According to information published online recently by a national magazine, loggers and those in commercial fishing continue to have the most dangerous occupations, at least with respect to fatalities. Roofers and garbage collectors also statistically have jobs which are especially risky.
It may also come as little surprise to those in the New City area and other parts of New York City’s surrounding communities that incidents related to transportation, such as car accidents and accidents involving other motor vehicles, are the most common cause of workplace fatalities.
Of the almost 4,400 work-related deaths reported across the country in 2017 about 2,100, almost half, involved accidents related to transportation. By contrast, the second most common cause of fatalities was falling, with falls being responsible for almost 900 deaths. Contact with dangerous objects or equipment accounted for almost 700 deaths, making it the third most common cause of workplace fatalities.
Overall, both fatal and non-fatal workplace injuries cost billions every year. Specifically, injured workers incur almost $34 billion in medical bills annually, at least judging by figures from 2016. Likewise, they suffer over $49 billion in lost wages and productivity.
Ultimately, it is up to New York employers and other businesses to ensure workplace safety. New York’s worker’s compensation system is no-fault, so employers are expected to cover medical bills and lost wages, as well as funeral expenses in the event of a death. This is so even if the victim could have done more to protect himself or herself. In other words, the burden is squarely on employers to make sure that employees have the tools and training they need to avoid serious accidents.
Moreover, when a work-related injury is the result of a safety violation, victims may in certain circumstances have other legal options available to them.
