Work-Related Deaths Decline in West Virginia

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Work-related deaths in West Virginia have fallen to their lowest level since 2002.

Preliminary figures released this week by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show 41 workers suffered fatal on-the-job injuries in 2009, down from 53 in 2008. Forty workers died in 2002.

Highway incidents were the top cause of work-related deaths last year with 11 fatalities. Being hit by objects or equipment was second with eight deaths.

Five workers died from injuries suffered in nonhighway incidents. Being caught in or compressed by equipment or objects accounted for three deaths.

Transportation and warehousing led all sectors with 11 deaths, followed by five deaths each in mining, construction, manufacturing, government and agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting.

Sixty-one percent of the workers who were killed were in the prime working group of ages 25 to 54.

The Hagerstown, Md.-Martinsburg metropolitan area recorded the highest number of work-related fatalities among metro areas with 13. Charleston was second with seven deaths, followed by three each in the Huntington-Ashland, Ky.-Ohio and Wheeling-Ohio metro areas.