b'Industry NewsWorker Fatality Rate Grew in 2014 for First Time Since 2010By Bruce Rolfsen, Published by: BNA Construction Labor Report on April 28, 2016T he workplace fatality rate in the U.S. increasedborn workers accounted for 64 percent of the Hispanic slightly during 2014, rising to 3.4 deaths perlosses in 2014.100,000 full-time-equivalent workers, the LaborAmong industry groups, construction continued to Departments Bureau of Labor Statistics announced Aprilhave the most deaths899 in 2014up about 9 percent 21. from the prior year. The number of hours worked grew 7 Although 3.4 is the second lowest rate recorded sincepercent.2006, when the agency changed how it calculates fatalityThe construction fatality rate increased 1 percent to 9.8 numbers, the uptick marked the first time since 2010deaths for every 100,000 full-time-equivalent workers. that the fatality rate increased. The record low, 3.3, wasBy construction occupation, roofers had the worst fatality recorded in 2013 (61 CLR 225, 4/30/15). rate47.4, and structural iron and steel workers the Altogether for 2014, the BLS counted 4,821 workplacesecond most25.2.deaths, up about 5 percent from 4,585 in 2013. The 4,821Transportation and warehousing had 766 deaths, up fatalities is the most deaths since 2008 when 5,214 workersabout 5 percent from 2013. The rate increase was less than died on the job. 1 percent.An increase in overall deaths was expected. AmericanManufacturers experienced 349 deaths, about 12 percent workers logged about 2 percent more work hours on themore than in 2013. The rate grew about 10 percent.job in 2014 than they had the previous year, according toWyoming High the BLS.The numbers released April 21 were the BLSs finalWhen examined by state, Wyoming had the highest calculations for the 2014 Census of Fatal Occupational2014 fatality rate13.1. North Dakota, which had Injuries. In September 2015, the BLS issued preliminaryexperienced the highest rate for 2013 and 2012, had the numbers for 2014. The final calculation added 142 deathssecond highest rate9.8. The states high rates have been that hadnt been officially counted as on-the-job when theattributed to several factors including the rapid growth of September figures were issued (61 CLR 729, 9/24/15). oil and gas industry that put thousands of inexperienced Hispanic Deaths Declineworkers into hazardous jobs and the large numbers of high-hazard agriculture and mining jobs.While rates and fatalities grew slightly during 2014Most of the states with the lowest rates were clustered for most worker categories and occupations, there wasin Northeast, with Massachusetts recording the lowest one notable decrease. Deaths among Hispanic workersfigure1.7.declined. Texas had the largest number of fatalities, 531, with a The fatality rate among Hispanic workers was 3.7, downrate of 4.5, and California the from 2013s rate of 3.9. The overall number also decreased,second most deaths, 344, with a from 817 deaths in 2013 to 804 during 2014. Foreign- rate of 2.0.6 www.mrca.orgMidwest Roofer'