Helping Make The Law Make Sense

Workplace fatalities are on the rise

On Behalf of | Jun 14, 2021 | Uncategorized

Going to work can be dangerous, especially for those who work in high-risk industries. However, as safety technology has improved over the years, one might expect workplace fatalities to decrease. This is unfortunately not the case, and some North Carolina workers might even face a higher risk of fatal injuries now than they did in the past.

Workers are dying

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — BLS — reported that 5,333 people died from fatal occupational injuries in 2019. That year, a worker died approximately every 99 minutes. This was the largest number of work deaths since 2007.

Age and occupation play a role

The BLS also reported that workers over the age of 55 saw an 8% increase of worker fatalities. This age group accounted for around 38% of all worker fatalities in 2019, and it’s the largest number of work deaths for that age group that has ever been recorded. The risk for work-related fatal injuries also went up based on industry, and workers in some of the following careers also died at higher rates than in the past:

  • Construction
  • Sales
  • Transportation

Losing a loved one is never easy, but some families in North Carolina may feel like they never get the chance to truly mourn after a deadly work accident. This is often because the loss of both a loved one and his or her paycheck can complicate the family’s financial situation. However, these families might not be aware of the temporary death benefits that are available for workplace fatalities through the state’s workers’ compensation system.