Occupational Fatalities : Self Employed Workers and Wage and Salary Workers

In this study reasons for why self employed workers face a greater risk of fatal occupational injuries when compared to wage and salary workers are explored. Statistics from the year 2001 revealed that almost 20% of workplace fatalities were incurred by self employed workers who accounted for only 7.4 percent of the U.S. civilian force. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) was analyzed. Data was broken down into two categories: self-employed workers and wage and salary workers. The data was examined for fatality rates by industry, occupation, and event and how different occupations affect the self employed and wage and salary worker's fatality rates differently. Results revealed that self employed workers were more likely to work in industries and occupations with higher fatality rates. This explains much of the variation found in overall fatalities and overall fatality rates among self employed and wage and salary workers. When two categories of workers are in the same occupation, the analysis revealed that self employed workers have certain work environment related factors that make them more likely than wage and salary workers to suffer a fatal injury. This was useful to explain variations in intra-occupational fatality rates. Overall the study revealed that self employed workers face a greater risk of suffering fatal work related injury than do wage or salaried workers.(VRS)