Millions of Californians are employed in essential industries for our state’s flourishing economy. However, according to OSHA resources, the most dangerous occupations for workers in California are those in the agriculture, construction, and trucking industries. These three California industries are considered hazardous for employees due to yearly reported deaths and injuries. At Sacramento Workers’ Compensation Attorneys P.C., our expert Sacramento workers’ compensation attorneys have helped obtain the necessary medical treatment and legal settlement for countless cases of injured workers across Northern California. The following sections will cover these injuries and statistics related to these hazardous industries.
Agriculture Industry
Agriculture workers are a critical part of California’s economic supply chain. These employees work extended hours, operate heavy machinery, use dangerous chemicals, and regularly deal with large amounts of materials. According to a report from The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), in 2019, 410 farm workers died from work-related injuries. The leading cause of these fatalities was transportation-related injuries, specifically tractor rollovers. In addition, the use of dangerous chemicals and pesticides in agriculture poses a considerable risk of chemical exposure and severe work-related illnesses due to these hazardous chemicals. Severe diseases caused by agricultural pesticides can be linked to cancers, leukemia, immunotoxicity, neurological and developmental toxicity, and disruption of endocrine systems. These injuries and illnesses sustained by agricultural workers are commonly seen in workers’ compensation claims.
Construction Workers
Another hazardous industry in California is construction. Construction occupations often require workers to regularly operate heavy machinery, move large materials, assemble structures, and work in potentially dangerous situations, such as near freeways or on top of buildings. Due to these factors, construction workers account for many workers’ compensation claims. The most common cause of injuries in construction is falling injuries. Falling injuries often cause workers to sustain severe personal injuries like broken bones, sprains, torn ligaments, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), Spinal cord injuries, and paralysis. According to a records report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), during the 2019 calendar year, about 20% of work-related fatalities occurred in private-sector construction industries.
Truck Drivers
Another common occupational industry considered hazardous for employee safety is the trucking and shipping industry. Truck drivers and shipment crews are often required to work in dangerous conditions, such as long-distance driving, oversized shipping items, and offloading heavy materials. Driving is usually the most dangerous aspect of their occupation as truckers. Long-distance driving with large loads can require unwavering focus and coordination. These truckers driving such long distances are often involved in accidents with other vehicles or incidents resulting in injury during the loading or offloading. According to a 2019 data report from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Of the approximately 510,000 police-reported crashes involving large trucks in 2019, there were 4,479 fatal crashes and 114,000 injury crashes. Compared to the previously mentioned dangerous industries, trucking and shipping industry injury rates are reportedly rising, with deaths and injuries rising across the board. The common injuries sustained by these truck drivers mainly result from collisions with passenger vehicles or other tractor-trailers. These include bone fractures, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, bruising, and facial lacerations.
Suppose you’ve worked in the trucking, agriculture, or construction industry and have suffered ass while working. In that case, severe personal injury or illness, our expert Sacramento Workers’ Compensation Attorneys want to help you obtain the medical treatment and legal compensation you deserve to recover from your injury. To schedule your FREE no-obligation consultation with one of our expert Sacramento workers’ compensation lawyers today, call us at (916) 288-9193.