BLS Data Shows Lowest Fatality Rate in OSHA History
The Bureau of Labor Statistics on Wednesday issued a report showing that the number of U.S. worker fatalities declined six percent from 2006. Although final results for 2007 will be released in April 2009, the preliminary figure for 2007 is 5,488 fatal injuries recorded in the United States compared to 5,840 reported for 2006.
In a response to the report, U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao issued the following statement:
"This is continued evidence that the initiatives and programs to protect workers’ safety and health, designed by and implemented in this administration, are indeed working. In addition to a decline in the overall number of fatalities, the rate for 2007 declined to 3.7 fatalities per 100,000 workers. This is the lowest fatality rate in recorded OSHA history."