Last week, the 30th annual report compiled by the AFL-CIO on worker fatalities in this country was published, entitled “Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect.” Warnings by safety groups and victims’ advocates about the unacceptable level of danger facing workers on the job here in Indiana, Illinois, and the rest of the country have been supported and confirmed by this study.
According to the AFL-CIO Report, every day in this country 275 workers die in preventable fatalities caused by hazardous working conditions on the job – and this number does not include any worker deaths attributed to COVID-19.
One particular concern addressed in the AFL-CIO Report is the insufficient oversight by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Currently, there are a grand total of 1024 safety and health inspectors (for both federal and state OSHA) employed to undertake workplace inspections. The AFL-CIO Report explains that this tally is near the lowest total since the creation of the agency.
Disturbing details from the AFL-CIO Report:
- There are only 1,798 inspectors (774 federal and 1,024 state) to inspect the 10.1 million workplaces under the Occupational Safety and Health Act’s jurisdiction.
- The number of OSHA inspectors is near its lowest number since the agency opened 50 years ago.
- There is one inspector for every 82,881 workers.
- The current OSHA budget amounts to $3.97 to protect each worker.
How does this relate to our local area and specifically, the Hoosier State? Indiana AFL-CIO President Brett Voorhies is quoted in a recent news article explaining that with a mere 38 inspectors for work sites in the State of Indiana, the Indiana inspectors would need over 200 years just to check each Indiana work site one time. See, “Union Leaders Decry Indiana’s High Rate of Worker Deaths,” written by the Associated Press and published by WLKY on May 9, 2021.
For more discussion on the concerns of OSHA’s ability to keep workers safe in this country, read:
- Coronavirus Pandemic: Senators Challenge OSHA’s Effectiveness in Making Sure Businesses Are Protecting Workers Against COVID-19 and
- Coronavirus on the Job: OSHA Failing to Keep Workers Safe from COVID-19 but New Notice May Help Victims Prove Their Legal Claims.
Warnings to Workers: Those Facing the Highest Risk of Death on the Job
Delving into the details of worker fatalities in this country, the AFL-CIO Report provides specific warnings to certain groups of workers who are facing an unacceptable and disgracefully high risk of being killed while at work. These include the following:
Latino Workers
The AFL-CIO warns that the death rate for Latino workers is the highest it has been since 2008. Most of these fatalities (66%) involved immigrants.
Black Workers
Another warning involves the increased risk of work-related deaths for Black workers. In 2019, more Black workers died from job hazards than in the past two decades.
Older Workers (55+ Years)
The AFL-CIO statistics show that over one-third of workplace fatalities were victims aged 55 years or older. Even more concerning is the confirmation that workers who are 65 years or older face a risk of dying on the job that is almost 300% higher than other workers.
Women Workers
Women workers are 500% more likely to be killed on the job site in an incident of workplace violence involving a relative or domestic partner than male workers.
Worker Deaths in Indiana and Illinois: Failures in Keeping People Safe on the Job
According to the AFL-CIO Report, workers in Indiana and Illinois face daily dangers of dying while at work. From the Report’s State Profiles:
Illinois
There are a reported 15,995,905 employees in the State of Illinois, working at 1,374,453 different establishments. The rate of workplace fatalities in Illinois per 100,000 workers is 2.7 compared with the national rate of 3.5.
Illinois’ ranks 11th in the country for workplace fatalities.
Indiana
There are a reported 13,077,767 employees in the State of Indiana, working at 1,168,916 different establishments. The rate of workplace fatalities in Indiana per 100,000 workers is 4.4 compared with the national rate of 3.5.
Indiana ranks 5thth in the country for workplace fatalities.
Sadly, the dire warnings contained in the 2021 AFL-CIO Report do not have the force of law and will not be able to stop the foreseeable tragedies that will befall workers in Indiana and Illinois as they perish in preventable on-the-job incidents. Currently, there is simply too little oversight of worksites in our part of the country and when this is coupled with employers, managers, and supervisors who prefer to put profits over people, workers will die as a result.
From AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler:
“This year, we commemorate 50 years of OSHA and the lives saved by ensuring workers are protected on the job. COVID-19 has been a stark reminder that workplace safety protections are absolutely critical, and we still have a long way to go. As a country, we must renew our commitment to safe jobs for all workers and invest the resources to make that happen.”
The state laws of Indiana and Illinois do provide avenues for justice to workers and their loved ones who suffer catastrophic or fatal injuries while on the job. Workers’ compensation laws, wrongful death statutes as well as other claims based upon negligence or product liability may establish the legal liability of those responsible in violating duties of care and safety.
For more on worker injuries, read:
- NSC Safety Experts Warn of Dangers Facing Workers in the OSHA Top Ten List of Violations
- 2021 OSHA Top Ten List of Violations Released: Workers No Safer from Known Injury Risks
- The Increasing Danger of Dying on the Job: Fatality Risk Just Keeps Growing for Workers.
The 2021 AFL-CIO Report reinforces our concern for the well-being of workers in Indiana and Illinois as they face unnecessary levels of risk each day on the job. Please be careful out there!
