labor lawAdivision of labor law center

Recently released statistics on accidents in the workplace from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics are sobering. The year 2005 is the last year with complete statistics. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is in charge of monitoring those millions of yearly injuries in Vermont and nationwide.

The statistics on Vermont worker safety are sobering. More than a half-million employees suffered sprains, tears, or strains in 2005. The numbers also show 270,890 experienced painful back injuries. And 255,750 workers fell while on the job.

But Vermont statistics are just one part of the chilling picture. Nationwide, 4,214,200 work-related accidents were reported in 2005. They resulted in 1,234,700 lost workdays. Most shocking of all are the figures for workplace fatalities, which show that 5,702 workers died on the job that year.

The figures themselves are dramatic. But they only reflect figures for the private sector. They do not include public, high risk jobs like law enforcement, firefighting, and paramedical service, or employees in the non-profit sector.

As the statistics show, falls are a common cause of accidents. Slips, trips, and falls generally are thought of as more of an annoyance than a danger. But they rank second highest among the causes of workplace deaths. For example, 732 people died after workplace falls in 2005. Driving, the first most serious cause of deaths on the job, took 1,258 lives.

According to OSHA, workers should be reminded of how important safety measures are, and should be taught the right safety precautions to take. It has developed something to make that job easier. It’s called the OSHA Workplace Safety Pack, and includes three posters and The Workplace Ergonomics. The information is presented in a readily understandable manner.

According to OSHA, education is key to a workplace safety plan. The program should remind employees of the need for safety and show them how to apply the right safety measures.  

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