Texas Work Related Death Toll Rose in 2007

Bucking the national trend toward lower work related deaths, Texas work related fatalities rose to 527 in 2007, an 8 percent increase over 2006, according to the Texas Department of Insurance.

The state also saw a 56 percent increase in the number of employment related homicides in 2007 over 2006.

The work-related death toll represented the first time since 2001 the state passed the 500 mark. Texas reported 489 work-related deaths in 2006.

A few details of the work related deaths figures:

–The number of work related homicides rose from 45 in 2006 to 70 last year. Women were victims in 47 percent of assaults and violent acts.
–Transportation incidents remained the highest cause of work related deaths in 2007 at 192, even though that number was slightly down from 202 in 2006. Of those, highway accidents took 132 lives.
–Construction employees had the highest number of deaths (105) with most of those caused by falls or transportation accidents. Hispanic workers accounted for 53 percent of the total falls.