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Occupational Fatality Trends

The national Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries data indicates that 6,588 fatal work injuries occurred during 1994, down 22.5% from 8,500 in 1993. Of these, Michigan recorded 61 health and safety program related fatalities, an increase of 10 over the previous year. Program related fatalities do not include those resulting from heart attacks, suicides, highway motor vehicle trip and aircraft accidents.

Since 1975 the MIOSHA Information Division of the Michigan Department of Labor has tabulated statistics from employers Basic Report of Injury (Form 100) and from telephone reports of fatalities. The 51 fatalities recorded in 1993 were the lowest ever recorded by MIOSHA, down from the high of 115 fatalities recorded during 1977.

The 19.6% increase in fatalities during 1994 included 28 deaths in the construction sector (up 40% from 1993), 13 deaths in the manufacturing sector (down 31.58%), and 6 fatalities in the service sector (up 600%). The report also indicates that employment levels during 1994 increased for each of these groups; up 3.45% for construction, .75% for manufacturing, and 4.84% for the service sector.

Clearly the fatality rate increases outpaced the employment growth in the construction and service sectors, however, the manufacturing sector saw a substantial decrease in fatalities even though employment levels were higher. Evidently the investments made over the past two decades by general industry employers have contributed to the reduction of fatalities. Interestingly, 1995 Year to Date fatalities (through October) in Michigan indicate a 38% reduction in overall fatalities, with manufacturing about the same (14), and the construction and service sectors have decreased to 12 and 2 respectively.

MIOSHA’s annual report provides an overview of how fatalities were distributed across industry groups, occupations, source of injury, accident type or exposure, parts of body affected, and nature of the injury or illness. Frequencies are provided by age group, gender, month of occurrence, and county. The report is intended to contribute to a further understanding of program-related fatality profiles and hence, to the continued effort toward preventing and reducing fatalities.

Written by:

James A. Fitzgerald, AIA
President, Argus Group

Article Provided by: The Argus Group

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