Today the Bureau of Labor Statistics  (US DOL) released preliminary results from the “National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries In 2009.” While the homicide rates include incidents like the shooting in Fort Hood they also include other types of homicides at work.

− Workplace homicides declined 1 percent in 2009, in contrast to an overall decline of 17 percent for all fatal work injuries. The homicide total for 2009 includes the 13 victims of the November shooting at Fort Hood. Workplace suicides were down 10 percent in 2009 from the series high of 263 in 2008.

Assaults & Violent Acts

Assaults and violent acts …………………… (2008) 816 (2009)   788  (%)18
Homicides ………………………………………(2008)  526 (2009)   521  (%)12
Shooting ………………………………………. (2008)  421 (2009)   420  (%)10
Stabbing ………………………………………..(2008)   33  (2009)     48  (%) 1
Self-inflicted injuries ………………………… (2008) 263 (2009)   237 (%) 5

NOTE The report states: “Economic factors played a major role in the fatal work injury decrease in 2009. Total hours worked fell by 6 percent in 2009 following a 1 percent decline in 2008, and some industries that have historically accounted for a significant share of fatal work injuries, such as construction, experienced even larger declines in employment or hours worked. In addition, some source documents used by CFOI State partners to identify and verify fatal work injuries were delayed, due at least in part to fiscal constraints at some of the governmental agencies who regularly provide source documentation for the program.”