Workplace fatalities in the 1970s reached as high as 14,000 per year before the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was created during President Richard Nixon’s administration. Deaths on the job have steadily decreased since then. In 2016, just under 5,200 workers died. Statistics show that there are some industries that are more dangerous to work in than others.
The most dangerous field to work in
The logging industry, which involves the clearing of land for development or pulp production, is a physically demanding career where workers spend extensive periods of time in remote areas outdoors, far from medical care.
In 2016, 135.9 workers per 100,000, or 91 total loggers died. Another 900 suffered nonfatal injuries. Loggers are most vulnerable to being struck by tree trunks or branches or being hurt by chainsaws, harvesters and other heavy machinery.
The second most dangerous field to work in
Those who work in fishing-related professions have the second highest fatality rate of all workers at 86 per 100,000. In 2016, 24 fishers died on the job.
Fishing is a physically-intensive job. Environmental factors, such as unpredictable water conditions, make them more vulnerable to drowning. Communication with rescue crews on land may be poor to nonexistent when incidents occur far out to sea. This can affect a worker’s ability to get immediate medical care when they need it.
The third most dangerous field to work in
Flight engineers and airplane pilots are the third type of employee most apt to die on the job. In 2016, 55.5 per 100,000 workers, or 75 total people died in the workplace in this industry. Another 470 were hurt in nonfatal incidents.
Irregular work schedules that include short overnight layovers often leave pilots and flight engineers exhausted. Their reaction times are greatly impacted by this. All 75 people who died in this industry in 2016 experienced in-transit fatalities, something that could have put passengers’ lives at risk.
A worker who suffers a catastrophic injury is often whisked away to receive life-saving medical care. When they are, they leave behind a scene where critical evidence that may shed light on liability remains. The sooner a Rochester catastrophic injury and wrongful death attorney starts working on your case, the more they can ensure that your interests are protected so that you’re eligible to receive the compensation you deserve.
