2015 Sees Jump in Number of Workplace Deaths
Workers must count on their employers to keep them safe on the job, especially when those workers do a job that requires them to put their physical well-being at risk. Despite this duty, many workers end up injured or worse as a result of on-the-job accidents. According to recently-released statistics, 2015 was the deadliest year on the job in six years.
The recent report on fatal workplace injuries was released by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. According to their research, 4,836 workers died on the job in 2015, which is the largest number of worker deaths since 2008, when 5,214 individuals were killed at work. The vast majority of those killed were men, with only 7% of reported workplace deaths being those of women. Seniors were the age group most likely to be killed at work; 650 workers who were 65 years of age or older died on the job.
The report also details the most common causes of death on the job, and concluded that accidental deaths at work were most frequently attributed to the most common cause of accidental deaths for most Americans: traffic accidents. The report states that 2,054, or 42%, of all those killed on the job in 2015 died in “transportation incidents.” As a result, the Bureau of Labor Statistics concludes that, at 745 deaths in the field, the single deadliest profession in the US is driving a tractor-trailer or other heavy truck. The second-most common cause of workplace death was slip, trip, or fall accidents, which caused 800 deaths. Additionally, 722 individuals were killed after making contact with objects or equipment.
Unfortunately, not all employers take the time to implement the safety protections needed to prevent their workers from becoming injured. Some employers place pressure on their employees to rush through tasks quickly, forcing them to cut corners on safety in order to get the job done. While nothing can bring back a loved one or provider, the families of those workers who are severely injured or killed on the job may have a right to compensation via a lawsuit or from the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation system.
If you’ve been injured on the job in South Carolina as a result of a careless employer or negligent third party, find out if you may be entitled to money damages for your injuries or get help filing a claim for Workers’ Compensation benefits by contacting the knowledgeable and determined Spartanburg Workers’ Compensation attorney Chad Pye for a consultation at 864-583-5658.
