December 2009

Injury Report Shows Slight Decrease in State Workplace Fatalities in 2008

A report released by the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries showed a slight decline in the number of workplace deaths for Missouri in 2008 when compared to the previous year’s totals.

As indicated by the report, there were 147 fatalities resulting from a workplace injury in 2008, representing a 6 percent decline from the 2007 fatalities which totaled 156.

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the U.S. average Lifetime Cost of Occupational Fatal Injuries is $830,829 to society over a lifetime. This figure is based upon the average for all incidents, regardless of age, race, gender, or occupation. This amount represents direct and indirect costs of an occupational fatal injury. Direct costs would be medical expenses incurred due to the injury, and indirect costs are calculated as the present value of future earnings should the individual have reached 67. Based on that figure, the economy will be affected by $122 million due to the 147 lives that were lost last year.

"Last year, 147 families lost a loved on, 147 communities lost a coach, teacher or leader, but our state is going to lose approximately $122 million," said Missouri Labor Department Director Larry Rebman. "Our family, friends, neighbors, and our society cannot afford to lose workers in preventable workplace tragedies, which is why the Department urges employers to implement safety plans and programs to reduce workplace injuries and deaths," continued Rebman.

The Department offers free workplace safety and health training to employers and employees in high-hazard industries. Our efforts to better communicate this service has resulted in a 74 percent increase in employer requests in fiscal year 2009.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics works with state agencies to compile the injury and illnesses report data . Each fatality is recorded for the state in which the incident the occurred, versus the state of the actual employment, to avoid a duplication of information.

To find out more about the Department’s free On-Site Safety and Health Consultation Program, visit http://labor.mo.gov/DLS/WorkplaceSafety/free_onsite_sharp.asp. To view the Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Report in its entirety, visit http://www.labor.mo.gov/lmi/oii.asp.