If you live, work, or commute through the Chicago area, you may have noticed all the buildings shining green in the nightly skyline. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois building, the Wrigley Building, and Prudential Plaza all blazed a dazzling bright green during the first week of June 2018.
This was part of the national effort to fight against fatal, preventable accidents which the National Safety Council warns are rising at an “unprecedented rate.”
Severe injuries in accidents causing the death of the accident victim are the third leading cause of death in the United States. Someone dies from a preventable accident every three minutes in this country.
According to research undertaken by the National Safety Council, we know that more Americans die today from injuries sustained in an accident than they do from strokes, suicide, diabetes, or Alzheimer’s disease. Only heart disease and cancer take more lives than avoidable accidents.
National Safety Month: Stopping Deadly Falls
During the month of June each year, the NSC joins with other safety advocates as well as federal and state agencies to raise awareness about the everyday dangers facing Americans today, as well as working to find ways to make things safer for all of us. During the third week of June 2018, the focus of this annual campaign is serious falls (slip and falls, trip and falls) which can happen at work, at home, or during everyday activities like shopping, dining at the local restaurant, or simply taking the dog for a walk at the park.
From NSC President and CEO Deborah A.P. Hersman: “Chicago is literally lighting the way for safety. During National Safety Month we bring attention to preventable deaths and efforts to ensure that No One Gets Hurt on our roadways, in our workplaces or anywhere in between. We are proud that our ‘Sweet Home Chicago’ is leading that charge.”
Falls: Third Leading Cause of Preventable Accident Deaths
Someone can lose their footing and fall at any age, and at almost any place and for many the fall causes embarrassment or frustration more than anything. However, all too often falls are unappreciated as a danger and for many, the injuries they sustain in a fall are deadly.
Falls are the number one cause of death for those who are 65 years old or older. Falls are the third leading cause of death in preventable accident deaths overall.
Distracted Walking
A rising trend in preventable falls is a victim who is distracted while walking because he or she is preoccupied with a phone screen. Researchers consider “distracted walking” to be a new type of health risk. In these incidents, the accident victim suffers in a fall caused by inattentiveness to his or her path because they are focused on their phone.
The victim falls down stairs, trips and falls over street curbs or parking curbs, etc., and suffers harm. According to research performed by the AAOS (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons), 60% of pedestrians today are distracted while walking.
Work Site Falls
It’s well known that the work place posing the highest risk of falling to one’s death is the construction site. Construction workers face a fatal fall risk that is 700% higher than any other industry.
However, other workers are also facing a serious risk of falling while on the job and suffering a fatal injury in a slip and fall or trip and fall. According to National Security Council research (2013), here are the top industries where workers have a significant risk of dying from a fatal fall in a preventable accident while on the job:
- Construction: 21,890 injuries, 302 deaths
- Manufacturing: 21,430 injuries, 42 deaths
- Wholesale trade: 12,640 injuries, 25 deaths
- Retail trade: 29,690 injuries, 32 deaths
- Transportation and Warehousing: 21,970 injuries, 35 deaths
- Professional and business services: 19,300 injuries, 91 deaths
- Education and health services: 47,740 injuries, 13 deaths
- Government: 66,940 injuries, 54 deaths.
Of course, employers are regulated by local, state, and federal government to keep work sites safe from preventable accidents like fatal falls. Construction sites are to have fall protection systems pursuant to 29 CFR 1926.502, for instance.
The fact that a regulation is in place, however, does not mean that the worker is safe from harm in a fall. All too often, employers choose profits over people and decide to risk the worker’s life instead of spending money to make things safer on the work site.
Preventable Accident Claims in Indiana and Illinois
Negligence law, premises liability causes of action, and both worker’s compensation and wrongful death laws work to provide fall accident victims with justice here in Indiana and Illinois. Federal law may also provide remedies for the victims of a serious or fatal fall accident, depending upon the situation.
For more on preventable accidents and the very real danger of dying in a fall, see:
- Construction Worker Deaths: Almost Half of All Construction Fatalities Caused by Falls
- Serious or Fatal Slip and Fall Injuries: The Employer’s Duty of Care
- Injuries From Falls on the Rise: Falling Accident Dangers at Work, Home, and School
- Winter School Playground Accidents: Danger of Falls and Serious Harm to Children.
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When someone is seriously injured or dies in a fall, state law may provide his loved ones with the ability to sue for legal damages that have resulted from the preventable accident. For many employers, the payment of significant claims arising from their negligent or wanton failure to keep people safe from harm on their business premises may be the only language that the company understands. Let’s be careful out there!
