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What Are Some of the Most Injury Prone Jobs in California?

Because we’re only human, accidents are bound to happen. Whether they happen at home or at work, these accidents will sometimes result in minor, serious, life threatening and even fatal injuries. Sometimes it’s just bad luck. Sometimes the odds are stacked against you. Here is a look at some of the most injury prone jobs in California.

The basics 

To begin with, it is important to understand how information regarding nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses is collected.

The California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) provides data pertaining to nonfatal, work-related injuries and illnesses through its Office of Policy, Research and Legislation. The data reflects statistical samples taken from participants in the California Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII).  This program is coordinated through the US Bureau of Labor Statistics in conjunction with the state DIR.  Participating employers Surveyed employers follow federal reporting requirements.

The most recent available data

The most recent available data is from 2018. It reflects incident rates and the number of nonfatal work-related illness and injuries for various California industries. For the simplicity’s sake, let’s take a look at the numbers.

In all, government and private sector employers in numerous industries documented more than 466,000  “recordable cases” of nonfatal injuries and illnesses. The vast majority (more than 363,000) affected workers in the private sector.

California workers in the following private sector industries experienced the most nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses in 2018 based on the total number of recordable cases:

  • Healthcare and social assistance (with more than 61,000)
  • Retail trade (with more than 49,000)
  • Manufacturing (with more than 39,000)
  • Transportation and warehousing (with more than 30,000)
  • Construction (with more than 27,000)

Taking a closer look

Within those industries, workers doing some jobs got hurt or sick more often than others.

For example, workers in hospitals and nursing/residential care facilities incurred the most nonfatal injuries and illnesses in the healthcare and social assistance industry based on the total number of recordable cases. In retail trade, workers in food and beverage stores experienced the most nonfatal accidents and injuries based on the same criteria.

In manufacturing, people making different types of foods, beverages, tobacco products and machinery accounted for the most recordable nonfatal accident and illness cases. The data also demonstrates that couriers and messengers accounted for the most recordable nonfatal accidents and illnesses in the transportation and warehousing segment.

Finally, in the construction industry “specialty trade contractors” incurred the most recordable nonfatal injuries and illnesses.

What about fatal occupational injury statistics?

Fatal occupational injury statistics for all states, territories and New York City are included in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI).

Again, the most recent available statistics for California date to 2018. That year, there were 422 fatal occupational injuries here. Most of them happened to workers in the following job categories :

  • Transportation and moving materials (99)
  • Construction and extraction (79)
  • Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance (45)
  • Protective services (31)

If you or a loved one was hurt on the job, your legal options depend upon the circumstances of the case. Contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at the Law Office of Parag L. Amin, P.C., for a free case assessment. Based on our findings, we can provide the information you need to make an informed decision.

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PLEASE NOTE: This is not a representation, warranty, or guarantee of a future result or outcome. Every case is different just like every one of our clients.