Fatal work-related injuries fall 10% for power, telecommunications line workers

The number of fatal occupational injuries of line installers and repairers fell 10% to 40 in 2015, from 44 in 2014, according to according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The number of nonfatal work injuries and illnesses was flat at 6,250.

Between 2011 and 2015, the number of fatal injuries was flat at about 40 per year, for a total of 201 fatalities over the period. Work-related injuries and illnesses rose 12.8%, from 5,540 in 2011.

In 2016, 227,000 people worked as line installers and repairers, and between 2016 and 2026, the number of those employed in this occupation is expected to rise 8% or by 18,400 jobs, according to the BLS. Jobs in this field include electrical power-line and telecommunications line installers and repairers. Electrical power-line installers and repairers install or repair high-voltage cables and related equipment. Telecommunications lines installers and repairers work on telecommunication cables used to provide cable TV, internet and telephone services.

In 2015, the number of fatal work injuries of electrical power-line installers and repairers rose 4% to 26, from 2014. For telecommunications line installers and repairers, the number of fatal injuries declined 26.3% to 14. In 2015, the number of nonfatal injuries and illnesses of electrical power-line installers and repairers fell 10.8% to 2,240, from 2014. For telecommunications line installers, the number of injuries and illnesses rose 6.9% to 4,010.

Between 2011 and 2015, the number of fatal injuries of electrical power-line installers and repairers was flat at 26. Among telecommunications line installers and repairers, fatal injuries rose 16.7%, from 12 in 2011. Nonfatal injuries and illnesses for electrical power-line installers and repairers declined 10.4% to 2,240, from 2,500 in 2011. Among telecommunications line installers and repairers, it rose 31.9%, from 3,040 in 2011.

In Arkansas, 1,720 people work as electrical line installers and earn an average wage of $65,130 annually. And, there are 1,100 telecommunications line installers, earning an average salary of $55,590 each year.