Common causes

Common causes of occupational fatalities include falls, machine-related incidents, motor vehicle accidents, electrocution, falling objects, homicides and suicides. Occupational fatalities can be prevented.
41% of occupational fatalities occurred during a transportation incident, 17% occurred after a worker came into contact with an object or equipment, and 15% occurred as a result of a fall [2]. The remaining 12% of deaths were the result of chemical or environmental exposures (9%) and fires or explosions (3%)[3]. Lastly, 15% of all occupational fatalities are the consequences of assault and other violent acts in the workplace.