We recently discussed some of the most serious injuries that people can suffer in the commercial fishing industry. These include spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries. Many people suffer life-changing injuries that alter the course of their career and even their personal life, so it is very important for them to understand exactly what legal steps they can take.
You have also likely heard that commercial fishing is one of the most dangerous industries in the United States, due to its high death rate. But at the same time, you will find that the construction industry actually has the most workplace fatalities every year. Deadly accidents in construction are often related to falls, electrocutions, or workers being entangled in or struck by equipment, such as excavators, dump trucks or power tools.
The rate versus the total
The difference here is simply how fatalities are being counted. Construction is the most dangerous industry in the sense that it does lead to the most fatalities. But part of the reason for this is just how massive the construction industry is as a whole. With millions of workers, there are naturally going to be more accidents and more fatalities.
But when you look at fishing, it has the “highest death rate per 100,000 workers.” It ranks in this category along with other professions such as agriculture, forestry or hunting.
With these industries, the total number of workers is vastly smaller. So even one fatal accident carries more weight. The risk is so great in fishing that the fatal accident rate is incredibly high, even though it is a relatively small industry compared to something like construction.
These statistics help to show the dangers workers face, and it is crucial that they know what legal steps to take if they have been injured or lost a loved one.