BLS: Worker death rate rises in 2014; number of fatalities highest in 7 years

Washington – The U.S. workplace fatality rate increased in 2014 – the first time it has done so since 2010, according to finalized data released April 21 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Preliminary data that BLS announced in September showed a fatality rate of 3.3 deaths per 100,000 full-time workers in 2014, the same as in 2013. The revised rate is 3.4.

Also revised upward is the total number of fatal on-the-job injuries. BLS originally counted 4,679 workplace deaths in 2014, but the revised data puts it at 4,821. This is the highest number of workers killed on the job since 2008, BLS stated.

Other revised figures:

• The total number of deaths in the private construction industry was 899, the highest since 2008.
• The 144 deaths in the oil and gas extraction industries are the most ever recorded.
• The preliminary data showed a sharp increase in deaths among workers 55 and older, and the final data increased that number even more to 1,691 from 1,621.

BLS also announced that, beginning with the release of 2015 fatal worker injury data, the bureau will discontinue publishing preliminary data. Instead, it will release only a final fatal occupational report in December.