Md. Workplace Fatalities Rises in 2006

Statistics show the number of fatal work injuries in Maryland rose to 105 last year, an increase of 10 from the year before.

The figure also represents the highest annual total since the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics began it’s annual fatality census in 1992. Men accounted for 96 of the fatalities.

There were 21 workplace homicides in the state in 2006, 20 fatal traffic accidents and 18 fatal falls to a lower level. Those three categories combined for more than half of the total.

Construction and extraction occupations had the highest number of fatalities at 27, followed by transportation and material moving occupations with 22.

Nationwide, there were 5,703 fatal work injuries last year 2006, down slightly from the revised total of 5,734 fatal work injuries in 2005.