BLS releases revised fatal injury data for 2012; downward trend continues

Washington – The number and rate of fatal work injuries in 2012 are slightly higher than preliminary statistics issued last summer but still represent a decline from the previous year, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics final report.

Released April 24, the report states that 4,628 workers died on the job in 2012, an increase from the 4,383 originally reported in August. The rate of fatal workplace injuries per 100,000 full-time workers also was revised upward in the final report, to 3.4 from 3.2.

These final figures show an ongoing trend of declining fatal injuries. Fatal workplace injuries in 2011 occurred at a rate of 3.5, with a total number of 4,693, BLS reported, and the final 2012 total is the second lowest total since 1992.

Other revisions in the final report:

• Fatal roadway incidents increased by 10 percent over the preliminary figures to 1,153; this represents a 5 percent increase over 2011.
• Hispanic worker deaths were revised upward by 40 to 748, about the same from 2011.
• The private construction industry saw a net increase of 31 fatal worker injuries for a total of 806 in 2012; this is a 9 percent increase over 2011.