An Interesting News Release by Bureau of Labor Statistics

snip
"“This is the third consecutive increase in annual workplace fatalities and the first time more than 5,000 fatalities have been recorded by the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries since 2008. The fatal injury rate increased to 3.6 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers from 3.4 in 2015, the highest rate since 2010.”
Other findings include:
• Work injuries involving transportation incidents remained the most common fatal event in 2016, accounting for 40%.
• Fatalities associated with exposure to harmful substances or environments rose 22%.
• Fatal work injuries from slips, trips and falls increased 6%, with a 25% overall increase since 2011.
• Deaths from falls increased more than 25% in 2016 for workers who routinely perform elevated work, such as roofers, carpenters, tree trimmers and pruners, as well as for truck drivers.
• Overdoses from the non-medical use of drugs or alcohol while on the job increased 32%. Overdose fatalities have increased by at least 25% annually since 2012.
• In 2016, fatal injuries among transportation and material moving occupations increased by 7% to 1,388, the highest count since 2007 and accounting for more than one-quarter of all work-related fatalities.
• Occupations with increases greater than 10% in the number of fatal work injuries in 2016 include food preparation and serving related occupations (64%); installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (20%); building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (14%); and sales and related occupations (11%)."

Found the notion about on the job deaths due to drugs or alcohol to be alarming. Also, was surprised to see the food prep and serving occupations with such a high number. Would not have guessed that.

I'm not surprised that we continue to see more workplace deaths and injuries given the "dereg at all costs" environment, though.