The number of people killed in work-related incidents in Georgia dropped by 3.1% in 2021 according to newly released data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2021, 187 workers lost their lives related to their employment in Georgia.
The decline is noteworthy in that Georgia’s employment grew by 4.9% between 2020 and 2021. The decline in Georgia work-related deaths contrasts with a 8.9% increase for the nation.
Transportation-related incidents continued to account for the largest number of fatalities and were responsible for 40% of work-related deaths in the state.
Homicides accounted for 16% of all work-related fatalities in Georgia with violent incidents increasing 60% over the year.
Industry
Construction remains a significant industry for fatalities with 40workers killed in 2021 compared to 37 the prior year.
The agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting sector saw 11
fatalities in 2021, down from 12 in the previous year.
Employment in trucking was considerably less deadly in 2021,
with 17 workers dying in 2021 compared to 30 deaths the previous year.
Workers in government occupations – federal, state, and
local governments – experienced 16 work-related deaths. Of that total, 8 work-related
deaths occurred to police officers in Georgia.
Events
Transportation-related events continued to account for the
greatest number of work-related fatalities in Georgia during 2021. Of the 187
fatalities, 76 were transportation related. These included roadway incidents
(40), pedestrians hit by vehicles (16), non-roadway incidents involving
vehicles (11), and incidents involving aircraft (8). The number of deaths due
to roadway incidents declined by 8 over the year, while the number of
fatalities due to non-roadway incidents rose by 4.
Work-related deaths related to violence were up sharply in
2021, rising to 37 from 23 in the previous year. Of the 37 deaths, 30 were
homicides in 2021, up from 12 the previous year. Most of the homicides occurred
by intentional shootings (25). Nationally, homicides accounted for 9% of
work-related fatalities in 2021. In Georgia, they represented 16% of all
work-related deaths.
Exposure to harmful substances or environments accounted for
31 deaths, an increase of 10 over the prior year. Death by unintentional overdose
(nonmedical use) of drugs or alcohol accounted for 15 deaths, while accidental electrocution
was the cause of 8 of the fatalities.
All other events or exposures were listed as the cause of
the remaining fatalities.
