The Bureau of Labor Statistic reports there were 5,702 fatalities in 2005 resulting from work related accidents, injuries, and illness. Death benefits are a standard part of the workers compensation benefit program but an accident or injury resulting in a fatality may bring about further legal and financial liability or lawsuits. The vast majority of workplace related fatalities were associated with some type of transportation incident, second was contact with objects or equipment, assaults and violent acts, then falling. Last came exposure to harmful chemicals and substances, fire and explosions.
Contractors who send workers on errands, to and from job-sites or other transportations tasks should carefully evaluate their liability should an employee be involved in a car accident.
The leading job role that experienced deaths was construction and extraction occupations, with transportation and material moving occupations and motor vehicle operators close behind. The industries with the highest fatalities included private industry, goods producing, natural resource and mining, agriculture, construction, and manufacturing. Service industries also ranked among this group.
Of the total 5,702 fatalities, 4,568 employees were classified as wage and/or salaried employees, while 1,134 were self-employed.
402 of the deaths reported were women, 5,300 were men. The majority of fatalities were suffered by workers ranged in age from 25 to 54 years of age. It is surprising to note that there were 24 job related deaths of people under the age of 16.
