Economy

State With the Highest Deaths on the Job

Texas Capitol
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Work-related deaths dropped slightly from 2012 to 2103, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), down from 4,628 to 4,405. Maybe worker safety programs are yielding better results. The states with the highest death rates are the largest by population, which should come as no surprise.

According to the BLS:

The rate of fatal work injury for U.S. workers in 2013 was 3.2 per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers, compared to a final rate of 3.4 per 100,000 in 2012.

And:

Seventeen states and the District of Columbia reported higher numbers of fatal work injuries in 2013 than in 2012, while 30 states reported lower numbers. Three states reported the same number as in 2012. For more detailed state results, contact the individual state agency responsible for the collection of CFOI (Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries) data in that state.

Although Texas has the second largest population, it has the largest number of work-related deaths last year. Deaths, however, did fall from 536 to 493. California, the largest state by population, reported deaths rose from 375 to 385. In third place, work-related deaths in Florida rose from 218 to 234. In fourth place, work-related deaths in New York fell from 202 to 160.

READ ALSO: States Where It Is Hard to Find Full-Time Work

Since the number was down so slightly from year to year, it may be a decade before it will be reasonable to call it a trend.

Methodology: The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), part of the BLS Occupational Safety and Health Statistics (OSHS) program, compiles a count of all fatal work injuries occurring in the United States during the calendar year. The CFOI program uses diverse state, federal and independent data sources to identify, verify and describe fatal work injuries. This ensures counts are as complete and accurate as possible. For the 2013 data, over 19,100 unique source documents were reviewed as part of the data collection process.

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