Some New York workers have a greater chance of dying on the job than others, according to a new report by the AFL-CIO. The report, entitled Death on the Job
The report found that 5,190 U.S. workers lost their lives on the job in 2016, compared to 4,836 in 2015. Further, the report estimated that an additional 50,000 to 60,000 workers die from occupational diseases each year. The most common cause of death for workers was transportation accidents, which accounted for 40 percent of all worker fatalities. The second most common cause of death was workplace violence, which accounted for nearly 17 percent of fatalities.
The construction industry experienced the highest overall number of worker deaths, with 991. However, the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting industries had the highest fatality rate, which was 23.2 per 100,000 workers. The report found that workers ages 55 and above were more likely to die on the job than any other age group, accounting for 36 percent of all fatalities. Meanwhile, Latinos had a higher death rate than that of all other workers, with 3.7 fatalities per 100,000 workers. The state with the highest fatality rate was Wyoming, with 12.3 deaths per 100,000 workers. Alaska was second, with 10.6 deaths per 100,000 workers.
Injured workers are typically eligible to file for workers’ compensation benefits through their employer’s insurance. Depending on the nature of the injury involved, the benefits could be offered on a temporary or permanent basis. Some workers may find it helpful to consult with an attorney before filing their claim. An attorney might carefully review the case and work to obtain the maximum amount of benefits possible.
Source: Market Watch, These workers are far more likely to die on the job than others
