Historically Low Number of Workplace Deaths in Washington State

March 15, 2012
After years of steady decline, deaths in Washington state attributed to fatal workplace incidents fell to 51 in 2011, the lowest number of work-related deaths in the state’s history.

The deaths are reported in the Washington FACE 2011 Work-Related Fatalities Report, and based on preliminary data. Researchers count only deaths from traumatic injuries or acute chemical exposures. Deaths due to illnesses related to work are not included in this report.

The report is compiled by the Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) program, which is managed by researchers with L&I’s Safety and Health Assessment and Research for Prevention (SHARP) program. FACE is part of a national program designed to identify and study workplace fatalities.

In recent years, Washington has averaged between 80 and 90 work-related deaths annually. The previous low was in 2009, when 65 workers died on the job. The 2011 report noted that fewer workers in the agriculture, forestry, fishing and manufacturing industries died on the job. There were also fewer incidents involving multiple victims.

Researchers also noted:

  • On-the-job motor vehicle accidents were the No. 1 cause of workplace fatalities in 2011 with 19 deaths, eight of which involved heavy or tractor-trailer truck drivers.
  • Small businesses with 10 or fewer workers accounted for one-third of all workplace fatalities.
  • The 50-59 age group of workers suffered the most deaths.
  • Fatalities in the construction industry continued to remain low, with six deaths reported in 2011.
About the Author

Sandy Smith

Sandy Smith is the former content director of EHS Today, and is currently the EHSQ content & community lead at Intelex Technologies Inc. She has written about occupational safety and health and environmental issues since 1990.

Sponsored Recommendations

June 23, 2025
With the right workplace health and safety training, your organization can reduce risk and protect your employees.
June 23, 2025
This article covers the key steps to build a reliable SDS management program, from organizing your inventory and sourcing updated SDS to ensuring easy access and regular maintenance...
June 23, 2025
It's time to get a bit more granular and start to examine the types of metrics EHS departments should be tracking, starting with lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR).
June 23, 2025
With the number of lone workers on the rise, here are five facts every employer should know about lone working.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!