Chicago Workers' Compensation Attorney Blog

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics just released its 2010 preliminary results for fatal occupational injuries. Sadly, 4,547 workers sustained fatal injuries while on the job nationwide in 2010.

Our Chicago workers' compensation lawyers are concerned about the high number of fatalities, considering it is only slightly lower than the 4,551 worker fatalities reported for 2009.

"No worker should have to sacrifice his or her life to earn a living", says Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis from a recent OSHA press release.

In 2009, U.S. full-time workers were being fatally injured at work at a rate of 3.5 per 100,000. This was the same rate as 2009. There hasn't been much change in the rate of fatal work injuries since 2008. The final numbers will be published for 2010 around the Spring of 2012. Due to the economy, employees are working longer hours compared to 2008 and 2009, though it was noted that there were either decreases or only slight increases in hours worked in greater risk industries.

Key findings for 2010 fatal workplace injuries were:

-Self-employed fatal workplace injuries were down 6 percent to 999. This percentage increase was greater than the decreased percentage of hours they worked. In 2010, salary and wage workers' fatal injuries were up 2 percent from 2009.

-There was a significant increase in fatalities, 74 percent, in the private mining industry. 172 workers were killed in 2010 compared to 99 in 2009. Almost 20 workers per 100,000 were killed in 2010 compared to just below 12.5 in 2009. The incidents at the Deepwater Horizon oil rig and at the Upper Big Branch Mine contributed to these numbers.

-There was a 10 percent decrease from 2009 to 2010 in fatal work injuries in the construction sector (private). This sector has seen an almost 40 percent drop in fatalities since 2006.

-Work-related fire fatalities saw its highest numbers since 2003, with a total of 109 in 2010. This number was almost twice as many as the 53 reported in 2009.

-There was a 7 percent decrease in workplace homicides in 2010, the fewest ever recorded. Unfortunately there was a 13 percent rise in workplace homicides that involved women.

-A decrease of 9 percent was seen in fatal workplace injuries among African-American workers and non-Hispanic black during 2010. There was also a drop of 4 percent for Hispanic or Latino workers. Fatalities were 2 percent higher for non-Hispanic white workers.

-Police officers saw a 40 percent increase in fatal on the job injuries, 134 officers lost their lives in 2010.

Included in the totals of police officers killed on duty were several Chicago police officers who lost their lives on the job:

-A 56-year-old sergeant was killed when his police vehicle crashed on icy roads in February 2010.
-A 43-year-old officer was shot and killed during a struggle in July 2010.
-A 20 year veteran of the department was shot and killed in November 2010 while collecting evidence at a burglary scene.

The final total for 2009 workplace fatalities for Illinois was 158. For 2010 the preliminary total is 203 including 72 deaths as a result of a transportation incident, 38 deaths from assaults and violent acts, 39 deaths due to contact with equipment and objects, 31 deaths due to falls, 15 fatalities from exposures to harmful substances and environments and 7 deaths due to fires and explosions.