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For Immediate Release

November 1, 2020

CONTACT: Cameron S. Ruppe
Director, Utah Occupational Safety and Health Division
Office: (801) 530-6898
Email: cruppe@utah.gov

Fatal Work Injuries In Utah Increased In 2018

The Utah Labor Commission, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, has released the 2018 fatal occupational injury data for Utah. Data was obtained through the annual Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) administered by the Utah Occupational Safety and Health (UOSH) Division, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

The CFOI produces comprehensive, accurate and timely counts of fatal work injuries. To compile counts that are as complete as possible, the census uses multiple sources to identify, verify, and profile fatal worker injuries. Information about each workplace fatal injury—occupation and other worker characteristics, equipment involved, and circumstances of the event—is obtained by cross-referencing the source records, such as death certificates, workers’ compensation reports, and Federal and State agency administrative reports. The scope of CFOI incidents includes accidents, homicides and suicides that occur at the workplace. For additional details regarding CFOI criteria, please visit https://www.bls.gov/iif/cfoiscope.htm.

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2018 RESULTS

The number of work-related deaths in Utah increased from 43 in 2017 to 49 in 2018. The overall fatal injury rate for every 100,000 workers has also increased from 2.9 in 2017 to 3.4 in 2018. Utah was slightly lower than the national overall fatal injury rate of 3.5. The published fatal injury rates by industry for 2018 are as follows:

  • 57.7 for Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
  • 39.1 for Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
  • 16.4 for Transportation and utilities
  • 5.5 for Leisure and hospitality
  • 3.8 for Construction
  • 3.6 for Manufacturing

Specific details of work-related fatalities by event or exposure are identified below, with transportation incidents accounting for approximately 45% of all fatalities in Utah

  • 22 were Transportation Incidents
  • 7 were Contact with Objects or Equipment
  • 6 were Violence and Other Injuries by Persons or Animals
  • 6 were Falls, Slips, Trips
  • 6 were Exposure to Harmful Substances or Environments
  • 2 were Fires and Explosions

Fatalities by Event in Industries

  • Transportation Incidents
    • Of the 22 fatalities:
      • 14 were Roadway Incidents Involving Motorized Land Vehicles
      • 5 were Non-roadway Incidents Involving Motorized Land Vehicles
      • 1 was an Aircraft Incident
      • 1 was a Pedestrian Vehicular Incident
      • 1 was a Rail Vehicle Incident
    • 8 were in Natural Resources and Mining
    • 7 were in Trade, Transportation and Utilities
    • 3 were in Leisure and Hospitality
    • 1 was in Construction
    • 3 other*
  • Contact with Objects and Equipment
    • Of the 7 fatalities:
      • 4 were Struck by Object or Equipment
      • 3 were Caught in or Compressed by Equipment or Objects
    • 3 were in Natural Resources and Mining
    • 3 were in Manufacturing
    • 1 was in Construction
  • Violence and Other Injuries by Persons or Animals
    • Of the 6 fatalities:
      • 3 were Intentional Injury by Person
      • 3 were Injury by Person-Unintentional or Intent Unknown
    • 3 were in Trade, Transportation and Utilities
    • 3 other*
  • Falls, Slips and Trips
    • Of the 6 fatalities:
      • 5 were falls to lower level
    • 3 were in Goods Producing
    • 3 other*
  • Exposure to Harmful Substances or Environments
    • Of the 6 fatalities:
      • 2 were exposure to electricity
    • 2 were in Natural Resources and Mining
    • 4 other*
  • Fires and Explosions
    • Of the 2 fatalities:
      • 2 fatalities were explosions
    • 1 in Manufacturing
    • 1 in Trade Transportation and Utilities
  • Fatalities by Worker Characteristic
    • Gender
      • 48 men
      • 1 woman
    • Race or Ethnic Origin
      • 35 White (non-Hispanic)
      • 11 Hispanic or Latino
      • 3 Other*

 

Utah Fatalities by Event 2014-2018

Events 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
TOTAL COUNTS 54 42 44 43 49
Transportation 22 21 20 18 22
Contact with Objects or Equipment 12 7 10 10 7
Violence and other injuries by Persons or Animals 7 0 10 7 6
Falls, Slips, Trips 3 8 4 3 6
Exposure to harmful substances or environments 9 4 0 5 6
Fires and Explosions 0 0 0 0 2
Other not reported 1 2 0 0 0

Utah fatalities by Industry, All Ownerships 2014-2018

Industries 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
TOTAL
COUNTS		 54 42 44 43 49
Natural
Resources and Mining		 8 4 4 5 13
Construction 6 12 11 7 5
Manufacturing 6 3 * 4 6
Trade,
Transportation, and Utilities		 18 10 11 16 12
Information * 1 * * *
Professional and Business Services 4 * * 3 *
Educational
and Health Services		 3 5 4 4 *
Leisure and
Hospitality		 5 3 4 1 5
Other
Services, Except Public Administration		 * * * 2 3

For more information regarding national fatality statistics, visit the Federal BLS website at https://www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm. For Utah specific fatality data, please refer to the accompanying tables and charts. There are additional tables and charts available upon request. For additional information or to request a copy of the report from UOSH, BLS, please contact:

Darin Hanson                                   Joy Lawrence
(801) 530-6926                                (801) 530-6823
darinhanson@utah.gov                  joylawrence@utah.gov