Each year, the Texas Department of Insurance's Division of Workers’ Compensation releases information about the fatal occupational injuries in Texas. The department released the most recent set of data in December of 2018, and it describes fatal work accidents that occurred in 2017.
Deadliest Industry Segment
The report found that the industry with the highest number of fatal injuries was trade, transportation, and utilities. This section of the Texas economy had 148 fatal incidents, or 28 percent of all work-related deaths. Even though fatal work accidents decreased from 545 to 534 between 2016 and 2017, trade, transportation, and utilities jobs had a nearly six-percent increase in deadly accidents. The second most deadly industry in the state is construction. In 2017, 133 fatal incidents happened in the construction industry throughout Texas, or 25 percent of all incidents.
Industries with a high number of fatal incidents include:
- Natural Resources and Mining: 71 incidents
- Professional and business services: 60 incidents
- Educational and health services: 22 incidents
- Manufacturing: 18 incidents
Deadliest Occupation
The occupation with the most fatal work injuries was professional drivers and truck drivers. Drivers accounted for 116 of all incidents, or 22 percent of the state’s fatal work incidents. Construction workers have the second most dangerous job in the state, with 43 fatal incidents.
Other dangerous occupations include the following:
- Laborers and material movers: 24 incidents
- Grounds maintenance workers: 18 incidents
- Construction or extraction supervisors: 15 incidents
- Electricians: 12 incidents
- Police Offices: 11 incidents
- Roofers: 10 incidents
- Automotive technicians and repairers: 10 incidents
Does Texas Do Enough to Protect Workers?
In a 2014 article, the New York Times described how politicians boast about the state’s “miracle economy.” However, the article points out one thing that these politicians do not focus on: Texas led the nation for worker deaths for seven out of ten years. Texas does not require private employers to carry workers’ compensation. So, when an accident happens, many employees are left wondering what they can do to recover. The state is one of the only ones in the nation with no agencies designated to inspecting workplace safety. Instead, Texas relies on OSHA, an agency with one of the highest worker-to-inspector ratios in the country. With about 1,000 inspectors, OSHA cannot effectively enforce safety laws across millions of work sites.
If you’ve suffered from the negligent safety practices of an employer, help is available from Arnold & Itkin. Our team has dedicated their careers to helping members of the Texas workforce recover after serious accidents. We’ve recovered billions of dollars for our clients and are ready to use our experience to fight for your recovery. No one deserves to suffer under the weight of medical debt, time lost at work, and the need for future care. Call us today to find out how we’ll begin fighting for your future at (888) 493-1629.
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