Wyoming occupational fatalities declined by 14, from 33 in 2008 to 19 in 2009, a 42.4% decrease (see Figure). The past year marked 2009 as the year with the lowest number of work-related deaths since 1992 when the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries was started. The reduction was associated with a 35.3% drop in transportation accidents (11 in 2009 compared to 17 in 2008). Three industries had four fatalities each: Natural Resources & Mining; Construction; and Wholesale & Retail Trade. Transportation & Warehousing had three deaths, all of which were transportation accidents (see Table 1). The remainder occurred in three other industries: Manufacturing; Accommodation & Food Services; and Other Services except Public Administration in 2009. More than half of all fatalities were the result of transportation accidents (57.9%), a result consistent with other years.

    Transportation accidents are the most common cause of work-related death. As seen in Table 2, from 2003 to 2009, a total of 262 people died while on the job. Of the total, 62.6% (164) resulted from transportation accidents. Nearly one-third of all deaths occurred in Natural Resources & Mining (31.7%), followed by Trade, Transportation, & Utilities (29.8%).

    Variations in fatalities from year to year are, to some extent, the result of the random nature of work-related accidents. The only events that show a consistent pattern in Wyoming are transportation events, highway accidents in particular. For historical analysis and data go to http://doe.state.wy.us/LMI/safety/CFOI_Reg_Model_2010.pdf.

 

 

Table of Contents  |  Labor Market Information