Well, let me tell ya, it wasn’t always pretty. Back in the day, workers faced some serious health and safety hazards on the job. But through the efforts of workers, unions, employers, government agencies, and even scientists like Dr. Alice Hamilton, we’ve made some significant strides in improving conditions.
Now, let’s talk about the numbers. According to available data, fatal occupational injuries have gone down significantly in the 1900s. In 1907, 526 workers died in “work accidents” just in one county, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Fast forward to 1997, and there were only 17 steelworker fatalities nationwide. In 1912, the National Safety Council estimated that 18,000 to 21,000 workers died from work-related injuries, and in 1913, the Bureau of Labor Statistics documented about 23,000 industrial deaths among a workforce of 38 million. But, things have improved dramatically since then. Data from the National Safety Council from 1933 to 1997 show that work-related deaths from unintentional injuries declined 90%. In the same period, the workforce more than tripled, from 39 million to about 130 million.
More recent data from death certificates compiled by the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health indicate that the annual number of deaths declined 28% from 7405 in 1980 to 5314 in 1995. The rate of deaths from occupational injuries also decreased 43% during that same time, from 7.5 to 4.3 per 100,000 workers. The industries with the highest average rates for fatal occupational injury during 1980-1995 included mining, agriculture, forestry, fishing, construction, and transportation, communications, and public utilities. The leading causes of fatal occupational injury during that period were motor vehicle-related injuries, workplace homicides, and machine-related injuries.
Friends, let’s take a look at the progress we’ve made in the ol’ mining industry. Back in 1907, we saw the worst coal mine disaster in U.S. history when an explosion in Monongah, West Virginia claimed the lives of over 300 men and boys. Can you believe that? 362 lives lost. And do you know what? That same year, over a quarter of the mining-related fatalities were from explosions. It was a rough time for miners.
But, let’s fast forward a bit. From 1911 to 1997, we lost a total of 103,000 miners on the job. That’s a staggering number, ain’t it? In the early days, an average of 3329 mining-related deaths occurred every year with a fatality rate of 329 per 100,000 miners. But, look at us now. The number of miners has declined to 356,000 and we’ve seen a 37-fold decrease in mining-related deaths, down to 89. And, the injury fatality rate has dropped by 13 times to 25 per 100,000 miners in 1996-1997.
Now, historically, miners have fallen victim to collapsing roofs and walls, and haulage-related incidents. But the deadliest disasters, those with five or more fatalities, were caused by methane gas and coal dust explosions. And do you know what? 84% of disaster-related deaths from 1911 to 1920 were from explosions. But, through workplace interventions like safer equipment and improved ventilation, we’ve seen a drastic decline in explosion-related fatalities. In the early days, we lost an average of 477 miners per year to explosions. But by 1991 to 1995, that number had dropped to less than 3 per year. And, all other causes of death in underground coal mines (excluding machinery) saw a similar decline from the first to the last 20-year interval of this period.
When it comes to worker safety, the progress we’ve made in recent years is nothing short of remarkable. In the last century, we’ve worked hard to identify and fix the root causes of occupational health hazards, and the results have been significant. If we had the same level of risk as workers back in 1933, 40,000 more workers would have died from preventable accidents in 1997 alone. But with the efforts of labor and management, academic researchers like Dr. Alice Hamilton, and government agencies like OSHA and NIOSH, we’ve made real changes in the workplace to keep our fellow workers safe.
From improving ventilation and dust suppression in mines to safer equipment, better training, and safer work practices, we’ve seen reductions in workplace fatalities across the board. And it’s not just the workplace that’s gotten safer – things like seat belts and improved medical care have contributed to overall injury control in society.
There are plenty of examples of specific interventions that have made a difference. For instance, using safer explosives and electrical equipment, rock dusting, and improved ventilation in mines has led to a dramatic decrease in fatalities from explosions. New roof support technologies and better mine design have reduced fatalities from roof falls, but we’ve also had to be mindful of new hazards introduced by technology, like machinery-related fatalities.
In the 80s, NIOSH worked with power companies and others to research and raise awareness about work-related electrocutions. This concerted effort led to a 54% decrease in electrocution rates and a reduction in the number of electrocutions from 577 to 329.
And let’s not forget about the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, which created OSHA and NIOSH. Since then, NIOSH has been working hard to prevent injury, while OSHA’s workplace inspections and safety standards have brought about mandatory safety controls and worker training. Research shows that training is key to creating safer workplaces, as it helps workers understand the hazards and safe work practices on the job. So let’s keep working together to make sure all 130 million of our fellow workers come home safe every day.
This is a sculpture created by Daniel Edwards. Three bronze blue-collar workers rest on top of a limestone base. An inscription reads, “In memory of all Indiana workers who have died at work or as a result of their labor. Dedicated This Worker Memorial Day, April 28, 1995.”
Despite all the great work that’s been done to make our workplaces safer, there’s still a long way to go. People are still losing their lives on the job, and it’s preventable. That’s why organizations like the Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program continue to do important work on the frontlines, investigating fatal accidents and trying to prevent them from happening again.
There’s also the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety, which is focused on keeping young workers safe, and programs like Preventing Homicide in the Workplace, which provides educational materials to help protect workers from violence on the job.
Mining remains one of the most dangerous industries, which is why it’s still a top priority for safety research. But it’s not just mining, it’s all workplaces. That’s why the National Occupational Research Agenda was created – it’s a framework to guide research and improve worker safety in the 21st century. This agenda was put together by NIOSH and hundreds of organizations and individuals from across the country, and it’s a living, breathing document that helps keep us all focused on what needs to be done.
The National Occupational Injury Symposium is another example of the progress we’re making. It’s an event that brings together experts from around the country to talk about the latest trends, best practices, and new directions in worker safety. And with the help of NORA, we’re making real progress in reducing the number of occupational illnesses and injuries in the coming years.
In conclusion, the workplace has come a long way in terms of safety over the years. From the fatal occupational injuries in the 1900s to the present day, significant progress has been made in reducing workplace fatalities. Data from the National Safety Council and the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health show a marked decline in work-related deaths from unintentional injuries and occupational injuries respectively. The industries that once had the highest average rates for fatal occupational injury, such as mining, agriculture/forestry/fishing, construction, and transportation/communications/public utilities, have seen substantial reductions in their fatality rates.
The efforts of workers, unions, employers, government agencies, academic researchers, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 have all played a crucial role in creating safer workplaces. Interventions such as safer equipment, improved ventilation and dust suppression, better training, and safer work practices have led to reductions in workplace fatalities. New technologies, like roof support and mine design, have reduced fatalities from roof falls, while mandatory safety controls and worker training have also had a significant impact. The awareness raised by organizations like NIOSH has led to decreases in electrocutions and workplace homicides. With ongoing efforts to identify and address occupational health hazards, the workplace will continue to become safer for all workers.
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Editors note: If you’ve enjoyed reading this article, we’ve also created a timeline of significant events in the History of Occupational Safety and Health, and many of the events on this list have an associated article:
