News release, Aug. 30, 1999

Georgia Department of Labor - Press Release
Georgia Department of
Labor
Suite 642 148 International Boulevard N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1751 (404)656-3032

August 30, 1999

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WORKPLACE FATALITIES DECLINE IN GEORGIA

ATLANTA -- State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said today that the number of people killed at work in Georgia in 1998, including those who died violently on-the-job, decreased by 19 percent from the previous year. A total of 195 workers lost their lives at work during the year, down from 241 in 1997.

The latest survey is from the 1998 Annual Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, a joint project of the Georgia Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The data is obtained from several federal, state and local governmental agencies and from private employers.

"Our police, fire and emergency medical services do an outstanding job of rescue," said Thurmond, "but if we are to truly combat violence and other fatalities in the workplace, prevention is the key. A partnership has to be established to open up better communications between employers and employees. To do this, the business community must seek the advice of experts to provide training in conflict management and employee assistance programs to deal with spouse and drug abuse and other domestic problems that spill over into the workplace."

To combat fatalities in the workplace, the labor department will hold a safety, health and environmental conference in Atlanta Sept. 28-29. The conference brings together a coalition of business, safety and health professionals who provide information to businesses on cost-effective solutions to their safety and health concerns. Employers interested in attending should call the labor department at (404) 656-2966.

While declining from 104 to 80, transportation accidents, mostly on the highways, continued to be the leading cause of death, as it has been since the state began compiling records in 1992.

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Georgia Department of Labor - Press Release
Violence, which includes murders and suicides, was the second leading cause of workplace deaths at 33, down from 39 the previous year. More than half of the violent deaths --18 -- occurred in the metro Atlanta area, mostly in retail establishments such as convenience stores and eating places.

Workers killed by contact with objects and equipment was the third leading cause of death at 32, down from 40 in 1997, while falls from higher places accounted for 29 deaths, one less than the previous year. Exposure to harmful substances or environments accounted for 16 deaths, down from 24, while fires and explosions caused five deaths, up from four.

Additional data and charts from the study are available on the Georgia Department of Labor's web site at www.dol.state.ga.us

NEWS MEDIA NEEDING MORE INFORMATION MAY CALL (404) 656-3032.

E-mail: communications@dol.state.ga.us.

FY-00-116

Table 1- Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, Georgia, 1998 Table 2- Fatal occupational injuries by selected characteristics, Georgia, 1998
Table 3- Fatal occupational injuries by occupation, Georgia, 1998 Table 4- Fatal occupational injuries by industry, Georgia, 1998
Table 5- Number of work-related deaths from assaults and violent acts by selected industry, Georgia, 1998
Table 6- Distribution of fatal occupational injuries by specific event categories for counties with three or more reported cases, Georgia, 1998
Table 7- Comparison of work-related deaths from assaults and violent acts and deaths from all causes, Georgia and Atlanta MSA, 1998
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An Equal Opportunity Employer

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Table 1. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, Georgia, 1998

Event1

Fatalities Number Percent

Total ...........................................................................

195

100

Transportation incidents ............................................

80

41

Highway .....................................................................

51

26

Collision between vehicles, mobile equipment ......

25

13

Moving in same direction ...................................

7

4

Moving in opposite directions, oncoming ...........

9

5

Moving in intersection ........................................

5

3

Vehicle struck stationary object or equipment on

side of road ......................................................

14

7

Noncollision ...........................................................

10

5

Jack-knifed or overturned--no collision ..............

8

4

Nonhighway (farm, industrial premises) ....................

8

4

Noncollision accident .............................................

5

3

Aircraft .......................................................................

7

4

Worker struck by vehicle, mobile equipment .............

10

5

Worker struck by vehicle, mobile equipment on

side of road ......................................................

3

2

Worker struck by vehicle, mobile equipment in

parking lot or non-road area ............................

3

2

Assaults and violent acts ...........................................

33

17

Homicides ..................................................................

25

13

Shooting ................................................................

22

11

Stabbing ................................................................

3

2

Self-inflicted injury .....................................................

7

4

Contact with objects and equipment .........................

32

16

Struck by object .........................................................

16

8

Struck by falling object ...........................................

9

5

Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects ...

11

6

Caught in running equipment or machinery ...........

4

2

Compressed or pinched by rolling, sliding, or

shifting objects .................................................

4

2

Caught in or crushed in collapsing materials .............

3

2

Falls ..............................................................................

29

15

Fall to lower level .......................................................

25

13

Fall from ladder ......................................................

4

2

Fall from roof .........................................................

8

4

Fall from building girders or other structural steel

7

4

Exposure to harmful substances or environments ..

16

8

Contact with electric current ......................................

10

5

Contact with wiring, transformers, or other

electrical component ........................................

3

2

Struck by lightning .................................................

3

2

Contact with temperature extremes ...........................

3

2

Exposure to environmental heat ............................

3

2

Fires and explosions ...................................................

5

3

Explosion ...................................................................

4

2

Explosion of pressure vessel or piping ..................

3

2

1 Based on the 1992 BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification Manual.
NOTE: Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown

separately. Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by selected characteristics, Georgia, 1998

Worker characteristics

Fatalities Number Percent

Total ..........................................................

195

100

Employee status

Wage and salary workers1 ........................

168

86

Self-employed2 ..........................................

27

14

Sex

Men ...........................................................

182

93

Women ......................................................

13

7

Age

Under 20 years ..........................................

10

5

20-24 years ...............................................

12

6

25-34 years ...............................................

44

23

35-44 years ...............................................

48

25

45-54 years ...............................................

47

24

55-64 years ...............................................

26

13

65 years and over ......................................

8

4

Race

White .........................................................

141

72

Black ..........................................................

38

19

Other .........................................................

16

8

Hispanic origin

Hispanic .....................................................

19

10

1 May include volunteers and

other

workers

receiving

compensation. 2 Includes paid and unpaid family

workers, and may include owners of

incorporated businesses, or

members of partnerships.

NOTE: Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

Table 3. Fatal occupational injuries by occupation, Georgia, 1998

Occupation1

Fatalities Number Percent

Total ...........................................................................

195

100

Managerial and professional specialty ......................

22

11

Executive, administrative, and managerial ................

14

7

Managers, food serving and lodging

establishments .................................................

4

2

Managers and administrators, n.e.c. .....................

8

4

Professional specialty ................................................

8

4

Lawyers and judges ...............................................

4

2

Lawyers .............................................................

4

2

Technical, sales, and administrative support ...........

24

12

Technicians and related support occupations ...........

8

4

Health technologists and technicians ....................

3

2

Technicians, except health, engineering, and

science ............................................................

3

2

Sales occupations .....................................................

9

5

Supervisors and proprietors, sales occupations ....

6

3

Administrative support occupations, including

clerical .................................................................

7

4

Material recording, scheduling, and distributing

clerks ...............................................................

3

2

Service occupations ....................................................

16

8

Protective service occupations ..................................

8

4

Police and detectives, including supervisors .........

5

3

Service occupations, except protective and

household ............................................................

8

4

Cleaning and building service occupations, except

household ........................................................

4

2

Farming, forestry, and fishing ....................................

20

10

Farming operators and managers .............................

4

2

Other agricultural and related occupations ................

12

6

Farm occupations, except managerial ...................

6

3

Farm workers .....................................................

6

3

Related agricultural occupations ...........................

6

3

Groundskeepers and gardeners, except farm ...

6

3

Forestry and logging occupations ..............................

3

2

Precision production, craft, and repair .....................

38

19

Mechanics and repairers ...........................................

12

6

Mechanics and repairers, except supervisors .......

12

6

Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics,

repairers ......................................................

6

3

Heavy equipment mechanics ........................

3

2

Miscellaneous mechanics and repairers ...........

5

3

Construction trades ...................................................

23

12

Supervisors, construction occupations ..................

5

3

Supervisors, n.e.c. .............................................

4

2

Construction trades, except supervisors ...............

18

9

Carpenters and apprentices ..............................

3

2

Structural metal workers ....................................

4

2

Precision production occupations ..............................

3

2

Operators, fabricators, and laborers .........................

68

35

Transportation and material moving occupations ......

45

23

Motor vehicle operators .........................................

34

17

Truck drivers ......................................................

25

13

Driver-sales workers ..........................................

6

3

Material moving equipment operators ...................

10

5

Operating engineers ..........................................

5

3

Industrial truck and tractor equipment operators

3

2

Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers

21

11

See footnotes at end of table.

Table 3. Fatal occupational injuries by occupation, Georgia, 1998 -- Continued

Occupation1

Fatalities Number Percent

Construction laborers ............................................

12

6

Laborers, except construction ...............................

7

4

Military occupations ................................................

7

4

1 Based on the 1990 Occupational Classification System developed by the Bureau of the Census.
NOTE: Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown

separately. Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

Table 4. Fatal occupational injuries by industry, Georgia, 1998

Industry1

Fatalities Number Percent

Total ..................................................................

195

100

Private industry ...........................................................

172

88

Agriculture, forestry and fishing ........................

18

9

Agricultural production - crops ...........................

7

4

Agricultural services ..........................................

8

4

Landscape and horticultural services ............

7

4

Lawn and garden services .........................

4

2

Ornamental shrub and tree

services ...............................................

3

2

Construction ........................................................

45

23

General building contractors ..............................

4

2

Heavy construction, except building ..................

10

5

Highway and street construction ...................

3

2

Heavy construction, except highway .............

7

4

Water, sewer, and utility lines ....................

4

2

Special trades contractors .................................

31

16

Electrical work ...............................................

5

3

Concrete work ...............................................

4

2

Miscellaneous special trade

contractors ...............................................

16

8

Structural steel erection .............................

6

3

Special trade contractors, n.e.c. ................

9

5

Manufacturing ......................................................

32

16

Food and kindred products ................................

4

2

Lumber and wood products ...............................

10

5

Logging ..........................................................

5

3

Sawmills and planing mills .............................

3

2

Sawmills and planing mills, general ...........

3

2

Petroleum and coal products .............................

3

2

Transportation and public utilities .....................

21

11

Trucking and warehousing ................................

13

7

Trucking and courier services, except air ......

13

7

Trucking, except local ................................

9

5

Wholesale trade ...................................................

4

2

Retail trade ...........................................................

17

9

Food stores ........................................................

3

2

Automotive dealers and service

stations ........................................................

3

2

Eating and drinking places ................................

6

3

Eating places .................................................

5

3

Finance, insurance, and real estate ...................

5

3

Services ................................................................

30

15

Business services ..............................................

6

3

Miscellaneous business services ..................

4

2

Automotive repair, services, and

parking .........................................................

5

3

Automotive services, except repair ................

3

2

Health services ..................................................

3

2

Legal services ....................................................

5

3

Government2 ................................................................

23

12

1 Classified according to the Standard Industrial Classification Manual, 1987.
2 Includes fatalities to workers employed by governmental organizations regardless of industry.
NOTE: Totals for major categories may

include subcategories not shown separately. Percentages may not add to totals because of rounding.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

Table 5: Number of work-related deaths from assaults and violent acts by selected industry: Georgia 1998.

Industry
Total Retail Trade -eating place -others

Assaults aannddviVoiloelnetnt Acts

Total HomicidesSuicides Other

33

25

7

1

11

8

3

7

6

1

4

2

2

Services

7

6

1

Construction

5

5

Public Administration

4

2

2

Others

6

4

1

1

Based on the 1992 Bureau of LaboorrsStatat tistics Occupational Injuries and Ilnesses Classification structures.
Standard Industrial Classification Manual, 1987 Edition.
NOTE: Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown separately. Dashes indicate less than three fatalities and do not meet publication criteria.
SOURCE: Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, Georgia DepartmenetnotfoLfaLbaobro. r.

Table 6: Distribution of Fatal Occupational Injuries by specific event categories for counties with three or more reported ccaasseess;: Georgia, 1998 Georgia 1998

Counties

Fatalities

Total

Assaults and Violent Acts

Number Percent HomicidesSelf-inflicted injurieOs ther

Total

195

100

25

7

1

Bartow

6

3.1

Burke

4

2.1

Carrol

4

2.1

Chatham

7

3.6

Chattahoochee 3

1.5

Clarke

4

2.1

Clayton

5

2.6

Cobb

12

6.2

Cook

3

1.5

Decautor

4

2.1

Dekalb

11

5.6

Forsyth

5

2.6

Fulton

26

13

7

Gwinnett

8

4.1

4

Henry

6

3.1

Liberty

3

1.5

Lowdness

4

2.1

Muscogee

3

1.5

Oconee

3

1.5

Whitfield

9

4.6

All others

65

33.3

14

7

1

Source: Census of fatal Occupational; Injuries, Georgia Deaprtment of Labor.

Table 7: Comparison of work-related deaths from assaults and violent acts and deaths from all causes during 1998, Georgia and Atlanta MSA.

Deaths from assaults and violent acts

Deaths from all causes

Location

number percent

number percent

Georgia

33

17

195

100

Atlanta MSA

18

55

94

48

Metropolitan Atlanta

14

42

62

32

The Atlanta Metroplitan Statistical Area (MSA) is comprised of the following countienst:ieBsa:rrow, Bartow, Carroll, Che Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dekalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Spalding and Walton counties.

The Metropolitan Atlanta Area is comprised of a subbsseet toof fththeeMMSSAAccoouunttsie. sT.hTehseesceocuonutinetsies are follows: Clayton, are as follows: Clayton, Cobb, Dekalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties.

ton counties.