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MISSOURI
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
MISSOURI’S FATAL WORKPLACE INJURIES DECLINE IN 2003
Jefferson City, MO - A total of 5,559 fatal work injuries were
recorded in the U.S. in 2003, a small increase from the revised total of
5,534 fatal work injuries reported for 2002. Missouri totals decreased
12 percent from 175 fatal work injuries in 2002 to 154 in 2003, according
to the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, conducted by the Missouri
Department of Labor, Research and Analysis Section in cooperation with
the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor.
Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting was the sector in Missouri
in 2003 that had the most occupational fatalities with 34 or 22.1 percent
of the total fatal work injuries. Crop production accounted for 27 of the
34 fatalities. The agriculture, forestry, and fishing industry division
had the most occupational fatalities in 2002 in Missouri.
Transportation incidents were the leading event or exposure of fatal
work injuries in Missouri in 2002 and again in 2003. Transportation
incidents were the event or exposure in 86 or 55.8% of the 154 fatalities
in 2003. The transportation and warehousing sector (NAICS 48-49)
accounted for 27 or 31.4% of the 86 transportation incidents fatalities
in 2003 in Missouri.
Transportation and material moving occupations was the occupational
group with the highest number of fatal work injuries in Missouri in 2003
with 49 or 31.8 percent of the 154 fatalities. Motor vehicle operators
accounted for 42 of the fatalities in this occupational group in 2003.
Men were the victims in 144 of the 154 fatal work injuries that occurred
in Missouri in 2003. Men were the victims in 157 of the 175 fatal
work injuries in 2002. White, non-Hispanic workers accounted for
137 of the fatalities in 2003 and 154 of the fatalities in 2002.
Workers between the ages of 35 to 44 years of age accounted for 34 of the
fatal work injuries in 2003. In 2002 workers between the ages of
45 to 54 years of age accounted for the most fatal work injuries with 44.
One hundred and eleven fatalities occurred to wage and salary workers in
2003 and 120 in 2002.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics, in conjunction with state agencies developed
the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries program in 1992 to produce accurate,
comprehensive, descriptive, timely, and accessible counts of fatal workplace
injuries that occur during a given year. A fatality is counted in
the state where the death occurred regardless of the state of employment
to alleviate duplication of reporting in the states.
The fatality census uses diverse sources to identify, verify, and profile
fatal work injuries in an effort to compile counts that are as complete
as possible. Source documents such as death certificates, workers’
compensation reports, and Federal and State agency administrative records
are cross-referenced to gather key information about each workplace fatality
such as the particular occupation in which the fatality occurred, worker
demographic, equipment or machinery involved, and circumstances of the
event. Two or more independent source documents are used to verify
the work relationship of each fatal work injury.
Note on industry and occupation classifications: Beginning with
the 2003 reference year, CFOI began using the 2002 North American Industry
Classification System (NAICS) for industries and the Standard Occupational
Classification system (SOC) for occupations. Prior to 2003, the program
used the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system and the Bureau
of the Census occupational classification system. Because of the
substantial differences between the current and previous systems, the results
by industry and occupation in 2003 constitute a break in series, and users
are advised against making comparisons between the 2003 industry and occupation
categories and the results for previous years.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Tammy Cavender (573) 751-7500
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 5, 2004
Information and Planning · 3315 W. Truman Blvd.
· P.O. Box 1958 · Jefferson City, MO 65102-1958
573-751-7500 · 573-751-6552 (Fax)
Relay Missouri: 1-800-735-2966 (TDD) 1-800-735-2466 (Voice)