For many people in California and across the country, going to work is part of their daily routines. Unfortunately, a bad day on the job for some people could ultimately mean serious injury or even death. A report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics has shed additional light on incidents of fatal workplace accidents.
According to the report, there was a slight increase in the number of fatalities from 2017 to 2018, with 5,250 deaths in 2018. Most of the deaths were transportation related, with 2,000 people — approximately 40 percent — killed in work-related transportation accidents. The second most common cause of fatalities in the workplace was related to contact with objects and equipment, including becoming caught in machinery or equipment or being struck by a falling object.
The most dangerous job, according to reports, is that of a logger. There were 74 fatalities in this occupation, and with only 53,600 workers in the field, that means the rate of fatalities per 100,000 equivalent workers is 97.6. The most common cause was due to contact with objects. The second most dangerous jobs in 2018, based on the number of fatalities, were fishers and related workers, and flight engineers and aircraft pilots formed the third most dangerous. The most common cause of fatalities for these categories of dangerous occupations involved transportation incidents.
Employers have a responsibility of maintaining safe working conditions for employees. Unfortunately, fatal workplace accidents can still occur at businesses that are committed to worker safety. As such, employers in California are required to provide workers’ compensation insurance benefits that can assist those impacted by a workplace accident with the financial consequences. While this can include lost wages and medical expenses, it also includes funeral expenses in the event of a fatality.