WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Bureau of Labor Statistics 2001 workplace fatality report contains sad news for American workers and little reassurance that the workplace is less dangerous now than in 2000, and for workers in some industries things are getting more dangerous. This report only confirms what too many grieving families already knew, that workplace hazards cost lives.
The report provides painful reminders of the massive impact of the September 11 tragedy on working men and women. The vast majority – 2,886 – of those killed on that terrible day were workers at their jobs or who responded to the attack. Hundreds of those killed on September 11 were rescue workers, government workers and union members, who along with so many others were heroes who tried to save lives.
Overall incidents and the rate of fatal workplace injuries was essentially the same, while workplace fatalities from falls and electrocutions increased. For over a decade, fatalities among Hispanic workers have continued to rise, and in the last year it rose significantly. Since 1992 workplace fatalities among Hispanic workers have increased by an alarming 75 percent, from 508 fatalities in 1992 to 891 in 2001. Clearly, efforts to address this serious problem have not been sufficient and stepped up action is urgently needed.
Fatalities were also up sharply in construction, agriculture, mining and government, in some cases reversing years of improvement. And while the leading causes of fatal injury – transportation incidents and assaults and violent acts – resulted in fewer deaths, workplace fatalities from falls and electrocutions increased significantly.
Today’s report demonstrates that workers need more protection, not less. The Bush Administration and the Congress should be fighting for increased worker protections, not cutting federal funding for safeguards and job safety budgets.
America’s working heroes spend their days building our cities and making our families safer on roads, in our homes, at our own jobs, and all throughout the community. These working heroes deserve increased protection against injuries, diseases and fatalities caused by their jobs.