To answer that question let’s look at some of the recent accidental deaths while on the job.

• In the first case out of Salt Lake City a worker identified as Kelton Lee (55) a construction worker who was lifting a heavy piece of pipe when his legs gave out and the pipe struck him in the head. Although he regained consciousness he later died of the head injuries. Read more here from the Vernal Express.
• Next we go to South Dakota where an article discusses the number of deaths in that state. It’s interesting that all workers killed in South Dakota last year were men; men must be taking more jobs with higher risk of injury. Here is a quote from that article. “All but one of those killed in South Dakota last year were men. The Labor Statistics bureau groups farming with forestry, fishing and hunting, and that sector had the highest number of worker deaths, 14. The construction industry followed with seven.
• Every year since 2003, driving associated with work has been as dangerous as or more dangerous than fatal accidents involving equipment or objects and falls. Among fatalities last year, 16 were caused by transportation accidents, including nine highway deaths and seven nonhighway accidents.
• Ten deaths occurred in accidents involving objects and equipment and five were caused by falls.
• South Dakota closely tracks a national trend regarding transportation fatalities. Nationwide, 21 percent of the 4,547 people killed on the job last year died in highway accidents. The nine highway deaths in South Dakota represents 25 percent of the total work-related deaths.
• Nationwide last year, 11 percent of those killed at work were murdered. South Dakota had no such cases.”
• You can read that article from the Argus Leader here. 

• Heading east to Vermont we pick up an article out of Guilford, Vermont and Reformer Staff Writer, Chris Garofolo. He writes about a man killed when the tractor he was driving overturned, crushing him to death. People describe that accident as a freak accident but that I find hard to believe. First did the tractor have rollover protection? Second did the tractor have a seat belt and was the driver wearing it? Last thing to consider is speed and how unlevel the terrain he was riding on and what he was doing on it. While this is a tragic accident it’s more than likely one that can be prevented. You can read that article here.
• Heading to New York we have an article titled “Architects of Brighton Beach condo in deadly collapse had history of flouting regulations.” I’m not sure of the facts so I won’t comment because this accuses people of flaunting safety rules and without knowing the details it’s not for me to comment on. But what we can surmise from what is said is that a building collapsed during construction and some workers were injured and one was killed. You can read the NY Daily News article here.
• No country is immune to tragic work related deaths; even Nigeria has a problem. Read here.
• Back across the Big Pond we head to the Midwest where Kansas is turning its attention to safety issues for workers who drive and die in car-truck-motorcycle-semi accidents. Read about their efforts here.
• Other worker related death accidents include:
• West York construction site lift fell on top of the operator. Another link.
• In Spring Hill near Tampa, Florida a road construction worker was struck by a motorist driving though a highway construction zone. We’ve represented road crew workers in several injury related accidents.
• In a similar type of accident a highway construction worker along I077 in Brecksville, Ohio was struck and killed when a semi-truck slammed into him. The worker, John Costlow of Akron was installing signs off the roadway when a semi went off the road, struck and killed him. Link is here.
• Just one more and we are done for today. We go to Queensland and Melbourne, Australia. A worker was trapped under a “heavy load” and it killed him. So moving materials is a huge risk to workers and creates many safety hazards that can kill or injure them. Here is the link.

Many workers, many accidents, all different locations but several things in common to all – risk, not paying enough attention to safety, material handling, moving machinery, trucks-cars all moving with drivers paying little attention to their surroundings and highway construction crews who are sitting ducks with cell phoned drivers paying more attention to the call than the road.