Occupational Fatalities Drop 3% in 2016

Thursday, December 21, 2017 | 0

The number of fatal workplace injuries in California dropped 3% in 2016, the Department of Industrial Relations announced.

Christine Baker

The DIR said 376 Californians died on the job in 2016, compared to 388 in 2015.

One in five workplace deaths in 2016 were attributed to violence or injuries caused by people or animals, the department said. Workplace homicides in 2016 accounted for 12% of occupational deaths.

Nearly two-fifths — 38% — of the workplace deaths occurred in transportation incidents. One-sixth of the fatalities were attributed to trips, slips and falls, the department said.

The department also reported that the percentage of fatalities involving Latino workers dropped to 39% in 2016, from 46% the year before.

“Even one workplace fatality is too many, and our thoughts are with the families of those that died on the job last year,” DIR Director Christine Baker said. “The fatality data released today is a reminder that we must all continue our efforts to reduce workplace safety and health hazards in order to prevent worker deaths.”