A total of 5,488 fatal work injuries across all industries were recorded in the United States in 2007, a decrease of 6 percent from 2006, according to preliminary figures released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Fatalities also declined in the construction industry last year--falling to 1,178 from 1,239--but construction continued to incur the most fatalities of any industry in the private sector, as it has for the five years since the CFOI program began using the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) to categorize industry.
Of the three major subsectors within construction, fatalities among workers in construction of buildings actually rose 11 percent from 2006, with most of the increase in non-residential construction industries. The largest construction subsector, specialty trade contractors, had 6 percent fewer fatalities in 2007 as compared to 2006.
The four occupations with the highest fatality rates were fishers and related fishing workers with a fatality rate of 111.8 per 100,000 workers, logging workers (86.4), aircraft pilots and flight engineers(66.7), and structural iron and steel workers (45.5).
To view all the data of the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, go to: www.bls.gov/news.release/cfoi.toc.htm
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