The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that the fatal work injury rate in 2018 was the same as the previous year: 3.5 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers. The BLS presented its detailed findings in its annual National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. Georgia residents should know that OSHA makes use of the BLS National Census in its effort to improve its enforcement of safety and health standards.
The following are just a few of those findings in the 2018 National Census. Transportation incidents led to 40% of all work-related fatalities, making these the most frequent of all fatal events. There was a 39% jump in the number of incidents where employees were caught in running equipment or machinery and a 17% rise in cases of workers being struck by falling objects or equipment.
There was also a rise in workers dying from unintentional alcohol or non-medical drug overdoses, from assault, from animal attacks and from work-related suicide. On the other hand, fatal trips, slips and falls went down 11%.
Truckers and sales workers saw the most fatalities of any occupational group. Pilots, flight engineers and roofers saw a fatal work injury rate 10 times higher than the average 3.5 per 100,000 FTE workers. The rate for workers 65 and older was double the average.
Workplace fatalities are covered under the workers’ compensation program. The family or other eligible dependents can file a workers’ compensation claim and receive death benefits, which include a percentage of the decedent’s wages and pay for things like funeral and burial expenses and any pre-death medical bills. Benefits may even cover loss of support and loss of consortium. The workers’ comp program also pays out benefits for injured workers. Whatever the case may be like, it might be wise to consult a lawyer.