FACTS

1. Nearly a third (106) of the fatal workplace injuries in American manufacturing operations stemmed from contact with objects and equipment. 83 deaths resulted from transportation incidents, 16 from fires and explosions, and 46 from falls, slips, and trips. 40 manufacturing workers died as a result of violence and other injuries by persons or animals. Exposure to harmful substances or environments claimed 50 lives.
2. Machinery was the second biggest primary source of fatal injuries in U.S. manufacturing operations (71 deaths) in 2018 behind incidents involving vehicles (92 deaths). Among the types of equipment involved, material and personnel handling machinery was linked to 25 deaths, including five from powered conveyors and two from stacking machinery.
3. The top five manufacturing industries with the most workplace fatalities during the year were: fabricated metal products (56), wood products manufacturing (48), food manufacturing (41), transportation equipment (33), and non-metallic mineral product manufacturing. Food manufacturing operations saw a decline year-over-year decline from the 51 deaths recorded in 2017.
4. Fatalities involving contact with objects and equipment in all types of U.S. workplaces witnessed a 13% increase last year, from 695 in 2017 to 786, Powder & Bulk Solids reported in an earlier article. Incidents where workers became caught in operational equipment increased by a staggering 39%.
5. Industry participants are expected to focus on expanding footprint in North America, with Canada slated to witness increased demand for construction equipment rental services. So much so that the government is dwelling on boosting investments in the region. To illustrate, the government of Canada earmarked USD 81.2 billion to foster the Canada initiative—emphasizing growth of public and commercial infrastructure.

STATS

• Addressing dangers posed by tractors, excavators, and other mobile machines needs to continue. High-risk worker groups should receive targeted information on machine safety.
• In 2018, 58 percent of amputations (3,580 cases) involved some type of machinery. Parts and materials were involved in 15 percent of amputations. Tools, instrument and new equipment, including powered and unpowered hand tools, were involved in 7 percent.
• There were a total of 14,625 work-related deaths caused by new equipment – 770 deaths per year on average. During the same period, there was a 32% drop in work-related deaths caused by new equipment. There was a 22% drop in deaths caused by mobile machinery and a 56% drop in deaths caused by stationary machinery.
• The annual average occupational fatality rate (caused by new equipment) was 0.6 per 100,000 FTE. There was a yearly drop of 2.8% in the overall machine-related occupational fatality rate per 100,000 FTE. Similarly, there was an annual drop of 2.6% in mobile machine-related fatality rate and a decline of 3.5% in fixed machine-related fatality rate per 100,000 FTE.
• There were a total of 4,831 machine-related accidents involving self-employed workers, accounting for 33% of the total number of accidents caused by machines.