As we recently reported on our Georgia Workers’ Compensation Attorney Blog, the number of work fatalities ha declined slightly through the long economic downturn. While officials are reporting less fatal work accidents, they’re also predicting a turn in this trend with the improving economy.About 5,000 employees who were killed at work in 2011. That’s down close to 2 percent from the previous year. T
Our Atlanta workers’ compensation attorneys note the Bureau of Labor Statistics new numbers show 3 million workers were injured on the job in the United States in 2011. This means that 3.5 workers were injured for every 100 equivalent full-time employee. You might not think that’s a lot, but when you factor in the millions of workers we have in the country — it adds up. What’s most alarming is that everyone’s at risk. There’s not a safe industry out there!
2011 Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses:
-The rate of injury and illnesses that resulted in rob transfer among the private industry dropped in 2011.
-All industries, aside from private, saw unchanged rates of injuries and illnesses that resulted in job transfer or days away from work.
-There was a spike in the number of injuries and illnesses among those who were employed in the fishing, forestry, agriculture and hunting industry. This sector was only one of two that saw an increase from 2010 to 2011. Many believe that this increase is the result of both crop and animal production.
-The rate for injuries and illnesses spiked for those in the food and accommodation services.
-The residential care and the nursing home sectors experienced declines in their rates for injuries and illnesses. Officials believe this decline is the direct result of the decline in both residential care facilities and in nursing homes.
-Manufacturing was the only private sector that saw a job transfer rate to be greater than the rate of cases in which employees took days off of work. This is a near 15-year trend however.
-Overall, those in the private industry got to enjoy a decrease in its rate of injury. There was a rate of less than 3.5 cases for every 100 full-time workers.
-The rate of injury and illnesses for those employed within the local and state government was more than 5.5 cases for every 100 full-time workers. This rate continues to sit alarmingly higher than many other injury rates.
More than 40 states participate in the collection of these statistics. The number of these incidents declined in 7 states, increased in 1 state and stayed the same in the rest of the 32 states. Don’t take the declines and the steady results as a sign of relief though, as officials predict an increase in accident rates. As more and more workers clock back in, the risks skyrocket. Make sure that everyone at your work site is doing what they can to help to make sure that everyone’s safe and stays out of an accident.
If you or a loved one has been injured on the job, contact J. Franklin Burns, P.C., to speak with an experienced attorney. For a free consultation call 1-404-920-4708 today.
