The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) keeps a regular accounting of how many workers suffer injuries on the job each year. The federal agency also tracks what industries these injuries occur and how they happen.
Statistics from 2019 show that over 5,333 workers died that year in the U.S. A reported 880 workers lost their lives due to slip and fall injuries, which marked more than an 11% increase over the previous year. At least 2,122 workers lost their lives in transportation accidents. This remains the leading cause of worker deaths in the U.S.
BLS statistics show that some industries are more dangerous than others.
What are some of the most dangerous professions for workers?
BLS data from 2018 shows that logging work is the most deadly. The federal agency’s data shows that there are only 53,600 who work in this industry, yet their injury rate is 97.6 people per 100,000 full-time workers. Logging workers receive a mere $40,650 per year in salary despite facing a significant contract injury risk on the job.
The fishing industry is the one with the second-highest worker fatality rate in the U.S. This industry has 520 full-time workers, yet its on-the-job fatality rate is 77.4 per 100,000 of them. Again, this is a significant risk that fishers face even though they only make $28,310 per year. Most industry workers die in transportation-related accidents.
Aviation takes third place for the most dangerous profession someone can work in. BLS data shows that 84,070 individuals work in this industry in the U.S. and that workers’ average income is $137,330. The industry’s fatality rate is 58.9 per 100,000 workers. Most fatal incidents are, as you might suspect, transportation ones.
Your right to compensation for a work-related injury or death
Industries that see a lot of worker deaths also see significant workplace injuries. Pennsylvania law requires almost every employer to cover workers’ compensation coverage. You may be able to tap into them to cover existing and future medical bills and lost wages, while survivors who lost a loved one to a workplace injury may be entitled to death benefits.
Workers’ compensation claims aren’t always as straightforward as they should be. If you’re having trouble getting what you are due after a workplace accident, it may be time to speak to an attorney.