13 PEOPLE A DAY DIE FROM A WORKPLACE INJURY IN U.S.
The National Safety Council has released the Book of Injury Facts for 2016.
The statistical review includes startling numbers for workplace fatalities
across the nation. Numbers reported reflecting the 4,821 people, also
equal to 13 a day, who died while doing their jobs in the U.S. during
2015. The most dangerous industry in terms of death rates again went to
the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting sector even though Indiana’s
similar sector saw an 18 percent decrease in fatalities. The injury book
states that all four areas “topped the death rates chart in with
24.7 fatalities per 100,000 workers, higher than mining
Safety officials say mostly all workplace injuries and fatalities are preventable.
HOW DOES INDIANA RANK?
The Indiana Department of Labor also released a report in December 2016.
In the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries report, the number of workplace
deaths [115] in 2015 tied the state’s lowest total [in 2012] since
the report was established in 1992. Vehicle crashes were the number one
cause of worker fatalities and nearly 48 percent of fatalities involved
transportation. Other key numbers came from the construction industry.
It saw a 39 percent decrease in workplace deaths. Indiana’s manufacturing
industry was up just two from the previous year and reported 12 workplace
fatalities in 2015.
So far in 2017, seven Indiana companies have been issued safety orders,
penalties or violations from the state’s Occupational Safety and
Health Administration [OSHA]. The public can view old and current listings
of issued safety orders and inspection notes on the Department of Labor’s website.
HOW COMMON ARE WORKPLACE FATALITIES?
Workplace injuries occur more often than worker fatalities but workplace
deaths still happen. Last year in Indiana, reports of the deaths of two
workers from an Indianapolis Power & Light power plant near Martinsville
and also the death of the 30-year-old welder who died while working at
the Gary Works steel mill in northwest Indiana, the largest steel mill
in North America, made headline news. In addition, a construction worker
was tragically killed on I-65 when an SUV struck him and another worker
died when he fell from a job site in Jeffersonville.
When working conditions are not regularly monitored for safety and compliance
per standards of the OSHA, workers are put at risk of suffering a fatal
injury. If this happens families are typically entitled to receive compensation.
Death benefits are secured under Indiana’s workers’ compensation
laws. In the event of a work-related accident that results in a wrongful
death, the benefactors of the deceased person could be eligible for funeral
expenses and burial costs, as well as 500 weeks of death benefit payments.
These payments may be available in a lump sum, or in structured payments.
Indianapolis wrongful death lawyers Stephen Wagner and Jason Reese can
handle your work comp death benefits claim with years of experience and
proven results. Call the law firm of Wagner Reese today (888) 204-8440
for your FREE consultation!