Terrorist attacks less of a risk than workplace accidents

In today’s society, people all over the world live in fear of terrorist attacks. However, the statistics clearly demonstrate that the real danger lies more in regular day-to-day activities in Texas and around the rest of the country. According to the Huffington Post, thousands more Americans die each year due to accidents in the workplace compared to terrorist attacks.

Despite improvements in workplace safety, thanks to employment laws and regulations put in place by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, there remains the chance of severe injury and/or death on the job. High-risk industries, including construction, mining and warehousing, continue to have a high rate of workplace deaths. However, the overall risk of dying in an accident at work has reduced in the past 20 years.

Only 17 Americans died from terrorism in 2011. The same year saw 4,609 Americans die from on-the-job accidents. Despite the higher numbers, the deaths that more often make the news are from terrorist attacks. Workplace accidents, even those involving multiple casualties, do not make as big of an impact on the news.

According to the Centre for Research on Globalization, when comparing the number of workplace deaths to those from terrorism, American workers are “271 times more likely to die from a workplace accident than terrorism.” The number of American deaths attributed to terrorism in 2011 did not just include the acts occurring on American soil. This number includes the deaths worldwide, including those who died in areas of combat. Conversely, the deaths attributed to the workplace only include accidents reported in America, so the number could be higher if you were to include Americans working abroad.