The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 135 work-related deaths in 2020 around Chicago, Illinois. Work related-deaths in Illinois were down from 2019. The highest number of work-related deaths in Illinois was in 1996 with 262. Nationally, there were 5,333 fatal work injuries in 2019 and 4,764 in 2020, which is an 11% decrease.
Fatal event or exposure
There are several reasons for work-related deaths, but transportation incidents are the main factor. Transportation incidents resulted in 55 work-related deaths, which was 41% of all fatal work injuries. There were two more transportation incidents in 2020 than in 2019. The second most frequent cause of work-related deaths includes falls, slips and trips. The 24 fall, slip and trip deaths in 2020 were two less than in 2019. Another cause of work-related deaths was violence from people or animals, which was 22 in 2020 and 31 in 2019. Contact with objects caused 17 work-related deaths in 2020, which were six fewer than in 2019. Nationally, transportation incidents were 37% of fatal work injuries in 2020.
Industry
The highest number of work-related deaths was in the private transportation and warehousing industry. The 27 fatal work injuries in Illinois in 2020 were three fewer than in 2019. Of the 27 fatal injuries, 19 were transportation incidents. The general freight trucking industry was 14 of the 19 deaths in the transportation and warehousing industry. The 21 work-related deaths in the private construction industry were nine less than in 2019. Specialty trade contractors sub-sector was 13 of the fatal injuries of the industry.
Occupation
The highest number of work-related deaths was in the transportation and material moving occupational group with 39. Motor vehicle operators had 31 of the 39 fatalities of the transportation and material moving workers. The second deadliest group of workers was the construction and extraction workers, with 20 fatalities. Construction trades workers had 17 of the 20 fatalities in the construction and extraction occupational group. Installation, maintenance and repair workers had 15 work-related deaths.
More information shows other ways to divide the fatal work accidents. Men were 93% of the work-related deaths and 42% of the fatalities in transportation incidents in Illinois. White non-Hispanics were 72% of the work-related fatalities in Illinois and 61% nationwide. Workers between 25 and 54 were 54% of the state’s work-related deaths in 2020 and 56% nationally. Of the 135 fatal work injuries, 81% were employees, and 19% were independent contractors.