BLS Releases Latest Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries and Resources for Effective EHS Programs in Puerto Rico

Last month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) published its annual National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. This latest report covers data from 2021 and tragically shows a one-year increase in fatal work injuries of almost 9 percent.

For 2021, there were 5,190 fatal work injuries recorded in the United States, an 8.9-percent increase from the 4,764 in 2020. The fatal work injury rate was 3.6 fatalities per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers, up from 3.4 per 100,000 FTE in 2020 and up from the 2019 pre-pandemic rate of 3.5.

Key findings from the 2021 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries include:

• The 3.6 fatal occupational injury rate in 2021 represents the highest annual rate since 2016.
• A worker died every 101 minutes from a work-related injury in 2021.

“The report also indicates that exposure to harmful substances or environments led to 798 worker fatalities that year,” said Harry Pena, President of Zimmetry Environmental. “This figure doesn’t include the thousands more that were injured or developed illnesses, even though by law, employers are responsible for providing a safe workplace for all of their employees.”

Dedicated to helping employers in Puerto Rico and throughout the region prevent accidents, injuries, illnesses and deaths due to occupational hazards and exposure to harmful substances are the industrial hygiene and indoor environmental quality experts at Zimmetry Environmental. Their professionals identify and mitigate occupational risks associated with indoor air quality (IAQ), infection control, lead, asbestos, radon, chemicals, microorganisms and a wide range of other potential hazards. These services not only protect workers and the public, they are also instrumental for keeping employers in regulatory compliance.

To learn more about Zimmetry and their industrial hygiene, indoor air quality, environmental, and compliance testing and consulting services, please visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995.0005 or email info@zimmetry.com .

About Zimmetry Environmental
Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals and Fortune 500 companies. The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America. The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality, asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase I ESAs and general environmental consulting services.

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Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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