Workplace Fatalities Reach Near-Record High in New Jersey

Many people claim that work is killing them. While you may dismiss this claim, accusing the person of exaggerating, you should really hear them out. That’s because their job could actually be the death of them, especially if they live in New Jersey.

The Garden State is seeing an uptick in workplace fatalities. In 2022, New Jersey saw the most deaths from workplace accidents than it had seen in almost two decades. There were 116 people killed, which is the highest number since 2004, when 129 people were killed in workplace accidents.

Of the 16 people killed in workplace accidents in 2022, almost half were caused by transportation accidents. Another 21 people were killed by exposure to harmful substances, while 19 deaths were caused by slips and falls. Another 18 deaths involved an “intentional injury” by a person, which includes homicides and suicides.

Most of the workplace deaths in 2022 saw private sector employers as victims, with 107 workers killed who were employed privately. In addition, there were 69,000 people who suffered nonfatal workplace injuries in the private sector, with another 22,300 nonfatal injuries reported by state and local government employers.

The New Jersey data is concerning, but it reflects national trends, which saw a 5.7% increase in fatal work injuries from 2021 to 2022. In 2022, Texas saw the highest number of fatal workplace accidents, with 578 deaths. California, Florida, and New York followed behind with 504, 307, and 251 deaths, respectively. New Jersey ranked #18 on the list.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Black and Hispanic workers saw the highest increases in fatality rates across the country. From 2021 to 2022, the fatality rate of Black workers increased by 12.4%, while Hispanic workers saw their rate increase by 10.4%. A similar trend was seen in New Jersey, where 22 Black workers died in 2022, which is a 57% increase from 2021. The fatality rate did drop by 10% for Hispanic workers.

Transportation incidents remained the most frequent type of fatal event for workers in the United States, accounting for neatly 38% percent of all occupational fatalities. In 2022, there were 2,066 fatal injuries from transportation accidents, which is a 4.2% increase from 2021. In New Jersey, warehousing, transportation, and construction represented the industries with the highest number of workplace fatalities in 2022.

Contact a New Jersey Personal Injury Lawyer Today

Work-related accidents are often serious in nature, causing broken bones, head trauma, paralysis, and even death. Unfortunately, the fatality rates are rising all over the country, which is not a good sign.

If you have been injured while on the job, contact a  Morristown work-related accident attorney from The Law Offices of Michael P. Burakoff. We have extensive experience helping clients injured on the job to understand their options when it comes to workers’ compensation claims and personal injury claims. Schedule a free consultation by filling out the online form or calling (973) 455-1567.

Source:

patch.com/new-jersey/across-nj/workplace-deaths-nj-reach-highest-level-nearly-20-years