The latest data coming out of Colorado offers a glimmer of hope for workplace safety. According to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, the Office of Labor Market Information (LMI) painted a cautiously optimistic picture, as work-related fatalities in the state saw a decrease in 2023. According to the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) program's findings, there were 83 fatalities last year, representing a 6.7 percent drop from the 89 in 2022. When placed in the larger national context, off 5,283 work-related deaths across the country, Colorado's figures contribute to a narrative of gradual safety improvements.
Transportation incidents, not yielding as much ground, edged up a fraction of 6.1 percent from the previous year, claiming the dubious honor as the most common cause of occupational deaths in the state for over a decade. The report cited 35 such incidents, more than any other category. Meanwhile, fatalities due to violence and other injuries by persons or animals were on a downward trend, showing a 22.2 percent decrease year-over-year.
Digging deeper into demographics, the gender disparity in workplace fatalities remains significant, with men representing a stark 91.6 percent of those who lost their lives. The report also highlighted racial breakdowns, where white (non-Hispanic) workers constituted the majority of fatalities, with Hispanic or Latino workers, and Black or African-American (non-Hispanic) workers following behind. In terms of industry sectors eyes are notably on Trade, transportation, and utilities which led to total deaths.
The occupation profile brought into sharp focus the dangers of specific job functions. Transportation and material moving occupations were hit the hardest, with 29 fatalities reported. Construction and extraction, as well as Protective service occupations, followed, albeit with significantly lower numbers. The gravity of these statistics is a reminder of the inherent risks certain workers face daily. The CFOI collates this sobering data not just as numbers on a page, but as a tool for change, using a broad array of source documents, like death certificates and OSHA reports, to scrutinize the details of each tragic incident.
