By Melissa Campbell
Alaska Journal of Commerce

Some 40 people were killed on the job in Alaska in 2004, a 43 percent increase over the year before, which saw 28 deaths, according to the state Department of Labor.

The number of worker deaths is the second lowest since 1992, the year the state began keeping a fatality census, according to the Labor Department's January issue of Alaska Economic Trends.

Still, the per capita workplace death rate in 2003, the latest year complete figures are available, shows that Alaska ranks as the second highest in the nation.

Nationally, job-related deaths totaled 5,703 in 2004, a 2.3 percent increase.

In 2003 Alaska had 9.2 deaths per 100,000 workers, compared to the national rate of 4 deaths per 100,000. Wyoming topped the ranking, with 13.9 workplace fatalities.

The 2004 fatality rates for all states were not available.

Between 1992 and 2004, some 721 workers died on the job in Alaska, an average of about one every seven days. The average annual number of workplace deaths has decreased over the past decade, while the number of employed has increased 10 percent during the same period.

Alaska's 2005 fatality figures are due to be released in August.

While men make up 51 percent of the state's population aged 16 or older, they made up 90 percent of the 2004 deaths at the workplace. This is largely because more males work in the state's more dangerous jobs, such as in construction, commercial fishing and aviation.

Transportation accidents were the leading cause of the state's worker fatality rate in 2004, accounting for 73 percent of the deaths. Transportation includes cars and trucks, in addition to fishing boats, aircraft, forklifts and all-terrain vehicles, among others.

Nationally, transportation accidents caused 43 percent of worker deaths.

Commercial fishing is listed as the nation's most dangerous occupation. And fishing in Alaska has proven to be particularly deadly. In 1992, nearly 40 percent of the state's 91 worker deaths were related to commercial fishing. Fishermen accounted for about a quarter of the nation's workplace deaths.

The industry has moved to reduce those numbers, according to the Economic Trends. Congress enacted the Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Act, which took effect in the early 1990s, requiring fishing vessels to carry safety, survival and firefighting equipment, and required crewmembers to train in first aid and do emergency drills. Industry groups in Alaska also offer safety education programs.

Some fisheries now operate under individual fishing quotas, which aimed to allow fishermen more flexibility in choosing when they want to fish. Before, fishermen had specific, short openings in which to fish, regardless of weather conditions.

Fisherman in 2004 made up 20 percent, or eight, of the state's total 40 fatalities.

Aircraft incidents accounted for a third of Alaska's worker fatalities, the most of any of the transportation categories. Accidents in water vessels caused 18 percent of the deaths.

The Alaska aviation industry saw its highest level of deaths in 1997, when 12 people died. Over the past several years, however, the aviation industry, working with the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, have worked to offer safety training and improved technology to the state's pilots.

Two of these programs, Capstone Program and the Medallion Program, have since been credited with drastically reducing the number of aviation-related deaths. Four aviators died on the job in 2003.

The nation saw 12 percent fewer workplace fatal assaults, which includes suicides, animal attacks and other violent acts in 2004 when compared to the year before. Some 795 people were killed or killed themselves on the job in 2004.

The numbers of workplace fatal assaults in Alaska in 2004 were not available, according to the Economic Trends report. In 2003, seven people were murdered or committed suicide on the job.

Melissa Campbell can be reached at melissa.campbell@alaskajournal.com.