Trends in SIFs and the most dangerous jobs in 2021

Serious injuries and fatalities

ISN, a global leader in contractor and supplier information management, recently released its latest Serious Injuries and Fatalities (SIFs) White Paper, which analyzed more than 94,000 recordable incidents from 2017-2021. Using OSHA's definition of severe injuries, "an amputation, in-patient hospitalization, or loss of an eye," the analysis determined that in the five-year time frame, there were 2,773 amputations, 17,264 hospitalizations, and no eye losses. Out of the more than 20,000 cases, there were 677 fatalities.

Major findings include:

• Every year more than 40 percent of SIF events were caused by contact with an object or equipment, with 2021 seeing the highest rate at 48 percent. The other major causes include falls, slips, and trips as well as overexertion and bodily reaction.
• The most common nature of SIFs also stayed consistent year over year - sprains, strains, and tears were always the leading nature, though fractures and dislocations weren't far behind.
• Upper extremities are the most affected body part, whereas in past surveys lower extremities were the most affected body part.
• Consistent with previous reports, elevated cases were found in July and August, however, January also emerged as a dangerous month. Researchers suggest this could be attributed to an extended holiday break and workers returning with low energy levels and morale, lack of focus, and busy schedules.
• Construction, Manufacturing, Transportation and Warehousing, and Administrative Support & Waste Management and Remediation are the four industries with the highest SIF rates. The Utilities sector has seen a significant and sustained decline of 72% in its SIF rate from 2017 to 2021.

Leading indicators that can impact SIFs:

• According to the report, contractors who implemented a Process Safety Management or Hazard Communication Program experienced a 27 to 29 percent lower SIF rate. Companies with policies of employee criminal background checks see a 23 percent lower rate.
• Four leading indicators associated with higher SIF rates were also identified. These include operation of commercial motor vehicles (39 percent higher), working on surfaces six feet or higher (43 percent higher), citations from as late as three years ago (68 percent higher), and working with rigging material handling (77 percent higher).

SIF potential is ever-present. Companies must regularly collect and analyze SIF-related data and use insights to identify, assess, and control the precursors associated with high-risk activities.

The deadliest jobs in 2021

Going by the sheer number of on-the-job deaths, the delivery drivers classification was by far the most dangerous with 1,032 deaths in 2021. However, the potential risk of a fatality in a specific occupation is best determined when the fatal work injury rate, calculated per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers, is used. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) uses this formula to determine the fatal injury rate:

* 200,000,000 = base for 100,000 equivalent full-time workers (working 40 hours per week, 50 weeks per year)

In 2021, the average fatality rate among all jobs was 3.6 per 100,000 workers, yet these occupations have exponentially higher death rates:

1. Logging workers

   Fatal injury rate: 82.2

   Number of fatal injuries: 43

   Noteworthy: The profession is split up into several subcategories, but fallers, who cut down trees with hand-held power chainsaws, are at the highest risk, accounting for 33 of the 43 deaths. Most deaths resulted from contact with a machine or object.

2. Fishing and hunting workers

   Fatal injury rate: 75.2

   Number of fatal injuries: 23

   Noteworthy: There was a significant decrease in fatal injury rates from a high of 132.1 in 2020. Death by drowning among fishing workers accounts for most of the fatalities. Common causes include slippery decks, entanglement in fish nets, and being knocked over deck by large waves or storms.

3. Roofers

   Fatal injury rate: 59.0

   Number of fatal injuries: 115

   Noteworthy: The most common cause of fatalities is slipping and falling from scaffolding, ladders, and roofs, accounting for 96 of the 115 deaths in 2021.

4. Aircraft pilots and flight engineers

   Fatal injury rate: 48.1

   Number of fatal injuries: 68

   Noteworthy: Commercial pilots represent 59 of the 68 deaths and most fatalities occur in crashes of privately owned planes and helicopters rather than on regularly scheduled commercial jet aircraft.

5. Structural iron and steel workers

   Fatal injury rate: 36.1

   Number of fatal injuries: 14

   Noteworthy: Falls, slips, and trips are the most common fatal occupational accident.

6. Driver/sales workers and truck drivers

   Fatal injury rate: 28.8

   Number of fatal injuries: 1,032

   Noteworthy: This classification had the highest number of occupational deaths, which was also a 16.3 percent increase from the 887 deaths in 2020. Traffic crashes were the leading cause of death, with 814 deaths due to roadway incidents.

7. Refuse and recyclable material collectors

   Fatal injury rate: 27.9

   Number of fatal injuries: 23

   Noteworthy: The most common cause of death is being struck by a garbage truck or other vehicle.

8. Underground mining machine operators

   Fatal injury rate: 26.7

   Number of fatal injuries: 10

   Noteworthy: The most common cause of death is contact with objects or equipment.

9. Construction trades helpers

   Fatal injury rate: 22.9

   Number of fatal injuries: 15

   Noteworthy: The most common causes of death are falls and trips on construction sites.

10. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

    Fatal injury rate: 22.0

    Number of fatal injuries: 30

    Noteworthy: The most common cause of death is death from electrocution.

11. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

    Fatal injury rate: 19.4

    Number of fatal injuries: 46

    Noteworthy: Transportation incidents were the leading cause of death.

12. Grounds maintenance workers

    Fatal injury rate: 19.1

    Number of fatal injuries: 225

    Noteworthy: Landscaping and groundskeeping workers had 142 deaths, and tree trimmers and pruners had 78. Considered separately, tree trimmers and pruners have one of the highest rates of work-caused deaths. The most common causes were falls, falling tree limbs, and accidents involving equipment such as saws.

13. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers

    Fatal injury rate: 18.3

    Number of fatal injuries: 41

    Noteworthy: Transportation incidents, falls, slips, and trips, and exposure to harmful substances were leading causes of death.

14. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

    Fatal injury rate: 17.5

    Number of fatal injuries: 167

    Noteworthy: Transportation incidents and contact with objects and equipment were the leading causes of death.

15. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers

    Fatal injury rate:17.1

    Number of fatal injuries: 117

    Noteworthy: The construction and extraction occupations had the second most occupational deaths (951) in 2021, although the fatality rate for the occupation decreased from 13.5 in 2020 to 12.3 in 2021.

To explore the fatal injury rates of more occupations:

BLS resources:
 Summary
 Tables

USA Today created a search tool to find the fatal and nonfatal injury rates for about 550 common jobs. While it is based on BLS data, the fatal injury rate is calculated somewhat differently.