NCJ Number
178568
Journal
Compensation and Working Conditions Dated: Summer 1999 Pages: 3-7
Date Published
1999
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Data on deaths among police and firefighters reveal that their risk of experiencing a fatal incident is three times greater than for all workers; during 1992-97, more than 1,100 police personnel and firefighters were killed in the line of duty.
Abstract
Both police and firefighters experience unique job hazards. Workers in both occupations must be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to protect the public from criminals, fires, and natural disasters. Most of the 887 police fatalities occurred during the pursuit of criminals. Homicides and highway crashes contributed to 75 percent of the fatalities for law enforcement personnel. Homicides accounted for half these fatalities; highway crashes accounted for about one-third. Three-fourths of the police deaths occurred in urban areas. Police deaths account for about 3 percent of all work injuries. The average rate of fatal workplace injuries to law enforcement personnel during 1992-97 was about 14 fatalities per 100,000 employed workers, compared to a rate of 5 per 100,000 for all workers nationally. Many of 259 firefighter deaths occurred in the course of fire and rescue operations. Fires and explosions accounted for more than 40 percent of all fatalities to firefighters; highway crashes accounted for about 20 percent. The average workplace fatality rate for firefighters during 1992-97 was about 17 per 100,000 employed. Tables and reference notes