According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the workplace fatality rate rose in 2014, which represents the first increase since 2010. Furthermore, the total number of deaths was the highest since 2008. The vast majority of those who were killed were between the ages of 45 and 64, and males made up a majority of those who died.
Workers are injured on the job every seven seconds on average with an average of 13 deaths occurring each day. Car crashes are the most common type of fatal workplace accidents, and this is partially because of distractions behind the wheel. To cut down on accidents, drivers are encouraged to stop using electronic devices even if its to join a conference call or to take a call from a client.
Workplace safety is an issue that both employers and employees should take seriously. Workers should constantly scan for items or conditions that could result in an injury while employers should provide adequate safety equipment. They should also provide training and oversight to ensure that the equipment is used and used properly. Doing so could prevent slips and falls or injuries related to unnatural repetitive motions. It can also prevent accidental death because of improper or unsafe machine use.
The surviving family members of a person who is killed in a workplace accident will often have to face adverse financial consequences. Some of them will be immediate, like funeral and burial expenses, but the loss of the contributions of a breadwinner can be long-lasting. Although most people associate workers’ compensation with benefits that deal with an injury, such as the provision of medical care, some death benefits may be available to the decedent’s next of kin as well. An attorney can provide advice as to how to go about seeking them.
