This post discusses NC's most dangerous jobs. The Bishop Law Firm represents injured workers in Raleigh, NC and surrounding areas. Unfortunately, we see workers injured in unsafe environments frequently.
If you or someone you care for has been injured or died while working, filing a NC Worker's Compensation claim should be explored. The NC Workers' Compensation Act provides death benefits for workers when their death is the result of a work injury. In addition, if a third party was involved (for example, in a car accident), a Wrongful Death Claim can also be an option for recovery. The death of a worker can mean serious implications for a family that relies on them causing financial as well as emotional devastation.
North Carolina's Most Dangerous Jobs
As a worker in North Carolina, the least you should expect is to be safe at work. Sadly, the number of NC work fatalities has increased, according to the US Department of Labor's 2020 report.
The most dangerous industries in NC are private construction (43 fatalities in 2020) and private transportation (26 fatalities in 2020). In construction, falls/slips/trips caused 15 of the 43 fatalities. Specialty trade contractors accounted for 67% of the deaths in construction. Transportation had 26 fatal workplace injuries with general freight trucking causing 58% of those deaths. Motor vehicle operators made up 33 of the 45 fatalities in the transportation industry.
According to the NC Department of Labor, from October 2021 - April 2022, there were 26 occupational fatalities. Struck by ( 7), Caught in/between (4), falls (3), COVID-19 (5) and shock (1) were the top causes of death. In addition, from 2018-2019, the most frequently cited safety violations in NC were lack of fall protection, lack of personal protective equipment and improper ladder use.
OSHA and Unsafe Work Environments
The NC Department of Labor has published which Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards apply by industry in a state-approved plan. However, some private sector workplaces are excepted from this plan including maritime workers, contract workers for the USPS, and railroad workers to name a few.
If you believe that you are working in an unsafe work environment you can file a report with the NC Department of Labor. The NC Occupational Safety and Health Act gives reporters the right to request that their names not be revealed to their employers.
If you find yourself injured at work, you should call a workers’ compensation attorney. The Bishop Law Firm represents workers compensation cases in Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Fayetteville, Rocky Mount, Roanoke Rapids, Smithfield, Louisburg, Chapel Hill, Wilson, North Carolina and surrounding areas. Call us today for a free case evaluation, (919) 615-3095 or start you free case review now.
