Preliminary information for 2009 Work Fatalities show that this year is down 17% compared to 2008.
Though these are preliminary numbers, the real factor to look at is how the economy has played a role in the decline of worker fatalities. Indications show that the rates for 2009 will increase as the final numbers will be available in April 2011.
Some of the findings include
- Fatal injuries among self-employed workers were down 3%
- Transportation incidents accounted for nearly 40 percent of all 2009 fatal work injuries but still fell 21 percent from 2,130 in 2008
- Fatal falls declined 12 percent, from 700 in 2008 to 617 in 2009
