Fatal and Nonfatal Occupational Injuries to Logging Workers: The Facts of the Ax Men

Background and Objectives: Logging workers face a unique set of hazards that contributed to fatal and serious nonfatal occupational injuries at higher rates than other occupation groups. From 2006 to 2010 there were 322 fatal and 4,610 nonfatal injuries that required days away from work in this occupation. Methods: Using the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries and the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, fatal and nonfatal injuries among Logging workers (SOC 45-402*) were examined. Worker demographics, industry, narratives, and event circumstances were reviewed and evaluated. Results: Logging workers in the U.S. recorded a preliminary rate of 91.9 fatal work injuries per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers in 2010, 26.3 times the all-worker rate of 3.5. The incidence rate of nonfatal injury or illness requiring days away from work for logging workers was 196.6 per 10,000 full-time workers, 1.8 times the all-worker rate of 107.7 in 2010. From 2006-2010 struck by object and fall to lower level incidents accounted for almost half of the injuries requiring days away from work and almost three quarters of fatal injuries to logging workers. Conclusion: Logging workers appear to be at a higher risk of nonfatal and fatal injury than all workers as a group. Understanding the nature of the events that led to the nonfatal and fatal injuries among this worker group may lead to interventions that can better protect the safety and health needs of these workers.