Workers still vulnerable to injuries or fatalities on the job

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 5,250 workplace fatalities in 2018. This was an increase of 2% from 2017, but the fatality rate per 100,000 full-time workers in Texas and throughout the country remained steady at 3.5%. The BLS data indicated that there was a 12% increase in workplace deaths caused by workers who intentionally overdosed on drugs or alcohol. Furthermore, there was an 11% increase in the number of workers who took their own lives in 2018.

Transportation accidents accounted for about 40% of accidents and other safety issues companies dealt with. Sales drivers and large truck drivers were most likely to be involved in a fatal accident. The National Safety Council said that these numbers show that employers need to do more to protect their workers. Ideally, managers and other leaders within the organization will create a culture that respects and prioritizes worker safety. With proper culture management, it may be possible to create and establish policies that workers support within about 12 months.

To get employees to buy into such a plan, safety needs to be more than just a buzzword. Instead, leaders need to show how they seriously they take it. If they are successful, they can leverage workplace safety as a marketing tool that can help the company from a financial standpoint.

Individuals who are hurt because of unsafe working conditions may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. An attorney may be able to help the client prepare and submit the claim and advocate at a subsequent hearing if it is disputed or denied.