Personal Injury on the Job: BLS Reveals Most Deadly Careers


In 2014 , The South Carolina Workers' Compensation Commission had 1088 cases initiated, which is more than a 20% increase over the prior year . Despite the increasing numbers in and around Charleston, personal injury and fatality counts resulting from work incidents are down nationally. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has noted serious trends in the 4,405 fatalities recorded in their most recent annual report. Five Most Hazardous Industries According to the data the BLS gathered in its Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), the national average across all industries is 3.2 fatalities for every 100,000 full-time employees (FTE). Using that as a baseline, the five most dangerous industries are as follows:

  1. Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (22.2 per 100,000 FTE, 11% of total workplace fatalities)
  2. Transportation and warehousing (13.1 per 100,000 FTE, 16% of total workplace fatalities)
  3. Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (12.3 per 100,000 FTE, 3% of total workplace fatalities)
  4. Construction (9.4 per 100,000 FTE, 18% of total workplace fatalities)
  5. Wholesale trade (5.1 per 100,000 FTE, 4% of total workplace fatalities)
Five Most Perilous Professions In addition to the providing data of the most hazardous industries, the BLS was able to pinpoint the most dangerous jobs as well. Those with the highest fatality rate per 100,000 full-time employees are detailed below. Again, bear in mind that the average across all industries is only 3.2 fatalities per 100,000 FTE.
  1. Logging workers (91.3 per 100,000 FTE)
  2. Fishers and related fishing workers (75 per 100,000 FTE)
  3. Aircraft pilots and flight engineers (50.6 per 100,000 FTE)
  4. Roofers (38.7 per 100,000 FTE)
  5. Refuse and recyclable material collectors (33 per 100,000 FTE)
Five Careers with the Highest Rates of Non-Fatal Injuries Obviously, when things go bad for a logger or fisherman, they have the greatest chance to turn into a catastrophic result. However, there are several careers which commonly see non-fatal injuries and those results are somewhat surprising.
  1. Nursing staff at government facilities
  2. Pet and pet supply store employees
  3. Policemen
  4. Firemen
  5. Veterinarian staff
Five Most Common Personal Injury-Causing Events The BLS further narrows down the most dangerous tasks employees perform.
  1. Transportation incidents (40% of total fatalities)
  2. Workplace violence, including animal attacks (17% of total fatalities)
  3. Falls, slips and trips (16% of total fatalities)
  4. Contact with objects and equipment (16% of total fatalities)
  5. Exposure to harmful substances or environments (7% of total fatalities)

Charleston Personal Injury Attorney

Workplace injuries happen all too often and sometimes have catastrophic results. Through South Carolina workers' compensation programs, employees are usually entitled to legal representation to ensure fair reparations are received, and attorney fees are allotted as part of the settlement. If you have been hurt on the job or have lost a loved one due to an incident at work, you may be entitled to help with medical bills, financial assistance for time off work, and payments cover the costs associated with end of your loved one's life. Contact our office for a free consultation using our online form or speak directly with one of our attorneys by calling 1(800)610-2546.

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