Realities from the 2022 Death on the Job Report and the 2022 Dirty Dozen List Release
Perhaps the best-known organization dedicated to protecting workers from bodily harm on the job is the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (“AFL-CIO”), which describes itself as a “…democratic, voluntary federation of 57 national and international labor unions that represent 12.5 million working men and women.” This year, the AFL-CIO released its 31st annual report on the hazards facing workers on worksites in our country, and the risks and dangers that have caused serious injury and death to people trying to earn a living on the job.
In announcing its release, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler stated: “…[T]ens of thousands of families losing a parent, a child, a sibling, every single year. Latino and Black workers specifically remain at greater risk of dying on the job than all workers. That is, frankly, unacceptable.”
The New AFL-CIO Death on the Job Report
The 257-page publication entitled “2022 Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect Report” is available online at the AFL-CIO website (“Report”).
With the information that was accumulated by the union’s researchers came shocking warnings to workers in Indiana, Illinois, and other parts of the country. Consider these key findings in the Report:
- 340 workers died every single day in the reporting year from injuries caused by hazardous working conditions.
- Latino and Black workers remain at greater risk of dying on the job than all other workers.
- Musculoskeletal disorders continue to make up the largest portion (21%) of work-related injuries and illnesses.
For more on dangers on the job, read: Fewer Worker Deaths Nationally But Increase in Fatal Work Injuries in Indiana and Rising Trend in Workers Killed on the Job: BLS Reports Highest Number of Worker Deaths Since 2008.
We Don’t Know How Many Workers Have Died From On-the-Job Accident Injury
Perhaps the greatest concern for safety agencies and those advocating for workers injured or killed on the job, as well as their loved ones, is the grim warning that the numbers tallied in the Report are not accurate. All too often, worker injuries are not reported to authorities by their employers despite state and federal regulations requiring them to do so. (Employers reported approximately 3,200,000 work-related injuries and illnesses according to the Report.)
From the Report: “Underreporting is widespread—the true toll of work-related injuries and illnesses is 5.4 million to 8.1 million each year.”
The Limitations of OSHA Oversight of Worker Safety
The AFL-CIO warns workers, victim advocates, and safety agencies that it is futile to assume that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) has the ability to go out into the field, find dangers and hazards in the workplace, and penalize employers accordingly. It is not our current reality.
Last year, there were only 1,719 OSHA inspectors nationwide, 755 on the federal level and 965 on the state level. That’s just one inspector for every 81,427 workers. Federal OSHA’s budget amounts to $4.37 to protect each worker, with no federal standards for protections against workplace violence and COVID-19.
Dirty Dozen List and The Issue of Amazon Warehouse Dangers in Indiana and Illinois
One particular example is the current state of workplace safety facing those employed by Amazon. Explained Isaiah Thomas, an Amazon warehouse worker in Bessemer, Alabama, during the AFL-CIO news conference announcing the latest report: “Amazon loves to brag about how they have a safe work environment, and if there are any issues, the workers can bring them up to management. However, we do not work in a safe work environment, and every time we bring these issues up to management, we are not heard, which is why we’re fighting so hard for our union at Amazon.”
Mr. Thomas’ voice at the AFL-CIO press conference mirrors concerns voiced in another worker safety report published recently. This is the “2022 Dirty Dozen List” compiled by the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (COSH), which is the agency’s annual list of employers ranking as having the worst worker safety practices in the country.
Of importance, Amazon made the COSH Dirty Dozen List for the third year in a row.
According to COSH, the 2022 Dirty Dozen are, in alphabetical order (national employers are listed in boldface type):
- Amazon, Alabama and nationwide: Six dead at Bessemer warehouse; Injury rates more than twice the industry average.
- Atlantic Coast Utilities/Laurence Moloney, Boston: Two workers dead; Company lies to get construction permits.
- Daikin America, Decatur Alabama: Three dead from toxic exposures
- Dollar General, nationwide: Workers stabbed, shot, punched and pistol-whipped; Millions of OSHA fines for unsafe stores.
- Ernst Nursery and Farms, St. Paul, Oregon: Farmworker dies during heat wave; Company tells OSHA: “Employee [should] be accountable for how they push their body.”
- Foundation Food Group/Gold Creek Foods, Gainesville Georgia: Six workers dead from nitrogen leak; Company tries to block OSHA investigation, intimidates survivors.
- Hilton Hotels, nationwide: Service cuts create safety risks for workers and guests in a high-hazard industry.
- Kingspan Light and Air, Santa Ana, California: Workers monitor indoor air at “green manufacturer,” find high levels of pollution.
- Liox Cleaners/Wash Supply Laundromat, New York City: No COVID safety protocols, no ventilation, no protections from toxic chemicals; Company shuts facility and fires workers.
- Mayfield Consumer Products, Mayfield, Kentucky: Nine dead when company keeps workers on the job during tornado.
- Refresco, Wharton New Jersey: Bottling plant workers at risk from COVID-19, chemicals and fires at firm with repeat OSHA violations
- Starbucks, nationwide: Retail workers infected, exposed to COVID-19; Corporate giant fires workers organizing for better safety conditions.
Worker Fatality Risks Higher Than Reported with Insufficient OSHA Agency Oversight
From the AFL-CIO Report together with the Dirty Dozen List, workers in Indiana and Illinois can learn the realities they face everyday on the job site, particularly those who work in job environments known to be high risk and very dangerous. Of precise concern: those working for Amazon, Dollar General, Hilton Hotels, and Starbucks here in our local area.
See, Fatal Industrial Warehouse Accidents in Indiana and Illinois and Warehouse Accidents: Workers in One of the Deadliest Jobs in Indiana and Illinois.
Right now, there is not enough governmental oversight to curb employers who want to disregard or disrespect safety regulations and legally established duties of care and safety. Sadly, this means there will be companies that choose to put profits over people and tragic, preventable fatal accidents will be the result.
For these worker victims and their loved ones, the state laws of Indiana and Illinois have avenues for justice that provide financial recompense, including claims based upon workers’ compensation; negligence; product liability; wrongful death; and more. More than one employer or company may be determined to have legal responsibility for what has occurred, as well.
For more, read:
- 2021 OSHA Top Ten List of Violations Released: Workers No Safer from Known Injury Risks
- Multiple Employers on the Construction Site: Who Is Liable For Construction Worker Accidents?
- Workers’ Compensation and Third-Party Claims for On-the-Job Accidents
- Fatal Accidents and Wrongful Death Lawsuits in Indiana and Illinois
These new workplace safety reports are important warnings to workers in Indiana and Illinois that there are real and serious risks of injury or death on the job which the employees must face on a daily basis. Governmental safety agencies cannot be assumed to keep the workplace safe from danger, leaving redress after the fact as the remedy remaining for the worksite accident victim. Please be careful out there!
