Reported Occupational Fatalities in UAW Represented Workplaces

During the year 2000, we suffered 15 fatalities among members of UAW-represented bargaining units. This was an increase in number and rate for the union overall, and the first time in years when incidents in the major plants exceeded those in the rest of the UAW.

Five of the victims in 2000 were skilled trades workers. Since 1973, 193 skilled trades members have been killed by work related injuries. The skilled trades victims were 33% of the cases for 2000 and 42% of the cases overall.

Eight of the fifteen victims in 2000, were employed by the Big Three auto companies or a spin-off company. DaimlerChrysler had gone from April 1997 until April 2000 without a fatality, then our members suffered three in the year. GM-Delphi had gone from May of 1998 until last February without a fatality, then our members suffered two last year and one in 2001. The single year rate for fatalities in major auto plants in 2000 was back up to the averages in the '70's. These rates are still below the national average for all employment. Since the American workforce is now about 51% clerical, technical and professional, even UAW older rates were better than predicted, considering the nature of the work. However, the trend is certainly disturbing.

Six of the cases were the result of a lack of proper machine safeguarding, safety devices that were inoperative and lack of lockout. In all six cases proper machine guarding or implementation of an effective lockout program would have prevented the incident. There have been 117 such incidents reported since 1973, or 25% of the total.

Six of the cases were related to mechanical material handling. Two of the incidents involved moving and handling coiled rolls of steel. Prior to this year 10 UAW members had been killed while handling or working around coiled steel. Six of the total incidents were the result of a coil falling while being handled by a crane and lifting device. Four of the incidents were the result of coils not being properly restrained by the use of posts, racks, cradles or other methods. Both steel coil incidents this year were caused by lack of restraint methods.

Two of the incidents in 2000 were reported late and therefore were not properly investigated. In another case, the scene was disturbed before investigation by either the police, MiOSHA or the UAW.

So far in 2001, we have suffered two reported fatalities arising from job exposures. Thus, the total work related fatalities reported since 1973 is 457.

Also in 2001, three UAW members and a supervisor were victims of fatal shootings at Navistar, Melrose Park, IL. The victims were members of UAW Local 2293. An additional four persons were wounded, and the perpetrator committed suicide in the incident.

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