August 17, 2000

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The number of Illinois workers killed on the job in 1999 fell 4 percent from the previous year to the lowest level in the eight-year history of the fatality census, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported today.

There were a total of 208 workplace deaths last year compared with 216 in 1998 and 240 in 1997.

The Department’s Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, conducted for the eighth year, is part of a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics effort to provide a complete count of fatal work injuries in all 50 states. In Illinois, records are compiled by the Department from a variety of sources, including death certificates, worker’s compensation reports, U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports and news media stories.

The deaths are grouped in various categories including industry, occupation, event, sex, race and age.

Based on the number of deaths recorded by occupation, farming had the most fatalities in the state in 1999 with 29 deaths, followed by truck driving with 24 and the construction trades with 22. In 1998, truck drivers had the most fatalities with 34, followed by the construction trades with 22 deaths and farmers with 19 deaths.

Construction and transportation/public utilities were the industries with the most fatalities, each with 37 (18 percent of the total). In construction, 23 deaths were special trades contractors, which include electrical work, roofing and siding; eight in heavy construction; and six in general building. Trucking and warehousing accounted for more than half the deaths (19) in the transportation and public utilities category and six in air transportation. Agriculture, forestry and fishing deaths were the third highest industry classification with 34 cases, nearly 80 percent of which were in general farming and three cases in landscaping and horticultural services. In 1998, transportation and public utilities had the highest number of workplace deaths with 49 and construction followed with 34; agriculture, forestry and fishing 28; and manufacturing 28.

Men suffered 195 or 94 percent of the workplace deaths, 15 times higher than women, but down from the 207 or 96 percent in 1998. Whites accounted for 180 or 89 percent of the fatalities, up from 178 or 82 percent in 1998. Twenty-five African-Americans died on the job in 1999 and 21 Hispanics. Among age groups, the highest number of deaths was recorded among persons 35 to 44 years of age with 51, followed by persons 45 to 54 years of age with 50 and 25 to 34 years of age with 32. In 1998, most deaths were in the 35 to 44 age group (67) followed by 44 in the 45 to 54 age group. One fourth of those who died in 1999 (51) were self-employed, up slightly from 23 percent in 1998 (49).

Homicides with 29 deaths was the leading event cause of workplace fatalities. Falls to lower levels accounted for 26, highway collision and noncollision 24, being struck by an object 19, contact with an electrical current 11 and fires and explosions 9. In 1998, highway crashes or rollovers were the leading event cause of death on the job with 41, followed by homicides with 30 and falls to lower levels with 26.

Since 1992 when the Department began collecting occupational deaths, the highest number recorded was 262 in 1996. Other years and death totals were 248 in 1992, 252 in 1993, 247 in 1994, 249 in 1995.