According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, Georgia employers reported 78,200 nonfatal workplace injuries in 2017. Perhaps more alarming, there were 194 fatal injuries (up from 171 the previous year).
Workplace accidents take many forms, but some accidents are more common than others.
Let’s take a look at the 5 most common workplace accidents in Georgia and what to do if you’re involved in a workplace accident.
Most frequent fatal workplace accidents
1. Transportation
The most common fatal workplace accident in Georgia are transportation accidents. Transportation accidents resulted in 96 fatalities (49% of all workplace fatalities) in 2017.
It’s perhaps no surprise that private transportation and warehousing sector had the largest number of fatalities in Georgia.
Transportation accidents might include:
- Aircraft accidents
- Train crashes
- Pedestrians struck by vehicles in work zones
- Commercial truck crashes
- Car accidents
Fatal transportation accidents can be further broken down as follows:
| By the Number: Fatal Transportation Injuries in Georgia | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type of Accident | Fatalities in 2016 | Fatalities in 2017 |
| Aircraft accident | 5 | 6 |
| Rail vehicle accident | 3 | 1 |
| Pedestrian vehicle accident | 9 | 14 |
| Roadway incident involving motor vehicle | 55 | 0 |
| Other | 4 | 5 |
| Total | 76 | 96 |
2. Violence by persons or animals
The second most frequent fatal workplace accident involved violence committed by persons or animals. This type of accidents includes intentional injuries by persons (such as the infamous 2010 Penske shootings), suicides, and fatal injuries caused by animals (generally cattle or horses in the agricultural industry).
In all, this type of accident resulted in 30 fatalities in 2017.
3. Falls, slips, and trips
Nationwide, slip and falls are the primary cause of lost days from work and the leading cause of death among workers aged 55 years and older.
In Georgia, slip and falls account for 17% of all workplace fatalities. These types of accidents include falls on the same level, falls to a lower level, and falls through an opening.
Slip and fall injuries are common in a host of worksites, but are most common in the construction industry, where workers frequently find themselves on ladders, scaffolds, and roofs.
4. Contact with objects and equipment
Contact with equipment and other objects accounted for 13% of all fatal workplace accidents in Georgia in 2017. This includes getting struck by an object and being caught in or compressed by objects or equipment.
Unsurprisingly, the workers most at risk for this sort of accident include those who work with heavy objects and powerful machinery, such as:
- Construction workers
- Electricians
- Machinists
- Factory workers
- Agricultural workers
5. Other
Most other types of workplace accidents are relatively uncommon in Georgia, these include:
- Fires
- Explosions
- Exposure to harmful substances or environments
Most dangerous industry
In Georgia, the transportation industry and construction industry had the highest number of workplace fatalities. The majority of fatalities within the transportation industry were among tractor-trailer truck drivers. Construction laborers accounted for the highest percentage of fatalities among construction workers.
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What to do if you’ve been in an accident
In most cases, you can file a workers’ compensation claim if you’re injured while on the job in Georgia. Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance that provides benefits to employees injured during the course of employment.
Unfortunately, receiving workers’ compensation benefits isn’t an automatic process and the insurance company may deny your claim (or award you less than you deserve). At Gerber & Elkins we can help insure that you get the benefits you deserve.
If you or a loved one have been seriously injured on the job, or suffered an occupational injury, you should know that you have legal rights under the Georgia workers’ compensation law. At Gerber & Elkins Law, our Atlanta attorneys can tell you what those rights are and we’ll fight aggressively on your behalf to negotiate a fair settlement—and even take your case to the highest court in the land if necessary. We see every client as an individual with a unique story and important concerns. Our law firm has served our clients faithfully in every case. By doing so, we have been able to build a history of success stories by securing large workers’ compensation settlements and payouts. Most importantly, we’ve been able to change the lives of our clients, helping them recover physically, emotionally and financially. View our profile and visit our website today.
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