New and Updates
May 2013: The Oregon Occupational Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (OR-FACE) Program has published its annual report for 2010—Occupational Fatalities in Oregon Annual Report 2010. In 2010, OR FACE recorded 48 fatal occupational incidents, with 50 worker deaths. Overall, the number of fatalities was lower compared to the last three years. In 2009, there were 64 worker deaths, 61 worker deaths in 2008, and 68 worker deaths in 2007. Consistent with previous trends, transportation remains the most common event, industry, and occupation to cause work-related fatalities in Oregon. The second most frequent cause of death was violence, with suicide being the most common (12 of the 15 violent incidents). Management occupations had the second highest occupational death rate, after transportation.
April 2013: "Elevated occupational transportation fatalities among older workers in Oregon: an empirical investigation" was published in this month's Accident Analysis & Prevention. You can read about the findings here.
March 2013: OR-FACE has developed Toolbox Talk Guides to address one of the most common worksite hazards in the State and Nation - construction falls. The first four toolbox talk guides can be downloaded here.
February 2013: The OR-FACE 2009 Annual Report is complete and is available for download here. In 2009, OR-FACE recorded 58 fatal occupational incidents, with 64 worker deaths. The number represents a rate of 3.5 fatalities per 100,000 employed workers in the civilian labor force in Oregon. The national worker fatality rate in 2009 was 3.5 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers, down from 3.7 in 2008 (CFOI). Overall, the annual number of fatalities was relatively stable compared to the past two years. In 2008, there were 61 worker deaths and 68 worker deaths in 2007. Transportation was the most common event and occupation for fatalities among workers in Oregon. The second most frequent cause of death was contact with objects or equipment. Agricultural occupations (farming and ranching) had the second highest occupational death count. Compared to 2007 and 2008 data, a higher proportion of incidents involved women in 2009 (8%, compared to 4% and 5%, respectively). Violence accounted for three of five female fatalities in 2009.
January 2013: OR-FACE staff traveled to Central Oregon to attend the Mid-Oregon Construction Safety Summit in Bend and to collect data on construction fall prevention materials in Prineville.
December 2012: The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in a news release that the preliminary count of fatal work injuries totaled 57 in 2011 for Oregon, an increase by 10 over the year. Fatal occupational injuries in the state have ranged from a high of 88 in 1992 to a low of 44 in 2001. Nationwide, the preliminary total count of 2011 fatal work injuries went down from those recorded in 2010, according to results from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) program. Final 2011 CFOI data will be released in Spring 2013.
September 2012: The Oregon FACE investigation report, Janitor using propane buffer killed by carbon monoxide, was featured the September issue of Safety + Health, published by the National Safety Council. This investigation report addresses specific hazards while working with propane-powered equipment indoors.
