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Most industries have seen fall in work-related deaths: National Safety Council report

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Work-related deaths in the United States decreased in 2012, although the mining and construction industries saw an increase in fatalities from 2011, according to a new report by the National Safety Council.

The council released its Injury Facts report this month. The data shows that there were 3,613 unintentional work deaths in 2012, down 7% from 2011. There were 2.7 unintentional deaths per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers in 2012, the report showed, down 10% from 2011.

Although fatalities fell for nearly every industry in the report, there was an 18% increase in the number of mining-related deaths from 2011 to 2012, and a 1% increase in the number of deaths per 100,000 full-time equivalent mining workers during that time.

The number of unintentional deaths among construction workers and the death rate per 100,000 full-time equivalent construction employees increased 5% year-over-year in 2012, NSC data showed.

While deaths declined for U.S. workers, injuries and fatalities cost employers $198.2 billion in 2012, NSC said. That included $89.6 billion in wage and productivity losses and $55.7 billion in medical costs.

"The true cost to the nation, employers, and individuals of work-related deaths and injuries is much greater than the cost of workers compensation insurance alone," the report reads.

NSC's report is extensive and includes additional workplace safety data, as well as statistics for unintentional injuries that occur in vehicles and at home or in the community. You can check out the full report here.