Common Workplace Accident Statistics

Workplace accident statics can give employers a better idea of the dangers work places can pose to their employees and help them to think about ways to keep employees safe and improve these statistics. 

For individuals working in industries that are classified as dangerous, the issue of workplace safety is at the forefront of many of their daily procedures and protocols. While workplace safety is a concern in every industry, some jobs pose a higher risk for workplace accidents than others, such as construction, law enforcement, healthcare, and manufacturing.

Workplace Accident Statistics

OSHA workplace accident statistics:

• More than 4,000 U.S. workers were killed on the job in 2014.
• 1 in 5 workplace fatalities last year were in the construction industry.
  • Falls — 349 out of 874 total deaths in construction in CY 2014 (39.9%)
  • Electrocutions — 74 (8.5%)
  • Struck by Object — 73 (8.4%)
  • Caught-in/between — 12 (1.4%)
• Since 1970, workplace deaths have been reduced by more than 60%, and occupational injuries have declined 40%.

Making sense of these statistics:

This decline in workplace accident statistics is largely due to the stricter guidelines and regulations put in place by OSHA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Some of these guidelines require that employers:

• Keep all passageways and storerooms clean, orderly, dry, and in sanitary condition.
• Take measures to prevent exposure to some infectious diseases.
• Provide fall protection, such as safety harnesses and guardrails to employees working at dangerous heights.
• Provide personal protective equipment (PPE) and respirators to employees who are potentially exposed to bloodborne pathogens.
• Provide specialized training for certain dangerous jobs.

When a Workplace Accident Happens…

Although OSHA and other agencies have helped decrease workplace accidents, it is unlikely that workplace accidents will ever be completely eliminated. When a workplace accident happens that requires cleanup and sanitization of the worksite, how should it be handled? If you said, “send in the janitorial staff,” you would be wrong for several reasons:

1. Potential bloodborne pathogen exposure. Blood found at the site of a workplace accident can contain viruses such as hepatitis B and C, HIV, and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), all of which can infect individuals who come into contact with it.
2. Violation of health and safety laws. Any employee with a risk of exposure to blood or biological materials has the right to free hepatitis B vaccinations, bloodborne pathogen and PPE training, and personal protective equipment paid for by their employer. Employers who require workers (including janitorial employees) to clean up after a serious workplace accident could be in violation of OSHA’s health and safety laws.
3. Inexperienced cleanup. The blood at the site of a workplace accident can to seep into carpet, padding, sub flooring, and walls, and has the potential to infect workers if not properly sanitized. Hiring an experienced bioremediation company will not only ensure that the site is clean, but will also ensure it is sanitized to hospital-grade standards.

From Birmingham to Long Island, for nearly 20 years, Aftermath has been a national industry leader in crime scene cleanup and bioremediation services. During every stage of the sanitization process, our technicians are fully protected by PPE, including biohazard suits, a double layer of gloves, and respiratory gear.

We are dedicated to serving our clients with dignity and compassion and make ourselves available to them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Contact us today for more information.