INDIANA OCCUPATIONAL FATALITIES ANNUAL REPORT

August 25, 2011

08/26/11 The Indiana Department of Labor released today its annual Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) report for 2010. The state reported 115 fatal occupational injuries in 2010, the lowest experienced since the report was introduced in 1991.

“While a record low is good statistically speaking, for 115 families, their tragic loss defies any statistic,” said Lori A. Torres, Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Labor. “That is why there is no higher priority in our agency than safeguarding the lives of working Hoosiers through safety and health initiatives and enforcement programs.”

Some findings of the 2010 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries report include:

• Agricultural crop related fatalities in Indiana decreased from 20 fatalities in 2009 to 14 in 2010. Overall, the agriculture industry remained statistically unchanged with the exception of an increase in fatalities in animal husbandry (0 to 5).
• Hoosier manufacturing continued its steady decline from 40 fatalities in 1997 to 13 fatalities in 2010.
• Despite a consistent decrease in workplace deaths over the past 20 years, construction continued to have the highest rate of fatalities (15.61 per 100,000 workers) compared to other non-farm industries (3.34 per 100,000 workers). 
• The leading cause of all workplace fatalities was transportation incidents (54 out of 115). This includes vehicular accidents and persons being struck by a vehicle.

For the full 2010 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries report, visit www.in.gov/dol/2439.htm

A survey pertaining to non-fatal occupational injuries and illness for 2010 is scheduled for release in October 2011.