An analysis of workplace fatalities in USW-represented workplaces (2008-2010)

The United Steelworkers (USW) is the largest industrial union in North America and has 850,000 members in the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean. It represents workers employed in a variety of industries including metals, rubber, chemicals, paper, oil refining, atomic energy and the service sector. Between 2008 and 2010 there were 147 fatalities reported in USW-represented workplaces. The USW Health, Safety & Environment Department responded to each fatality to assist our local union with the investigation and report on the details of the injury. A records review of the 147 USW fatality reports was performed to assess trends in industries and causes of workplace fatalities. All of the reported deaths happened while workers were at the workplace; therefore this data primarily represents occupational injury deaths and not deaths related to occupational disease. Preliminary results indicated that the three USW-represented industries with the highest number of deaths were steel, paper and oil. This session will describe trends in the USW fatality data related to industry and cause of the workplace fatality. It will also identify target topics and industry groups for prevention and outline additional needs related to collection of fatality data.