OSHA Releases Statement on Workplace Fatalities

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released a statement regarding the increased rates of work-related fatalities in 2016.

Every year, thousands of U.S. workers lose their lives on the job. However, 2016 was a particularly deadly year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) Census of 2016 Fatal Occupational Injuries, 5,190 U.S. workers died on the job in 2016. That's a 7% increase from the year prior, signaling a disturbing new trend for the modern workplace. 

The BLS says the transportation industry had the highest rates of work-related fatalities in 2016, even surpassing construction. In 2016, roughly one in four fatal work-related injuries occurred in the transportation industry. The BLS also says that rates of workplace violence increased by 23% during this same period. As a result, workplace violence was the second-most common cause of work-related fatality.

"Today’s occupational fatality data shows a tragic trend with the third consecutive increase in worker fatalities in 2016 — the highest since 2008 — America’s workers deserve better,” said Loren Sweatt, deputy assistant secretary for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

On its website, OSHA says that most work-related fatalities in the transportation industry occur on public roads between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. This is typically when the roads are busiest, resulting in more traffic and a higher risk of collision. But regardless of the time or day or week, there's an inherit risk of injury when driving on public roads. That's something OSHA wants to combat to create a safer working experience for countless U.S. workers.

Employers in the transportation industry should also perform some basic steps to protect workers from injury. First and foremost, this includes proper training and certification for all workers whom drive or use transportation equipment. Most states have specific instructions regarding licensing for tractor tractor operation. To drive an 18-wheeeler, for example, you typically need a Class A CDL.

Perhaps one of the biggest safety risks in the transportation industry is fatigue. With drivers clocking long hours, many become fatigued while on the road. And when a driver becomes fatigued, their reaction time slows; thus, increasing the risk of collision. Employers can reduce the risk of work-related injury by limiting the number of hours their workers drive and requiring workers to take regular breaks.

Furthermore, OSHA has safety standards in place for certain transportation jobs. In agriculture, for instance, standard 1928.51 requires the use of roll-over protective structures (ROPS) for all tractors, and standard 1928 subpart C requires operators of agriculture tractors to receive training.