related occupations

25 24 6

Supervisors of sales workers

11 7 2

First-line supervisors of sales workers

11 7 2

First-line supervisors of retail sales workers

10 5 1

Retail sales workers

8 12 3

Cashiers

3 6 2

Retail salespersons

4 6 2

Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing

-- 3 1

Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing

-- 3 1

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations

24 25 6

Agricultural workers

18 19 5

Miscellaneous agricultural workers

18 18 5

Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse

11 15 4

Forest, conservation, and logging workers

-- 3 1

Logging workers

-- 3 1

Construction and extraction occupations

54 61 16

Supervisors of construction and extraction workers

4 11 3

First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers

-- 11 3

Construction trades workers

45 45 12

Construction laborers

17 26 7

Electricians

4 4 1

Painters and paperhangers

7 4 1

Painters, construction and maintenance

7 4 1

Roofers

-- 4 1

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations

25 26 7

Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers

10 6 2

Automotive technicians and repairers

3 3 1

Automotive service technicians and mechanics

-- 3 1

Other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations

13 18 5

Industrial machinery installation, repair, and maintenance workers

-- 3 1

Line installers and repairers

-- 4 1

Maintenance and repair workers, general

5 7 2

Production occupations

16 21 5

Supervisors of production workers

-- 4 1

First-line supervisors of production and operating workers

-- 4 1

Metal workers and plastic workers

6 8 2

Welding, soldering, and brazing workers

5 5 1

Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

5 5 1

Other production occupations

5 7 2

Transportation and material moving occupations

103 108 28

Supervisors, transportation and material moving workers

-- 4 1

First-line supervisors of transportation and material-moving machine and vehicle operators

-- 3 1

Air transportation workers

6 4 1

Aircraft pilots and flight engineers

6 4 1

Commercial pilots

3 4 1

Motor vehicle operators

71 70 18

Bus drivers

-- 3 1

Driver/sales workers and truck drivers

65 64 17

Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

54 61 16

Light truck or delivery services drivers

5 3 1

Water transportation workers

3 3 1

Sailors and marine oilers

3 3 1

Material moving workers

22 24 6

Industrial truck and tractor operators

-- 3 1

Laborers and material movers, hand

17 18 5

Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

4 3 1

Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand

12 14 4

Military occupations(3)

13 14 4

Footnotes:
(1) Occupation data are based on the Standard Occupational Classification system, 2010. Total may include occupations not shown.
(2) Data for 2012 are revised and final
(3) Includes fatal injuries to persons identified as resident armed forces regardless of individual occupation listed.
(p) Data are preliminary. Revised and final 2013 data are scheduled to be released in spring 2015.

 

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.
 

Table 4. Fatal occupational injuries by worker characteristics, California, 2012-2013
Worker characteristics 2012(1) 2013(p)
Number Number Percent

Total

375 385 100
 

Employee status

 

Wage and salary(2)

302 331 86

Self-employed(3)

73 54 14
 

Gender

 

Men

347 356 92

Women

28 29 8
 

Age(4)

 

18 to 19 years

-- 7 2

20 to 24 years

29 20 5

25 to 34 years

65 68 18

35 to 44 years

62 89 23

45 to 54 years

106 94 24

55 to 64 years

68 72 19

65 years and over

43 35 9
 

Race or ethnic origin(5)

 

White, non-Hispanic

180 158 41

Black or African-American, non-Hispanic

20 17 4

Hispanic or Latino

137 188 49

Asian, non-Hispanic

34 19 5

Footnotes:
(1) Data for 2012 are revised and final
(2) May include volunteers and workers receiving other types of compensation.
(3) 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.
(4) Information may not be available for all age groups.
(5) 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 2013 data are scheduled to be released in spring 2015.

 

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.
 

 

Last Modified Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2015