Wyoming saw a large year-over-year increase in worker deaths in 2014. Thirty-seven workers died on the job last year, according to newly released data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s up from 26 in 2013, and is also higher than the three-year average.
The numbers are preliminary, so the Bureau did not calculate fatality rates that could be used to compare Wyoming to other states.
“I imagine we’re very close to where we’ve ranked in the past, which is among the most dangerous states to work in,” said senior state workforce economist David Bullard.
Almost half of those who died in 2014 were involved in transportation incidents. In light of that, Bullard says anything that improves transportation safety will help make Wyoming a safer place to work.
The federal numbers differ slightly from the state's own tally, which showed thirty-four deaths.
Nationwide, worker fatalities rose in 2014, including a big jump in the oil and gas industry.