The details of each fatality certainly matter, yet the sum is staggering for an industry of only 50, employees. The logging industry has an impressive story to tell in terms of improving safety, yet these statistics tell a different story. Nonfatal injuries fell from over 7, per year to less than 2, Fatalities also declined, though not to the same degree, from around per year to The higher proportion of employees in equipment certainly helped reduce injuries in the industry, and fatalities have declined.
Yet the logging industry has also been shrinking. Throw in other hazardous work conditions such as unstable, uneven, or rough terrain and inclement weather and you can see why logging is so dangerous. And this is where timber companies are falling short. In an industry like this, hiring qualified workers, extensively training them and properly supervising them is of the utmost importance.
But younger workers have a lot of options these days, and when they see how dangerous logging is, they often choose a different profession. The end result is fewer workers who work longer hours and are continually under an enormous amount of stress. This means less supervision and a greater likelihood of injuries and fatalities occurring.
Timber companies can help improve the situation by following all governments safety regulations, making sure all workers are trained, supervised, and using the most up-to-date safety equipment, and investing more to attract good workers to the industry and retain the quality workers they already have.
The industry should also go a step further by pushing for more safety regulations and investing in better and safer tools and machinery for their workers to use. Call Bailey, Javins, and Carter L.
Getting a better handle on fatality numbers is just an early step in trying to make the job of tree fellers safer, Michael explained. And it is not as simple as just advising that protective equipment should be worn.
There is a need to focus on hazards associated with tree-felling activities so that proactive prevention strategies can be developed, Michael suggested.
This graphic from the study shows tree-felling fatalities by year and industry segment data includes only first half of the year. Logging companies should strive to adopt mechanized methods for tree felling. But fatalities from tree felling are just a fraction of the number of severe injuries incurred while working around trees, Michael added. By focusing on the cause of fatalities, Penn State researchers hope that strategies can be developed to also reduce the number of injuries in these important industries.
Serap Gorucu, now a faculty member at the University of Florida, Gainesville, contributed to this research. Garbage collectors BLS Category: Refuse and recyclable material collectors Fatal injury rate: 34 per , workers Total deaths : 37 Most common fatal accidents: Transportation incidents Also known as garbage collectors, refuse and recyclable material collectors collect our trash and recycling. Generally, these workers will drive a truck through neighborhoods and empty garbage bins and dumpsters into the trucks.
Many bins are loaded by hand while some trucks have mechanical lifters. They then drive the trucks to a landfill or waste transfer station where the waste is unloaded from the truck. The most common cause of death for these workers is being struck by a garbage truck or other vehicle.
Ironworkers BLS Category: Structural iron and steel workers Fatal injury rate: 29 per , workers Total deaths : 15 Most common fatal accidents: Falls, slips, trips Ironworkers are responsible for installing iron and steel on buildings, bridges, and roads. Their work often consists of climbing up on large structures, unloading iron and steel, and signaling to crane operators. They also use equipment to cut, bend, and weld iron and steel.
Steel and iron are some of the primary reinforcing materials for large scale buildings. Falls are the most common fatal occupational accident for structural iron and steel workers. These workers generally pick up cargo, food, laundry or other items from distribution centers or stores and deliver them to homes and businesses. They also may communicate with customers to coordinate deliveries, collect payment for goods, and process paperwork such as delivery signatures.
Farmers BLS Category: Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers Fatal injury rate: 26 per , workers Total deaths : Most common fatal accidents: Transportation incidents Farmers are responsible for producing crops and dairy products and raising animals for food. They are responsible for the process of planting and harvesting or feeding and caring for livestock.
Additionally, farmers purchase supplies for their farms and purchase and maintain farming equipment. They also sell their crops or livestock on the open market. Crashes, including tractor crashes, were the most common fatal injury for farmers.
Firefighting supervisors BLS Category: First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers Fatal injury rate: 20 per , workers Total deaths : 14 Most common fatal accidents: Transportation incidents Firefighting supervisors are responsible for supervising and coordinating the work of firefighters. This work includes the prevention and control of fires. Some of the tasks that these supervisors perform include communicating and dispatching vehicles, evaluating fire size and condition, training and evaluating firefighters, and maintaining firefighting equipment.
The most common cause of death on the job for firefighting supervisors is traffic crashes, followed by fires and explosions. Power linemen BLS Category: Electrical power-line installers and repairers Fatal injury rate: 20 per , workers Total deaths : 29 Most common fatal accidents: Exposure to harmful substances or environments Power linemen are responsible for installing and maintaining overhead and underground power lines that supply electricity to homes and businesses.
In this job, these workers drive power maintenance equipment to job sites, climb electrical poles or use bucket trucks, and test, install, or otherwise maintain electrical equipment.
The most common cause of death for power linemen is death from electrocution. Agricultural workers BLS Category: Miscellaneous agricultural workers Fatal injury rate: 20 per , workers Total deaths : Most common fatal accidents: Transportation incidents Agricultural workers are responsible for tending crops and livestock.
They may be tasked with planting, harvesting, and watering crops, along with maintaining irrigation systems and ditches.
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