There is no such thing as a completely risk free workplace. Unfortunately, it does not matter how many safety precautions a worker takes when he or she is constantly exposed to dangerous environments. Certain industries are simply more prone to deadly accidents than others. Here are the industries in which North Carolina workers are most likely to suffer fatal work injuries.
The deadliest industries
According to data collected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, logging workers have the highest fatal injury rate in the United States. Loggers have a fatal accident rate 33 times higher than the average worker, coming out to about 111 fatalities for every 100,000 full time workers. The next three deadliest industries are:
- Flight engineers and aircraft pilots
- Oil, gas and mining derrick operators
- Roofers
Danger in the sanitation industry
Garbage workers face the fifth highest rate of fatal work injuries. In 2018 alone, 37 garbage collectors were killed in work-related accidents. The majority of these fatal injuries were the result of collisions with passing vehicles or garbage trucks. Despite being a necessary service for modern day society, these men and women have little protection as they collect waste from the roadside.
Grieving a loved one who died unexpectedly is never easy. Things can be even more complicated when those deaths were the result of fatal work injuries, as it often adds a layer of financial insecurity. What some families in North Carolina might not realize is that they may qualify for temporary death benefits, which are available through the state’s workers’ compensation system.