WA FACE

Washington Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation

WA FACE

Washington is one of eight states that receives funding from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to track fatal work-related traumatic injuries. WA FACE’s goal is to prevent work-related fatal injuries through:

Tracking

WA FACE collects basic information on all work-related traumatic fatalities in the state, including worker and employer demographics, cause of injury and a short description of the incident. This information comes from the Department of Labor & Industries Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), L&I’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) group, the Washington State Department of Health, public safety officials, newspapers, medical examiners and coroners and other sources.

Investigations

WA FACE staff conduct in-depth site investigations of some fatalities that occur in Washington State. Investigations are voluntary for employers and focus on finding root causes.

Prevention

Once an investigation is complete, WA FACE publishes a report that includes a short summary, details of contributing events and factors, the cause of death, and recommendations for prevention and how to protect workers from similar hazards.

WA FACE also publishes hazard alerts, data summaries, and shorter form narratives and slideshows about fatalities in the construction, agriculture, and logging industries that can be used in safety meetings and toolbox talks.

Sign up to receive WA FACE publications by email:

Narratives and Slideshows

Narratives and Slideshows

WA FACE fatality and injury narratives and slideshows describe real incidents and give recommendations and requirements for prevention.

WA FACE publications are free to use. Sign up to receive WA FACE narratives by email:   Agriculture    Construction    Trucking

Please let us know what you think. Your feedback can help us keep workers safe.

Construction
Narrative Title Slideshow  Spanish Version Spanish Slideshow
Roofer Falls 45 Feet through Skylight​​ 71-266-2025​s​ Instalador de techos cae 45 pies a través de un tragaluz​ ​ 71-266-2025sSP​​
Day Laborer Burned in Adhesive Explosion​​ 71-265-2025s ​​ Jornalero sufre quemaduras en explosión de adhesivo​​ 71-265-2025sSP​​
Framer Falls 8 Feet from Rim Joist​​ 71-264-2025s​​ Instalador de estructuras cae 8 pies de una viga de borde ​​ 71-264-2025sSP​​
Driver Dragged and Pinned By Rollaway Dump Truck​ ​ 71-261-2024s​​
Welder Fell 32 Feet from Storage Tank Roof​​ 71-260-2024s​​
Framer Struck by Beam after Falling from Scissor Lift​​ 71-258-2024s​​ Instalador de estructuras es golpeado por una viga después de caer de un elevador de tijera​​ 71-258-2024sSP​​
Teen Worker Loses Legs to Trencher​ ​ 71-256-2024s​​
Gutter Installer Falls from Patio Roof​​ 71-255-2024s​​ Un instalador de canalones cae desde el techo​​ 71-255-2024sSP​​
Inexperienced Framer Falls 22 Feet from Upper Floor​ ​ 71-253-2024s​​ Instalador de estructuras con poca experiencia cae 22 pies desde un piso superior​​ 71-253-2024sSP​​
Heavy Equipment Mechanic Dies Repairing Excavator​​ 71-251-2024s​​
Company Co-owner Backed Over by Work Truck​​ 71-247-2023s​​
Construction Worker Struck by Rollaway Dump Truck​​ 71-246-2023s​​ Camión de volteo sin conductor atropella a trabajador de la construcción​​ 71-246-2023sSP​​
Foreman Falls 17 Feet from Leading Edge of Roof Deck​​ 71-244-2023s​​ Capataz cae 17 pies desde el borde delantero de la cubierta del techo​ ​ 71-244-2023sSP​​
Spotter Loses Fingertips in Excavator Quick Coupler​​ 71-242-2023s​​ Observador pierde las puntas de los dedos de la mano en el acoplador rápido de la excavadora ​​ 71-242-2023sSP​​
Contractor and Laborer Buried when Trench Wall Collapses​​ 71-240-2023s​​ Contratista y peón sepultados en desplome de zanja​ ​ 71-240-2023sSP​​
Operator Crushed between Backhoe Boom and Stabilizer​ ​ 71-238-2023s​​
Roofer Falls Constructing Leading Edge of Metal Roof​ ​ 71-237-2023s​​ Cae un instalador de techos del borde de avance de un techo metálico​​ 71-237-2023sSP​​
Site Superintendent Run Over by Backing Dump Truck​​ 71-231-2022s​​
Carpenter Falls through Floor of Two-Story Garage ​​ 71-230-2022s​​
Siding Installer Falls 23 Feet from Pump Jack Scaffold​​ 71-227-2022s​​ Instalador de paneles laterales cae 23 pies de andamio de palometa de gato​​ ​71-227-2022sSP​​
Laborer Climbing Scaffold Cross Braces Falls 25 Feet​​ 71-226-2022s​​
Operator Crushed Between Forklift and Storage Rack​​ 71-225-2022s​​ Operador aplastado entre montacargas y bastidor de almacenamiento​​ 71-225-2022sSP​​
Framer Falls 25 Feet from House Roof​​ 71-224-2022s​​ Instalador de estructuras cae 25 pies del techo de una casa​​ 71-224-2022sSP​​
Truck Driver/Equipment Operator Crushed while Loading Backhoe onto Trailer​​ 71-219-2022s​​
Apprentice Ironworker Struck by Dropped Steel Wedge​​ 71-217-2022s​​
Communication Tower Worker Falls 260 Feet​​ 71-215-2022s​​
Framer Falls 8 Feet from Extension Ladder​​ 71-212-2021s​​ Instalador de estructuras cae 8 pies de una escalera de extensión​​ 71-212-2021sSP​​
Roofer Falls 10 Feet from Fixed Ladder​​ 71-211-2021s​​ Instalador de techos cae 10 pies de una escalera de mano fija​​ 71-211-2021sSP​​
Father and Son Painters Electrocuted when Ladder Contacts Power Line​​ 71-210-2021s​​ Pintores, padre e hijo, son electrocutados cuando la escalera de mano toca un cable de electricidad​​ 71-210-2021sSP​​
Apprentice Electrician Suffers Arc Flash Burns​​
Laborer Falls from Wall while Setting Trusses​​
Roofer Falls 30 Feet from Rain Slick Roof​​ 71-203-2021s​​ Techador cae de un techo resbaloso ocasionado por la lluvia, desde 30 pies de altura​ ​ 71-203-2021sSP​​
Painter Dies from Accidental Drug Overdose​​
Ironworker Falls 42 Feet through Hole when Cover Fails​​ 71-201-2020s​​
Laborer Struck by Temporary Steel Shoring Tower Parts​​ 71-200-2020s​​
Construction Supervisor Dies by Suicide​​
Framer Falls 20 Feet through Stairwell Opening​​ 71-198-2020s​​
Laborer Partially Buried when Trench Wall Collapses​​ 71-196-2020s​​
Framer Struck by Falling Wall Section​​ 71-195-2020s​​
Carpenter Falls from Ladder-Supported Extension Plank​​
Laborer Falls 24 Feet from Roof Deck​​ 71-193-2020s​​
Roofer Falls 20 Feet through Rotten Roof​​ 71-190-2020s​​
Agriculture
Narrative Title Slideshow  Spanish Version Spanish Slideshow
Farm Worker Crushed in Riding Lawn Mower Rollover​​ 71-270-2025s​​ Trabajador agrícola es aplastado en vuelco de cortadora de césped con asiento​​ 71-270-2025sSP​​
Experienced Operator Crushed in Tractor Rollover​​ 71-267-2025s​​ Operador experimentado es aplastado en volcadura de tractor​​ 71-267-2025sSP​​
Temp Worker Crushed By Rollaway Forklift at Family Farm ​​ 71-263-2025s​​ Trabajador temporal es aplastado por montacargas sin conductor en una granja familiar​​ 71-263-2025sSP​​
Slaughterhouse Worker Crushed in Cattle Chute Door​​ 71-262-2025s​​
Apple Orchard Worker Dies When Tractor Rolls Over​​ 71-245-2023s​​ El recolector de huerta muere cuando el tractor se vuelca​​ 71-245-2023sSP​​
Sweeper Crushed in Hay Press Bale Elevator​​ 71-241-2023s​​ Barrendero aplastado en elevador de pacas de una prensa de heno​​ 71-241-2023sSP​​
Farm Worker's Hand Mangled in Hop Harvester​​ 71-232-2023s​​ La mano de un trabajador agrícola fue aplastada en una cosechadora de lúpulo​​ 71-232-2023sSP​​
Orchard Worker Driving Overloaded ATV Struck on Highway​​ 71-223-2022s​​ Un trabajador de huerto que conducía una cuatrimoto sobrecargada sufrió una colisión en la carretera ​​ 71-223-2022sSP​​
Orchard Worker Driving UTV Struck By Car​​ 71-222-2022s​​ Un trabajador de huerto que conducía un UTV es golpeado por un automóvil​​ 71-222-2022sSP​​
Hop Farm Harvester Operator Struck By Steel Cable ​​ 71-218-2022s​​
Operator Run Over by Combine Harvester when Engine Started by “Hot-wiring” ​​ 71-206-2021s​​
Operator Electrocuted while Performing Maintenance on Center Pivot Irrigation System ​​ 71-204-2021s​​
Operator Dies When Orchard Tractor Rolls Down Embankment​​ 71-191-2020s​​
Trucking
Narrative Title Slideshow 
Truck Mechanic Struck by Trailer Air Suspension Spring​​ 71-259-2024s​​
Truck Driver Poisoned by Carbon Monoxide in Cab​​ 71-254-2024s​​
Driver Run Over by Semi-Trailer at Truck Stop​​ 71-252-2024s​​
Truck Driver Crushed by Freight Pushed Off Flatbed Trailer​​ 71-249-2024s​​
Owner Crushed Loading Log Skidder on Lowboy Trailer​​ 71-248-2023s​​
Forklift Operator’s Arm Crushed By Mast​​ 71-229-2022s​​
Driver Caught Between Trucks at Warehouse Loading Dock​​ 71-221-2022s​​
Truck Driver Has Fatal Fall While Tarping Flatbed Trailer​​ 71-220-2022s​​
Driver Struck by Semi-Truck in Shipper’s Parking Lot​​ 71-216-2022s​​
Truck Driver Struck by Yard Tractor on Rainy Night​​ 71-214-2022s​​
Mechanic Crushed When Rollaway Semi-Truck Hits Trailer ​​ 71-213-2022s​​
Truck Driver Crushed by Cardboard Bale​ ​ 71-207-2021s​​
Truck Driver Crushed by Hay Bales​​ 7​1-197-2020s​
Services
Narrative Title Slideshow  Spanish Version Spanish Slideshow
Tree Care Ground Worker Struck by Falling Branch​​ 71-271-2025​s​ Trabajador arbolista es golpeado por rama que caía​​ 71-271-2025sSP​​
Tree Trimmer Falls 50 Feet While Cutting Branches​​ 71-269-2025s​​
Maintenance Worker Crushed by Plywood in Service Truck ​​ 71-268-2025s​​ Trabajador de mantenimiento es aplastado por madera contrachapada en camión de servicio ​​ 71-268-2025sSP​​
Tree Trimmer Falls 25 Feet from Bucket​​ 71-257-2024s​​ Podador de árboles cae 25 pies desde una canastilla​​ 71-257-2024sSP​​
Trimmer Struck by Limb from Storm-damaged Tree​​ 71-243-2023s​​
Maintenance Coordinator Dies After Falling from Ladder​​ 71-239-2023s​​
Tree Trimmer Dies when Tree Removal Rigging Fails​​ 71-234-2023s​​ Muere podador de árboles cuando ocurre una falla en el aparejo para retirar árboles​ ​ 71-234-2023sSP​​
Groundskeeper Crushed when UTV Tips Over​​ 71-228-2022s​​
Delivery Driver Dies when Forklift Overturns While Delivering Landscape Paving Blocks​​ 71-205-2021s​​
Service Technicians Receive Electrical Burns When Electricity Arcs from Power Line to Boom Lift​​ 71-192-2020s​​
Retail
Narrative Title Slideshow  Translation Translation Slideshow
Clerk Shot in Robbery of Family Gas Station​​ 71-250-2024s​​ Clerk Shot in Robbery of Family Gas Station (Punjabi)​​ 71-250-2024sPU​​
Attendant Shot in Gas Station Food Mart​​ 71-236-2023s​​
Freight Clerk Crushed by Trailer at Store Loading Dock​​ 71-235-2023s​​
Cannabis Store Worker Shot in Armed Robbery​​ 71-236-2023s​​
Hazard Alerts

Hazard Alerts

Construction

Infographic: Construction Fatalities from Falls | Spanish

Alert: Suicides at Work in Construction

Construction Hazard Alert: Using Reach Forklifts as Cranes

Construction Hazard Alert: Workers Severely Injured Using Demolition Robots

Washington State Construction Fall Fatalities 2000-2015: Infographic

Safety Success Story: Carpenter Saved From Potentially Fatal Fall

Agriculture

Preventing Farm Worker Deaths During Hay Press Cleaning | Spanish

Preventing Farm Worker ATV Crash Deaths | Spanish

Trucking

Preventing Truck Mechanic Deaths from Rollaways | Spanish

Retail

Retail Hazard Alert: Women Victims of Homicide | Korean

Preventing injuries to Retail Workers: How to Protect Retail Workers from being Struck by Motor Vehicles

Other Industries

Preventing Tree Trimmer Deaths

Preventing Rideshare and Delivery Driver Homicides

Top five work-related fatality incidents by industry, 1998-2019 Washington

Tire Explosion: A Hazard to Workers Inflating Large Vehicle and Off-Road Machine Tires

Fatality Investigation Reports

Fatality Investigation Reports

WA FACE Fatality Investigation Reports describe root-cause based investigations of fatal incidents.

Sign up to receive WA FACE Fatality Investigation Reports by email

FACE Fatality Investigation Reports and one-page summaries (if available):
Investigation Report Title Summary 
Family Dairy Farm Worker Dies When Tractor Rolls Down Embankment​​ 52-54-2023_summary​​
Mechanic Crushed by Rollaway Container Chassis​​ 52-53-2022_summary​​
Driver Crushed by Rollaway Woodchip Truck​​ 52-52-2022_summary​​
Compost Plant Operator Caught in Rotating Conveyor Belt​​ 52-51-2022_summary​​
Media Company Grip Falls Down Empty Elevator Shaft​​ 52-50-2021_summary​​
Hay Press Operator Struck by Machine’s Guillotine Blade​​ 52-49-2021_summary​​
Operator Falls from Boom Lift while Tree Trimming​​ 52-48-2021_summary​​
Chip Truck Driver Struck by Passing Truck​​ 52-47-2021_summary​​
Asphalt Plant Supervisor Dies after Falling down a Drag Slat Conveyor​​ 52-46-2020_summary​​