A recent report on occupational deaths and injuries in Wyoming pointed to increasing highway and agricultural safety as two of the ways to decrease occupational injuries and fatalities.

That makes a lot of sense to us.

In his report, State Occupational Epidemiologist Dr. C. Mack Sewell said workplace fatalities were most prevalent in the transportation sector in 2013, just as they were in 2012.

Seven people died in transportation incidents in 2013. Most of those deaths involved 18-wheeler crashes and collisions, the report said.

Three people each died in agriculture, oil and gas, and manufacturing industries; two died in mining, one each in logging and construction; and one worker committed suicide, for a total of 21 workplace fatalities — down from 31 in 2012.

Sewell noted that industry alliances are working to reduce occupational accidents and deaths.

According to his report, there were 12,133 Workers’ Compensation claims in 2013, down from 16,421 in 2007. Since 2008, hospitalizations have decreased from 1,027 to 280, and amputations declined by half, from 90 to 45.

But more needs to be done. Even one death is tragic, and 12,133 workplace injuries is far too many, and those injured often experience extended — sometimes lifelong — pain and suffering, and.

Sewell provided 10 common-sense recommendations to improve workplace safety in Wyoming:

• Establish an agriculture safety alliance.

• Urge all Wyoming employers to mandate seat belt usage for their employees when on duty.

• Encourage all employers to develop and enforce workplace safety policies.

• Encourage additional employers to request OSHA consultation services.

• Encourage additional employers to participate in the Workers’ Compensation Safety Discount Programs.

• Track the impact of the 80-mph speed limit increase on interstate highways.

• Continue case-based surveillance for workplace fatalities.

• Continue and enhance the Wyoming Safety Fund.

• Enhance the capacity of the Department of Workforce Services to provide “safety culture” experts to assist employers in developing a culture of safety in their organization to improve their safety track record.

• Develop a “Wyoming is a Work Safe State” media campaign.

While all of those are needed, the most glaringly obvious point to us is Sewell’s recommendation to urge all Wyoming employers to mandate their employees use seat belts while on duty.

It’s possible that part of the reduction in workplace deaths last year is due to a decline in highway fatalities in 2013. Last year, 87 people died on Wyoming highways, down considerably from 120 fatalities in 2012, and the lowest number of highway deaths in Wyoming since 1945.

Unfortunately, that isn’t the case this year. Highway fatalities are ramping back up, adding up to more than 100 so far for 2014.

At the Powell Tribune, we receive notifications about every crash that results in a highway fatality in Wyoming. So often, those notifications end with a statement that the person who was killed was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from the vehicle.

In Wyoming, we value our freedoms and wide-open spaces, and many Wyomingites consider themselves rugged individualists.

And that’s a very good thing.