How and why did 78 workers die in New York City during 2014?

It will still likely be months before we have firm data related to the number and nature of fatal work injuries that occurred in New York City during 2015. However, numbers from 2014 indicate some trends that are likely to have continued into, and well beyond, 2015.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, during 2014, a total of 78 workers were killed on the job in New York City, which represents nearly a 40 percent increase over the number in fatal injuries that occurred during 2013.

Cited as contributing to the deaths of 25 workers, violence and injuries caused by a person or animal topped the list followed closely by falls, trips and slips which were cited in 20 work-related deaths.

Not surprisingly, working construction in the city remains among the most-dangerous jobs with construction workers suffering 28 percent of fatal work injuries. Additionally, 24 percent of fatal work-related injuries were suffered by employees within the trade, transportation and utilities industry.

91 percent of those workers who were killed were male with, at 28 percent, workers between the ages of 55 to 64 accounting for the most-impacted age group. Additionally, Hispanic and Latino workers were the most likely to suffer fatal workplace injuries and 32 out of the 78 workers who died in 2014 were identified as being Hispanic or Latino.

As the numbers become available, we’ll continue to provide information and details related to fatal work injuries that occurred in the city during 2015.

Based on the figures from 2014, it’s clear that all employers must do more to protect workers from becoming victims of violence and that employers within the construction industry must make improvements to their fall-prevention safety plans.