Philadelphia Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Report 2012 Fatal Work Injuries Data

By Peter Patton, Esq.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently released its 2012 National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, a collection of data on fatal workplace injuries in the United States.  While the preliminary data revealed a slight decrease in the number of work injuries that resulted in death (from 4,693 in 2011 to 4,383 in 2012), the overall percentage of fatally injured workers remains an alarming 3.2 per 100,000 workers.  Males comprise the overwhelming majority of workplace fatalities (92%) and most workplace fatalities occur in the private sector (90%).

Top Ten Most Deadliest Occupations

According to the 2012 National Census, workers in the occupation of logging are most likely to be fatally injured on the job.  Over 34,000 individuals in the United States work in the logging profession including lumberjacks, fallers, logging equipment operators, log graders and log scalers.   Lumberjacks, who strenuously labor in harsh environments for relatively low wages, are the most well recognized members of the logging profession.  Last year, 62 loggers lost their lives while on the job, for a fatal workplace injury rate of 127.8 per 100,000 workers.

The second deadliest occupation is the fishing industry, with a total of 32 fatalities in 2012 and a fatal injury rate of 117 per 100,000 workers.  Unlike the logging profession, however, fishermen are often highly compensated in recognition of the risk of work injuries.   Fatal workplace injuries for airline pilots ranked third according to the National Census, with malfunctioning machinery and falling heavy objects resulting in a fatal workplace injury rate of 53.4 per 100,000 workers.  Rounding out the top ten of the deadliest professions are roofers, structural iron/steel workers, trash collectors, electric power line installers, drivers (include truck and sales drivers), farmers/ranchers and construction laborers.  Among the safest occupations are the computer, legal and mathematics professions which had less than 10 deaths per year each.

Main Causes of Fatal Workplace Injuries

The National Census also categorized the main causes of fatal workplace injuries in these occupations.  Most fatal workplace injuries (41%) result from an incident related to transportation, such as a highway car accident or a plane crash.  Other causes of fatal workplace injuries included workplace violence and suicides (18%) as well as slips, falls and trips (15%).  In 2012 there were 142 multiple fatality incidents (where more than one worker was fatally injured), in which 341 workers died.  The data also indicated that the number of individuals under the age of 16 who have suffered a fatal work injury is on the rise, with a 10% increase in such fatalities (from 10 in 2011 to 19 in 2012).

Galfand Berger Workers’ Compensation Attorneys Assist Injured Workers and Families of Fatal Workplace Accident Victims

You do not have to be a lumberjack, fisherman or aircraft pilot to suffer workplace injuries.   Workers are injured in every occupation, and are generally entitled to compensation for their injuries.  If you have been injured in your workplace, you may be entitled to file a Workers’ Compensation claim to receive compensation for your work injuries.  The Philadelphia Workers’ Compensation attorneys at Galfand Berger have handled claims for all types of work injuries, including death, and can help you and your family if you or a loved one has experienced an accident at work. Our dedicated attorneys will protect your rights and fight to secure for you the compensation you are entitled to under the law.

The law offices of Galfand Berger are conveniently located in Philadelphia, Reading and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.   We are prepared to handle your Workers’ Compensation claims throughout Pennsylvania, including the Harrisburg and Allentown region, as well as the Sough Jersey area.  Call Galfand Berger today at 1-800-222-8792 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.