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Report finds 150 workers die daily in U.S.: Impact in New Jersey

A national report notes that 150 workers die due to work related accidents everyday. This article will review the publication with a focus on results for New Jersey workers.

A recent investigation by the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations, or AFL-CIO, found an estimated 150 workers will die each day due to accidents on the job or job-related illnesses. The report notes that 4,628 workers were killed due to on the job accidents in the U.S. in 2012 and that almost 3.8 million injuries and illnesses connected to work were reported. As chilling as these statistics are, it is very likely that these numbers are not truly representative of the full number of injuries, illnesses and fatalities connected to the workplace. In addition to providing data on a national level, the report also covers each state.

Workplace accidents and injuries: New Jersey

According to the report, there were 80,900 workplace injuries and accidents in New Jersey in 2012 alone. The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and New Jersey’s Department of Health break down the cause of these accidents. The most recent available data from these agencies is from 2011. According to their analysis, there were 99 fatal workplace injuries during 2011. These injuries are broken down as follows:

  • 19 deaths from construction and extraction jobs
  • Less than 10 deaths from maintenance and repair positions
  • Less than 10 deaths from sales jobs

The remaining fatal accidents were from jobs involving the fields of cleaning, protective services, administrative positions and production related employment. Within these kinds of jobs, the types of accidents included transportation accidents, violence (including assaults by coworkers and robbers), and falls.

Next steps: Helping workers who suffer injuries while on the job

Ultimately, the report calls for increased funding to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Mine Safety and Health Administrations (MSHA). Increased funding, it is argued, would help make sure current regulations are being followed and to encourage law makers across the country to pass new pieces of legislation to reduce the risk of workplace accidents and injuries. Although these steps would help keep workers safe in the future, it is also important for workers who have already suffered a work-related accident to know that remedies are available to help cover the costs of rehabilitation and medical treatment as well as missed wages.

As a result, those who are suffering from injuries or illnesses connected to their jobs should contact an experienced New Jersey work injury attorney. This legal professional will review the details of your case and help better ensure you receive the benefits you are entitled to.

Keywords: workplace fatalities, workers’ compensation