Goals of the Iowa FACE Program

What is an occupational fatality?

An occupational fatality is any fatal event that occurs at work. The victim may be an employer, employee, or self-employed person, farmer or family member helping with business. Occupational fatalities must be work-related; deaths from natural causes are not included. If you think a fatality might be occupational, please call the Iowa FACE Program's toll-free number, 1-800-513-0998.

What are the goals of the FACE Program?

1. To collect basic information on all occupational fatalities in the State of Iowa.

The FACE Program relies on many sources: police and sheriff reports, EMS reports, medical examiner reports, newspapers, telephone interviews, etc. This information is used to research and identify common hazards in workplaces.

2. To collect in-depth information on certain types of fatal injuries by conducting detailed on-site investigations.

Currently the FACE Program has four targeted areas: machinery-related, highway workzones, Hispanic workers, and youth-related fatalities. In the past, targeted areas have been electrocutions, confined spaces, logging, firefighter deaths, and falls from elevations. These investigations involve careful observation of the work site and interviews with eyewitnesses or employers who have vital information about the incident. FACE Program investigators strive to reconstruct the circumstances and events preceding and following a workplace fatality to determine exactly what happened.

3. To alert employers, employees, and those who are self-employed, such as farmers; to make recommendations and develop programs to prevent similar fatalities.

The FACE Program investigators will bring the specific causes of these incidents to the attention of people who can make a difference and improve workplace health and safety.

1.	To collect basic information on all occupational fatalities in the State of Iowa.
	The FACE Program relies on many sources: police and sheriff reports, EMS reports, medical examiner reports, newspapers, telephone interviews, etc. This information is used to research and identify common hazards in workplaces.
2.	To collect in-depth information on certain types of fatal injuries by conducting detailed on-site investigations.
	Currently the FACE Program has four targeted areas: machinery-related, highway workzones, Hispanic workers, and youth-related fatalities. In the past, targeted areas have been electrocutions, confined spaces, logging, firefighter deaths, and falls from elevations. These investigations involve careful observation of the work site and interviews with eyewitnesses or employers who have vital information about the incident. FACE Program investigators strive to reconstruct the circumstances and events preceding and following a workplace fatality to determine exactly what happened.
3.	To alert employers, employees, and those who are self-employed, such as farmers; to make recommendations and develop programs to prevent similar fatalities.
	The FACE Program investigators will bring the specific causes of these incidents to the attention of people who can make a difference and improve workplace health and safety.