The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that fatal work injuries declined in 2007, a promising development for workers and employers alike. There were 5,488 fatal work injuries last year, a decrease of 6 percent from 2006 when there were 5,840 on the job fatalities.

The private sector bore the brunt of fatal work injuries, recording 90 percent of the total with service providing industries accounting for 48 percent of all fatal injuries. Goods producing industries recorded 42 percent of all worker fatalities. The remaining 10 percent of the fatal injuries occurred among government workers.

According to the BLS the rate of fatal injuries for U.S. workers was 3.7 fatal work injuries per 100,000 in 2007, an improvement over 2006 when the rate was 4 fatal work injuries per 100,000.