Fatal Work Accidents in Pennsylvania – What Industries are Most Dangerous?

GAVL
A look at fatal work accidents in Pennsylvania. What industries are most dangerous? According to data from the BLS, the construction and extraction industry as well as the transportation and materials moving industry are the most dangerous. They account for about 70% of the total number of fatal work accidents.

[suffusion-widgets id=’4′]

As work injury lawyers, we see catastrophic work accidents happen in specific industries across Pennsylvania, such as the construction or manufacturing industry. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics backs this up. According to the most recent data available, work deaths in Pennsylvania tend to occur in certain industries. The most recent data is for fiscal year 2015. Data for last year, 2016, has not been released yet.

According to the data for fiscal year 2015, there were 173 fatal work accidents in Pennsylvania. This means that there were roughly 3 work related deaths each week in 2015. On the bright side, the total number of deaths in Pennsylvania has declined since 2013. In 2013, there were 183 work accident deaths. In 2014, there were 179. The decline is not huge, but it is steady.

Related: OSHA Updates Fall Protection Rules, Effective January 17, 2017 [Get the latest on changes to OSHA rules for fall protection.]

Certain industries are dangerous. In fact, the majority of work accident deaths in 2015 occurred in two industries. There were 58 total deaths in the Natural Resources industry which includes construction and extraction operations as well as installation, maintenance and repair operations. Of the 58 deaths in this industry, 42 occurred in the construction and extraction industry.

Another 58 work related deaths occurred in the Production/Transportation industry. This industry includes production, transportation and materials moving. Combined, these two industries accounted for nearly 67% of all work accident deaths in 2015. Of the 58 deaths in the production industry, 50 occurred in the transportation/materials moving industry.

Reducing Work Accident Deaths – Safety Considerations

Work accidents are usually 100% preventable. Workplace safety must be taken seriously. This means that workers must be trained and retrained. Regulations enforced by OSHA must be followed. Violations of OSHA at work tend to be a top cause of work accidents in Pennsylvania. In fact, in our work accident injury lawsuits, we often allege violations of various OSHA regulations. Sometimes, these violations are willful or clearly intentional.

When Pennsylvania Work Accidents Are Fatal Workers’ Families Suffer Most

When a Pennsylvania work accident is fatal, the worker’s family suffers the most. Not only has the family lost their loved one, the financial loss is often enormous. As work injury lawyers, we see this time and time again.

For instance, a union worker from Philadelphia falls off a roof at a commercial construction site and suffers a fatal injury. The worker’s salary was the primary source of income for the family. The workers’ compensation claim is settled for substantially less than the value of the worker’s lifetime income. Months after the death, the family loses the home.

In this situation, the family suffered a devastating loss. The resulting financial hardship only adds to the tragedy, making it harder for the family to recover.

Pennsylvania Work Accident Injuries – Get Legal Help Now

If your loved one was killed in a work related accident, please contact our work accident lawyers for a free consultation. Our work accident lawyers are recognized as top injury lawyers in the area and have recovered over $150 million for injured workers across Pennsylvania and New Jersey. (866) 641-0806

**This website does not provide legal advice. Every case is unique and it is crucial to get a qualified, expert legal opinion prior to making any decisions about your case. See the full disclaimer at the bottom of this page.