Work-related injury deaths decline in Colorado in 2012

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment released preliminary data from the 2012 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. According to the preliminary figures, there were 80 work-related injury fatalities in 2012, which is 12 fewer than in 2011.

Top three causes of work-related fatalities:

1. Transportation-related deaths continued to be the leading cause of work-related deaths in Colorado, with 32 deaths accounting for 40 percent of the state’s 80 occupational fatalities during 2012. Of these 32 deaths, 20 were roadway incidents that involved motorized land vehicles, and seven were pedestrians involved with a motor vehicle.
2. There were 15 deaths from violence in 2012. Of these, six were self-inflicted, intentional injuries.
3. There were 15 deaths caused by falls, slip and trips.

Work-related fatalities by worker characteristics:

• Men accounted for 67 of the 80 worker deaths in 2012.
• By race/ethnicity, 51 deaths were white non-Hispanic workers, 21 were Hispanic workers, and four were black or African-American.
• Workers in the 55 to 64 age group had the highest number of fatalities with 24 deaths in 2012, followed by workers in the 35 to 44 age group with 17 deaths.

Work-related fatalities by industry (top three):

1. Construction: 21 deaths
2. Trade transportation and utilities: 17 deaths
3. Natural resources and mining: 13 deaths

Overall, 67 fatalities occurred among private industry workers and 13 occurred among government workers.
Work-related fatalities by occupation (top three):

1. Transportation and material-moving occupations had 20 deaths. Of these, 14 were heavy equipment and tractor-trailer truck drivers.
2. Construction and extraction occupations had 19 deaths. Of these, nine were construction trades workers and five were first-line supervisors. 
3. Protective service occupations had 12 deaths. Of these, seven were law enforcement workers.

The Colorado Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries is a cooperative effort of the Department of Public Health and Environment’s Health Statistics Section and the Occupational Health and Safety Surveillance Program, as well as the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, which recently released its preliminary 2012 National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries data.

Work-related fatalities are identified through review of death certificates, workers’ compensation claims, reports from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and other sources.

For additional information about work-related injury deaths in Colorado, visit the Colorado Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries page on the Colorado Health and Environmental Data website. The Colorado Occupational Health Indicators Report also provides trends and additional information on work-related fatalities.