Whenever workplace fatalities experience an increase, it’s a cause for concern. However, a recent report from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is giving more pause than usual – largely because the numbers paint a grim picture.
According to the government’s report, fatalities that can be tied back to occupational hazards jumped a whopping 30% during the past year, including at least 21 worker deaths since Oct. 1, 2022. While investigations are still ongoing in some of the deaths, the vast majority were preventable.
This indicates that employers are not doing everything they can and should be doing to keep their work force safer.
OSHA makes a call to action on behalf of employees everywhere
In August, the agency held its annual Safe + Sound Week, which is designed to draw attention to workplace safety programs and encourage businesses to be proactive about employee safety. This year’s event was especially solemn as OSHA representatives called on employers everywhere to “maintain a workplace…free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees…”
This means employers should be doing things like:
- Looking for operational methods to reduce inherent dangers within the job
- Making use of new technological advancements to mitigate risk whenever possible
- Encouraging management and employees to collaborate on safety strategies
- Making workplace safety training a priority when onboarding new employees
- Holding regular workplace safety sessions with all employee
- Actively looking for potential dangers and implementing mitigation strategies
- Encouraging employees to speak up and identify their safety concerns
A workplace accident can happen to anybody, and even someone who is employed in a relatively safe industry can get seriously hurt – or killed. If your loved one was killed in a workplace incident, find out more about your right to workers’ compensation benefits, including burial costs and replacement income. While benefits won’t restore your loved one to you, they can make it easier to protect your family’s future.