Work-related deaths in West Virginia from July 1996 through June 1999: surveillance, investigation, and prevention.

Abstract

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation model is used to identify and describe work-related deaths in West Virginia. Through a statewide surveillance network, this model identifies work situations at high risk for fatal injury, investigates selected causes (falls, machinery-related, and logging), and formulates and disseminates prevention strategies to reduce the frequency and impact of those injuries. A total of 163 persons died from work-related injuries from July 1996 through June 1999. Ninety-three percent were male, the mean age was 42, and 80% were West Virginia residents. Fatalities occurred most frequently in the transportation/public utilities (32), manufacturing (24), construction (23), and mining (23) industries. Extension of Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation methodology to nonfatal injuries may contribute to a clearer understanding of the causes of these traumatic incidents and help to develop better prevention measures.