Stephen Hasner | Workplace Accidents | February 7, 2023
Every year, people die through no fault of their own simply by doing their job. Our workers’ compensation lawyers in Savannah hope that by understanding the industries and situations that lead to workplace deaths, you will be able to protect yourself at work and avoid such tragic consequences.
Statewide Workplace Death Statistics
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 193 people died in workplace accidents in Georgia in 2020. Although that is a decrease from the year before, even one workplace death is too many. Nationwide, 4,764 people died in workplace accidents in 2020.
Common Causes of Workplace Fatalities in Georgia
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that car accidents were the most common cause of workplace fatalities in 2020. That year, 80 people died in transportation accidents, representing 41% of the total number of Georgia fatal workplace accidents for the year.
Other common causes of workplace fatalities in Georgia include:
- Contact with or struck by objects and equipment
- Slips and falls
- Workplace violence
- Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects
- Exposure to harmful substances
- Overexertion
- Electrocution
- Fires and explosions
Employers should maintain safe working environments to prevent such workplace fatalities.
Jobs Most Likely To Result in Workplace Fatalities
The transportation and warehousing industry had the largest number of Georgia workplace fatalities in 2020 with 39, significantly higher than the 25 that were reported in 2019. 32 of these fatalities involved transportation incidents. Truck drivers represented 77% of fatal workplace injuries in the transportation and warehousing industry. The construction industry reported 37 fatal workplace injuries, with 17 of these involving specialty trades.
In 2020, the industries that reported workplace fatalities in Georgia were:
- Construction
- Transportation and warehousing
- Truck transportation
- Waste management and remediation services
- Manufacturing
- Material moving services
- Agriculture, fishing, and hunting
- Forestry and logging
- Wholesale trade
- Retail trade
- Health care and social assistance
- Federal government
- Local government
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
The particular occupations and jobs that reported workplace fatalities in Georgia in 2020 include:
- Motor vehicle operators
- Commercial truck drivers
- Food preparation and service-related occupations
- Grounds maintenance workers
- Construction laborers
- Construction equipment operators
- Painters
- Installation, maintenance, and repair workers
- Production workers
- Sales occupations
- Farmers, fishermen, and hunters
- Management positions
- Supervisors of construction and extraction workers
Of these groups, transportation and material moving occupations had the highest reported number of Georgia fatal workplace injuries, representing 60 of the fatalities in 2020. Construction and extraction workers represented the second-highest number of fatalities in 2020. Additionally, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers represented 37 of the fatalities for the year.
Georgia Workplace Injury Statistics
In addition to the nearly 200 people who died in workplace fatalities in Georgia in 2020, another 78,000 workers were injured or became ill from workplace sources the same year.
Georgia Workers’ Compensation System
While the best case scenario is not to get injured at work, Georgia does provide benefits to injured or ill workers through the state’s workers’ compensation system. Workers’ compensation is an accident insurance program paid for by Georgia employers that provides various benefits for workers injured on the job. Any Georgia employer with three or more employees must maintain workers’ compensation insurance.
Benefits available under the workers’ compensation system include:
- Medical benefits
- Wage replacement benefits
- Rehabilitation benefits
- Dependent death benefits
To receive these benefits, you must follow specific rules and procedures, including reporting the accident to your employer and seeking care from a medical provider approved by your employer.
If you have lost a loved one in a workplace injury, contact an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer for help.
Contact the Atlanta Workplace Accident Lawyers at Hasner Law, P.C. For Help
For more information, please contact the Atlanta workplace accident law firm of Hasner Law P.C. at our nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.
We serve in Fulton County, Chatham County, and its surrounding areas:
Hasner Law PC – Atlanta Law Office
2839 Paces Ferry Rd SE #1050
Atlanta, GA 30339
(678) 888-4878
Hasner Law PC – Savannah Law Office
221 W York St
Savannah, GA 31401
(912) 234-2334
