Occupational Fatalities Up Statewide, Nationally in 2015

According to the 2015 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries released on Dec. 16 by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of occupational fatalities in Connecticut rose from 35 in 2014 to 44 in 2015, a nearly 26% increase.
The incidence of work fatalities in the state jumped from 2.1 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers in 2014 to 2.6. in 2015 but was still well below the national average of 3.38.
Nationally, fatal work injuries climbed to 4,836 in 2015, the highest since 2008, when 5,214 fatalities were reported. In 2014, 4,821 occupational fatalities were reported nationwide, 15 fewer than last year.

Key Findings

The following are some of the key findings of the 2015 BEA Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries:

• The overall rate of fatal work injury for workers in 2015, at 3.38 per 100,000 FTE workers, was lower than the 2014 rate of 3.43.
• Hispanic or Latino workers incurred 903 fatal injuries in 2015—the most since 937 fatalities in 2007.
• Workers age 65 years and older incurred 650 fatal injuries, the second-largest number for the group since the national census began in 1992, but decreased from the 2014 figure of 684.
• Roadway incident fatalities were up 9% from 2014 totals, accounting for over one-quarter of the fatal occupational injuries in 2015.
• Workplace suicides decreased 18% in 2015; homicides were up 2% from 2014 totals.
• Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers recorded 745 fatal injuries, the most of any occupation.
• The 937 fatal work injuries in the private construction industry in 2015 represented the highest total since 975 cases in 2008.
• Fatal injuries in the private oil and gas extraction industries were 38% lower in 2015 than 2014.
• Seventeen percent of decedents were contracted by and performing work for another business or government entity in 2015 rather than for their direct employer at the time of the incident.