Work-Related Fatalities Increase By 2% in 2018

The number of work-related fatalities that have occurred thus far in 2018 is now 2% higher than last year's rate. On Dec. 17, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its annual report on work-related injuries and fatalities. According to the BLS's report, 5,250 workers suffered a work-related fatality. Based on these figures, the rate of work-related fatality in the United States is approximately 3.5 per 100,000 workers.

The Transportation Industry

In its report, the BLS cited the transportation industry as having the highest number of work-related fatalities. Nearly half of all work-related fatalities occurred in the transportation industry. In 2018, over 2,000 transportation workers died while on the job. As the country's roads and highways become more congested, transportation employers must explore new ways to keep their workers safe.

Equipment and Machinery

The BLS found that equipment and machinery were responsible for a significant number of work-related fatalities. Manufacturing workers, for example, often use heavy equipment and machinery to produce goods. Unfortunately, some workers fail to use the proper safety procedures when controlling such equipment and machinery, thus placing themselves at risk for serious and potentially fatal injury. 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) has standards regarding the use of heavy equipment and machinery. Failure to follow these standards places workers at risk for injury, which could prove fatal.

What's Next for Employers?

Employers should heed the BLS's report as a warning to step up to their safety measures. The NSC explained that businesses shouldn't just assume fatalities are a cost associated with running a business. Rather, employers should create an appropriate strategy to identify and resolve potential hazards in the workplace before they are able to cause injury or fatality.

"Workplace fatalities should never be considered a cost of doing business," said the National Safety Council (NSC) in response to the BLS's report. "Employers need to take a systematic approach to safety that includes having policies, training and risk assessment techniques in place to address major causes of fatalities and injuries."

If you're an employer, you should consider making safety a New Year's resolution for your business. As the number of work-related fatalities continues to increase, you must take the appropriate actions to keep workers safe. This includes providing workers with PPE, cleaning spilled liquids, using lockout/tagout for machines and more.