Statistics compiled by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in 2018 show that 5,250 workers lost their lives on the job that year. The number marked an uptick in work-related deaths over the previous year. BLS data captures how transportation-related accidents were the leading cause of worker fatalities in 2018. Those same statistics show that some professions are more dangerous than others.
BLS data shows that the logging industry is the leading profession for worker fatalities. Their statistics capture how the death rate in this field is 97.6 per 100,000 full-time employees. That same data also shows that loggers often die after equipment or other objects strike them.
The second leading profession resulting in worker fatalities is the fishing industry. Transportation accidents are the most common reason for their deaths. This industry’s fatal injury rate is 77.4 per 100,000 full-time workers.
Third on the list for the most dangerous professions to work in are flight engineers or aircraft pilots. The fatal injury rate in this industry is 58.9 per 100,000 full-time workers. Transportation injuries are primarily to blame for these professionals’ deaths, much like it is for fishers.
The other seven professions that make it on the top 10 list of most dangerous jobs include roles such as roofers, sanitation, recycling, steel or construction workers, commercial truck drivers, ranchers or farmers and landscapers. These professionals have a high fatality risk associated with transportation accidents, except roofers and steelworkers. The latter are particularly vulnerable to dying in slip, trip and fall incidents.
An employer should minimize the injury risks their workers face as best as they can. They can do this by providing their employees with adequate training and safety equipment and taking other preventative measures. Many employers cut corners, though, in hopes that no one will get hurt.
If your loved one lost their life on the job due to their Rochester employer’s negligence, Michigan law might allow you to recover compensation for their untimely loss. A catastrophic injury and wrongful death attorney can help you recover compensation that will help alleviate some of the financial burdens that your loved one’s loss has left behind.
