The number of fatal workplace injuries in Missouri last year was down 25% from the year before, according to the Department of Labor. A preliminary total of 107 fatal work injuries were recorded in Missouri in 2010, down approximately from the 142 fatal work injuries reported for 2009. Nationally, fatal work injuries remained about the same for 2010.
“The Department has been working hard to promote the free workplace safety programs we offer to employers that save lives. Since this administration came into office, participation in the state’s elite safety program has increased by 56 percent,” says Department Director Larry Rebman in a news release.
“This drop in fatalities shows that workplaces are embracing safety and doing more to protect workers.”
In 2010, the agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting sector had the most occupational fatalities in Missouri with 25. Crop production accounted for 23 of the 25 fatalities in the agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting sector. The construction sector had the second most occupational fatalities with 12. The specialty trade contractors accounted for eight of the 12 fatalities in the construction sector in Missouri in 2010.
Transportation incidents, which include highway, non-highway, air, water, rail fatalities, and fatalities resulting from being struck by a vehicle, were the leading event or exposure of fatal work injuries in Missouri in 2009 and again in 2010 accounting for 60 of the 107 fatalities in 2010. The agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting sector accounted for 18 of the 60 transportation incidents in 2010 in Missouri, followed by the construction sector with seven transportation incidents.
Men were the victims in 100 of the 107 fatal work injuries that occurred in Missouri in 2010. White, non-Hispanic workers accounted for 96 of the fatalities in 2010. Workers between the ages of 45 to 54 years had the most fatalities accounting for 25 of the 107 fatal work injuries in 2010. Workers between the ages of 35 to 44 years accounted for 23 of the fatal work injuries in 2010. In 2010, wage and salary workers had the most fatalities with 71.