BLUEFIELD, W.Va. (WVVA) - A recent study has ranked West Virginia near the top in workplace fatalities per capita.

The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, a national trade union, issued its 34th annual report on the state of safety and health protections for America’s workers.

West Virginia is ranked second in the nation for highest workplace fatality rates, with an estimated 8 worker deaths out of every 100,000.

In descending order the most dangerous industries are listed as agriculture, mining, transportation and construction.

In the mountain state, five people died in mining accidents last year. This year, two men have lost their lives.

Concerns about miner and general worker safety continue as National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health employees in West Virginia report they are being laid off by the federal government.

“The United Mine Workers of America will not stand by silently while decades of progress are gutted overnight. This isn’t just detrimental — it’s catastrophic. It’s detrimental to coal miners. Detrimental to American workers. Detrimental to American families," said UMWA President Cecil Roberts on the layoffs which reportedly dismantled the Respiratory Disease Division at NIOSH.

The AFL-CIO study also found that certain sectors of our population are more represented in the death statistics. Elderly people accounted for more than one third of workplace fatalities and Black and Latino workers continue to die at higher rates on the job nationwide.

While West Virginia ranks at the top for workplace fatalities, it also ranks as the state with the least workforce participation at 62.9%.

This is a statistic Governor Patrick Morrisey aims to address with his “Find Purpose, Find Health” sector of the “Four Pillars of a Healthy West Virginia”. He intends to expand work and training requirements for all SNAP recipients.

“Outside of limited exceptions, if you have the ability to work, you should,” said Gov. Morrisey.

The West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy states that 96% of those not in the labor force are retired, disabled, in school or caring for home or family.

A bill looking to make employment requirements stricter for SNAP recipients died in the house this past session.