The number of workplace fatalities in Florida fell from 422deaths to 404 in 2005, which marks the first reduction in workplacedeaths in three years.

Among other things, the data showed that males suffer themajority of workplace fatalities, while the transportation andconstruction industries continue to be the most hazardous. Theworkplace data is based on an annual Census of Fatal OccupationalInjuries, which is a federal and state survey, conducted by theDivision of Workers' Compensation and the U.S. Department of LaborBureau of Labor Statistics. The survey utilizes a variety ofdatabanks to record all workplace deaths and not just thoserecorded under the state's workers' comp law. The census isdesigned to help employers identify industries and workers who areat the highest risk of suffering an occupational fatality.

Census Results

The census looks at workers' demographic information such asage, sex, and ethnic group. Additionally, researchers track thecauses of fatalities and the industries and occupations thatproduce the most on-the-job deaths. The current census data tracksthe findings of previous state and national studies. Although thenumber of Florida deaths in 2005 decreased, the state's fatalityrate remains marginal compared to the total number of jobs.

Transportation accidents and injuries sustained in theconstruction and manufacturing industries continue to be theleading causes of workplace deaths. Out of the 404 reported deaths,transportation incidents accounted for 186 fatalities. Bycomparison, the number of transportation deaths in 2004 equaled198. The majority of those deaths are due to vehicle accidents(97), which include multiple vehicle collisions, non-collisionaccidents such as overturned trucks, and vehicles strikingstationary objects.

Thirty-eight workers died after being struck by a vehicle.

Construction accidents are the second leading cause offatalities. The majority of those incidents are divided betweenfalls and contact with objects and equipment. Falls accounted for atotal of 72 deaths including falls from a lower level (62), fallsfrom a ladder (18), and falls from a roof (26). Other constructionincidents (44) include individuals being struck by an object orpiece of equipment. Thirty-one individuals were killed after beinghit by a falling object and 24 died after being struck by a flyingobject. Fifty individuals also suffered a fatal injury fromexposure to a harmful substance. Out of those 54 workers, 20 dieddue to accidents involving electricity.

Assaults and violent acts accounted for 47 deaths. The majorityof those deaths were attributable to workers being shot during arobbery (350). Five workers were also stabbed and 10 workerscommitted suicide while on the job. Twelve workers also died due tofires and explosions.

Looking at worker demographic data, in 2005 men continued tosuffer the most on-the-job deaths at 382 as opposed to the 22fatalities suffered by women. Likewise, wage and salary workerswere more likely to suffer a life-ending injury (386) as comparedto self-employed workers (18). Other worker characteristics are asfollows:

Based on ethnic backgrounds, white non-Hispanic workersaccounted for the majority of deaths at 206, which is a 42 percentincrease over figures posted in 2003. Hispanic workers representedthe second highest number of deaths at 111, which mark the firstdecrease in Hispanic fatalities in seven years. Black and Asianworkers suffered 59 and nine fatalities, respectively.

Workers between the ages of 25 and 34 suffered the most deaths(93) as compared to 2003, when workers between 35 and 44 led thecategory. In 2005, workers between ages 35 and 44 accounted for 89deaths. Workers between 45 years to 54 registered 90 deaths.Workers age 55 or older accounted for 78 deaths and those workers24 and younger accounted for 45 deaths.