The
Montana Department of Labor & Industry (DLI) today released the annual
Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. Montana experienced 38 work-related
fatal injuries in 2019, an increase from 28 in 2018.
Transportation
incidents were the leading cause of fatal occupational injuries to Montana
workers in 2019, accounting for 19, or half of the year’s fatalities.
Transportation events could include aircraft, train, collision and
non-collision vehicle, and pedestrian vs. vehicle incidents. Vehicles could
include fire or semi-trucks, cars, passenger vehicles, animal powered vehicles,
on-road or off-road terrain vehicles, farm tractor or industrial tractors.
Additional
details included within the 2019 report:
- Thirty-seven
of Montana’s fatalities were private industry workers and one was a
government worker.
- Thirty-two
of the fatal work injuries were experienced by male workers, six were
female.
- Wage
and salary workers experienced 18 workplace fatalities, while
self-employed workers had 20.
The census
is conducted as part of a complete count of fatal work injuries in all 50 U.S.
states and the District of Columbia by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The
statistics are used to fulfill a commitment to increasing safety in the
workplace across the nation.
The full
2019 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries in Montana can be found here:
http://erd.dli.mt.gov/Portals/54/Documents/Work-Comp-Claims/OSHS/2019
Montana Census of Fatal Occupations Injuries.pdf?ver=2020-12-21-133915-943
Montana
businesses can contact DLI’s Safety & Health Bureau to receive free,
confidential safety consultations that can assist in complying with
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. Professional
staff are available to help employers identify safety and health hazards and
provide recommendations to eliminate or reduce hazards and improve the overall
safety of their workplace.
These
consultations are free, and no fines or penalties are levied for any safety or
health hazards found. Request a free consultation by contacting the Safety
& Health Bureau at (406) 494-0324. For more information on the Safety &
Health Consultation Program, visit
http://erd.dli.mt.gov/safety-health/onsite-consultation?pk_vid=263404bcd152759315754003787a2bf1. To request a free safety
consultation, visit
http://erd.dli.mt.gov/safety-health/onsite-consultation/on-site-safety-consultation-request.