COVID-19 Once Again Responsible For Most WA Workplace Deaths Last Year

TUMWATER, WA —The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) announced Wednesday that COVID-19 was the leading cause of work-related fatalities in the state in 2021. This was the second straight year that COVID-19 topped that list.

According to the agency, 26 people passed away last year after contracting COVID while working in hospitals, prisons, manufacturing jobs and other workplaces. Meanwhile, 15 additional workers in the state died following long battles with other occupational illnesses.

On Thursday, L&I will hold a Worker Memorial Day ceremony to honor all 106 Washington workers whose deaths in 2021 were considered work-related fatalities

The virtual event will take place at 2 p.m. PST and be carried as a livestream on the L&I website. Families and friends of the deceased, L&I employees and the public are invited to attend.

According to L&I, the event will honor deceased workers from several industries, including: healthcare, corrections, mechanics, orchard workers and law enforcement.

The ceremony will feature remarks from Gov. Jay Inslee, representatives from the Association of Washington Business, the Washington State Labor Council, the Washington Self-Insurers Association, and Casey Yeager, whose father Terry died after contracting COVID on his job training workers at a plywood manufacturer.

"Even as we believe that the worst of the pandemic is behind us, we find ourselves looking back on another year where COVID was the leading cause of job-related deaths," said Joel Sacks, L&I director. "We will not forget those who lost their lives to COVID or other causes. We all need to do everything in our power to ensure every worker goes home safe at the end of the day."

According to L&I's statistics:

• Though the number of job-related COVID-19 deaths increased in 2021, the overall number of workplace fatalities declined. There had been 119 workplace deaths in 2020.
• Construction was the most dangerous industry in 2021, with 22 workplace fatalities. Transporation/warehousing (16 deaths) and public safety (14 deaths) were No. 2 and No. 3 on the list.
• On a positive note, the number of fatalities in agriculture fell by nearly half: 11 worker deaths in 2021, as compared to 21 in 2020.
• The number of vehicle crashes rose to 21 in 2021 from seven the previous year.
• There were 10 worker deaths from falls in each of the last two years.