Everyone assumes that they’ll come home after another shift at work, but that’s not the reality for some workers every single day in the United States. Fatal work accidents happen daily despite our best efforts to keep employees safe, but which states are doing well when it comes to worker safety, and which states have the highest rates of worker fatality? In today’s blog, we look at some of the best and worst states for fatal workplace accidents in the US.
Most Dangerous States To Work
A recent study conducted by the personal injury firm Team Law took a closer look at where the most fatal work accidents are occurring across the US. They used federal workplace fatality data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to calculate the per capita rates of each state. Here’s a look at the most dangerous states in the US for worker fatalities per 100,000 workers:
- Wyoming – 12.7
- North Dakota – 9.8
- Mississippi – 6.9
- New Mexico – 6.8
- West Virginia – 6.8
Now, that’s not to say that states like Wyoming and North Dakota are lacking in worker safety protocols. Rather, these state economies are more dependent on high-risk industries like construction, agriculture and natural resource extraction, compared to some smaller states in different areas where a larger portion of their state economy is service based.
As for Minnesota, only four states had a lower per capita worker fatality rate than the 2.8 per 100,000 posted by the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Only New Jersey (2.7), Massachusetts (2.4), Connecticut (2.0) and Rhode Island (1.4) had lower per capita worker fatality rates than Minnesota. In Minnesota, the most dangerous industry was “agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting,” followed by “transportation and utilities” and “construction.”
So while Minnesota is doing a great job of keeping workers safe on a national scale, the job isn’t done until that number drops to 0. Every worker deserves to head home to their family at the end of a shift, but those fatal accidents still occur regularly in Minnesota.
If someone you love was killed in a work accident, or you’re dealing with the fallout of a devastating work accident, know that you have legal options. The team at Hey Workers can help determine which benefits you’re eligible to receive and make a strong argument as to why you deserve top dollar for your award or settlement. You have enough on your plate in the wake of a major work accident, so don’t try to earn an award or agree to a first offer on your own. Connect with a professional and ensure you get paid fair compensation for what you’ve gone through.
To learn more about our commitment to getting workers and their families the money they are owed after a work accident, reach out to the team at Hey Workers today at (844) 439-9675.
