In previous blogs, we have shared useful recommendations for better addressing COVID-19 challenges at your workplace as well as other common safety risks that your employees are exposed to. However, we have questioned in which industries employees are more likely to face work incidents and why.
In the case of work fatalities Ken Kolosh, manager of statistics at the NSC, says that occupations with the highest rates tend to have one of three things in common: working from dangerous heights, frequent contact with dangerous machinery or driving for substantial periods. On the other hand, the NSC also says that trying to answer what is the most dangerous industry is not a simple question. In fact, it depends on the measure used to determine work related “danger”.
Based on these findings and after doing some research, we share an overview of the 4 US industries that could be considered the most dangerous. Experiencing the largest number and higher percentages of workplace incidents. The data was taken from the most recent year.
Transportation and warehousing (208 non-fatal work injuries per 10,000 workers)
Workers in this sector experience the highest injury and illness rate involving days away from home. Leading events of injuries include overexertion and bodily reaction, falls and slips, and contact with objects and equipment, resulting in soreness, sprains, strains, contusions and fractures. Workers who perform jobs related to transportation and material moving, administrative support and maintenance are more likely to be injured.
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (23 fatal work injuries per 100,000 workers)
These industries are considered some of the most dangerous as they pose the highest death rate. The causes of work fatalities in this sector mainly include transportation events, being hit with objects, being stuck in equipment, machines and vehicles, resulting in external and internal traumatic injuries, drownings, electrocutions, among other incidents. Other common work incidents come from falls, slips, overexertion, and animal and insect related injuries.
Construction (1,008 of fatal work injuries)
Since 2012, the construction industry has experienced the highest number of work deaths. Workers in this industry commonly experience minor injuries resulting from overexertion. However, there are multiple risks that can result in fatal injuries such as slipping from different surfaces, falls from ladders, roofs and scaffolds, being hit by tools, instruments or falling materials, as well as being exposed to harmful substances and environments.
Government (233,300 of non-fatal work injuries)
State and local governments experience the highest number of non-fatal injuries and illness. This sector includes a wide variety of occupations such as education, legal, community service, public transportation, office and administrative support, among others. In addition to falls and overexertion events, these workers also can get injured by transportation incidents and acts of violence in the workplace.
In conclusion, we can say that in every workplace there are all kinds of risks that workers can be exposed to every day, experience an emergency and unfortunately, some of these cases result in loss of life. We encourage all employers to keep working to ensure the health, safety and well-being of their employees by making efforts and improving work environments.
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