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For Immediate Release

December 23, 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 During 2019

Salt Lake City – The Utah Labor Commission’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health Bureau of Labor Statistics (UOSH BLS), in conjunction with the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), has released the 2019 fatal occupational injury data for Utah. The information was obtained through the annual Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) administered by UOSH 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 2019 RESULTS

The number of work-related deaths in Utah increased from 49 in 2018 to 51 in 2019. The overall fatal injury rate for every 100,000 workers has also increased from 3.4 in 2018 to 3.5 in 2019. The reported national overall fatal injury rate for 2019 was 3.5.

The published fatal injury rates by industry for 2019 are as follows:

  • 10.4 – Transportation and utilities
  • 10.2 – Construction
  • 3.4 – Professional and business services

Specific details of work-related fatalities by event or exposure are identified below, with falls, slips, and trips incidents accounting for approximately 33.3% of all fatalities in Utah.

  • 17 – Falls, slips, trips
  • 13 – Transportation incidents
  • 8 – Violence and other injuries by persons or animals
  • 6 – Exposure to harmful substances or environments
  • 4 – Contact with objects and equipment
  • 3 – Fires and explosions

Fatalities by Event in Industries

  • Falls, slips, trips
    • Of the 17 fatalities:
      • 15 were Falls to lower level
      • 2 other*
  • Transportation incidents
    • Of the 13 fatalities:
      • 9 were Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicles
      • 5 were Roadway collision with other vehicle
      • 3 were Roadway collision with object other than vehicle
    • 4 other*
  • Violence and other injuries by persons or animals
    • Of the 8 fatalities:
      • 7 were Intentional injury by person
      • 4 were Homicides
      • 3 were Suicides
      • 1 was Struck by animal
  • 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:
      • 4 were Nonmedical use of drugs or alcohol-unintentional overdose
      • 2 other*
  • Contact with objects and equipment
    • Of the 4 fatalities:
      • 1 was Struck by object falling from vehicle or machinery-other than vehicle
        part
      • 3 other*
  • Fires and explosions
    • Of the 3 fatalities:
      • 3 fatalities were Explosions
        • 1 was Explosion of pressure vessel, piping, or tire
        • 2 other*

Fatalities by Worker Characteristic

  • Gender
    • 49 men
    • 2 other*
  • Race or ethnic origin
    • 36 White (non-Hispanic)
    • 11 Hispanic or Latino
    • 4 other*

 

Utah Fatalities by Event 2015-2019

Events 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
TOTAL COUNTS 42 44 43 49 51
Transportation 21 20 18 22 13
Contact with Objects or Equipment 7 10 10 7 4
Violence and other injuries by Persons or Animals 0 10 7 6 8
Falls, Slips, Trips 8 4 3 6 17
Exposure to harmful substances or environments 4 0 5 6 6
Fires and Explosions 0 0 0 2 3
Other not reported 2 0 0 0 0

Utah fatalities by Industry, All Ownerships 2015-2019

Industries 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
TOTAL COUNTS 42 44 43 49 51
Natural Resources and Mining 4 4 5 13 *
Construction 12 11 7 5 14
Manufacturing 3 * 4 6 *
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities 10 11 16 12 *
Information 1 * * * *
Professional and Business Services * * 3 * 7
Educational and Health Services 5 4 4 * *
Leisure and Hospitality 3 4 1 5 1
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                                   Gia Giang
(801) 530-6926                                (801) 530-6823
darinhanson@utah.gov                  ggiang@utah.gov

*Data does not meet publication criteria