Posted in News on September 8, 2017
Many careers are dangerous, and employees in these industries or young people entering the workforce for the first time need to be aware of these hazards. If an employee suffers an injury or dies at work it can lead to a personal injury lawsuit or a wrongful death claim from the victim’s family. It’s vital for anyone participating in the following jobs to understand the risks of the work and know what to do after an accident on the job.
The following fatality rates come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the government agency charged with acting as the government’s principal fact-finding agency for labor economics and statistics.
Logging
Lumberjacking or logging is statistically the deadliest job. Working in the logging industry often means using heavy-duty power tools like chainsaws and woodcutters. Loggers also face the risk of serious injury from falling trees and heavy tree limbs. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that logging as an industry has an average workplace fatality rate of 91 deaths per 100,000 employees.
Fishing
At first, fishing may not seem like a dangerous activity in most situations, but professional fishermen often spend days at a time on the water on large fishing vessels. Fishing at sea carries a significant risk of drowning or hypothermia-related injuries from falling into very cold waters. Many fishermen also contend with illness from being exposed to moisture and the elements for extended times. The reported death rate for fishers is 75 per 100,000 employees.
Airline Pilots
Airline pilots make thousands of flights delivering millions of passengers to destinations each year. Although commercial plane crashes are relatively rare, private air travel including privately-owned jets and small planes have a significantly higher accident rate. The fatality rate is 50.6 per 100,000 for airline pilots.
Extraction Work
Extraction work can include drilling, mining, blasting, working with explosives, or any other work involving stripping raw materials from the earth. Considering the need for heavy machinery, explosives, and the chances of cave-ins, poisoning from natural gas deposits, and other hazards, extraction work is an inherently dangerous field. The reported fatality rate is 46.9 deaths per 100,000 workers.
Roofing
Roofers have an inherently dangerous job due to working far above the ground. Without the proper safety equipment, roofers can sustain severe injuries or die from falls, and dangerous structures can sometimes cave in and injure roofers and anyone else in the structure. The reported fatality rate for roofing is 40.5 deaths per 100,000 employees.
Injured Workers’ Options
Workers’ compensation benefits can sometimes help injured workers recover lost wages and medical expenses from an on-the-job accident, but workers’ compensation rarely covers the total costs of an injury. Injured workers may need to file personal injury claims against negligent employers or third parties in some cases to totally recover their losses. If an employee dies from a work-related accident or injury, his or her surviving family members may file a wrongful death claim in some cases. Anyone in either situation should reach out to a reliable attorney as soon as possible to discuss legal options and best avenues for compensation.