Data collected by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration shows Ohio leading all states in the Midwest region for the number of workers killed on the job this year.
The most up-to-date information available shows OSHA investigated 48 fatal work-related accidents in Ohio between Oct. 1, 2014 and Sept. 1 of this year.
OSHA officials say Ohio workplace fatalities are occurring at about the same frequency as in the past.
Ohio was one of 24 states to see an increase in fatal occupational injuries in 2014 according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics records.
OSHA Cincinnati Area Director Bill Wilkerson has said he believes the increase is due to factors including lack of attention to safe work practices and a newer, younger workforce.
