Topeka, KS – Kansas had 74 fatal work-related injuries in 2016, according to the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). The CFOI program is a national census conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in partnership with the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL), Division of Industrial Safety and Health (ISH).
Transportation incidents in Kansas accounted for 50.0 percent of the fatal work-related injuries in 2016 with 37 fatalities. Of the 37 transportation-related fatal injuries, 27 fatalities or 73.0 percent were roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicles. Non-roadway incidents, such as a tractor overturned in a farm field, accounted for another 7 fatalities or 19.0 percent of the transportation-related fatal injuries.
- In the nation, transportation incidents were also the most frequent fatal work-related injuries in 2016, accounting for 40.1 percent of all fatal work-related injuries. However, Kansas’ 50.0 percent share of fatal work-related injuries in this industry was larger than the nationwide share.
- Within the goods producing industry group, the natural resources and mining sector had the most fatal work-related injuries for 2016 with 21 fatalities, or 28.4 percent of the state’s total fatal work-related injuries. This industry includes the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting sector.
- Within the service providing industry group, the trade, transportation and utilities sector had the most fatal work-related injuries in 2016 with 16 fatalities, or 21.6 percent of the state’s total fatal work-related injuries. This industry includes wholesale and retail trade as well as transportation and warehousing.
- Men accounted for 69 or 93.2 percent of the fatal work-related injuries that occurred in 2016.
- White, non-Hispanic workers accounted for 64 of the 74 fatal work-related injuries in 2016.
- In 2016, workers aged 35-44 accounted for 18 of the fatal work-related injuries followed by 16 fatalities in the workers aged 65 years and over category.
- In 2016, 53 fatal work-related injuries occurred in the wage and salary workers category while 21 fatalities were self-employed workers.
The CFOI program collects data from multiple sources for every fatal work-related injury recorded. Each case must have two or more substantiating documents. These source documents include death certificates, workers compensation reports, motor vehicle accident reports, OSHA reports, news accounts, coroner’s reports, obituaries, employer questionnaires and other federal and state records. Each fatality is counted in the state where the incident occurs regardless of the state of employment. This ensures there is no duplication of reporting by the states.
For more information regarding this survey, please visit the BLS website at http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm.
Additionally, charts and tables for Kansas may be viewed on the KDOL website.
Source: KDOL