Ehstoday 783 Dyingforwork
Ehstoday 783 Dyingforwork
Ehstoday 783 Dyingforwork
Ehstoday 783 Dyingforwork
Ehstoday 783 Dyingforwork

58 Workers Died on the Job in Massachusetts in 2011

April 26, 2012
The 2012 Dying for Work in Massachusetts: The Loss of Life and Limb in Massachusetts Workplaces report reveals that 58 workers died on the job in the commonwealth in 2011; an estimated 580 additional workers died from occupational disease.

The report, the product of a collaboration of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, the Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health (MassCOSH) and the Western Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health (Western MassCOSH), is released annually to reflect on the workers' lost lives and to "renew our commitment to the fight for safe jobs."

According to the report, Massachusetts' rate of workplace deaths has fluctuated over the past 2 decades, with no consistent trend showing either a decrease or increase in occupational fatalities. Forty-seven workers died on the job in Massachusetts in 2010 and 62 died in 2009.

"What's most distressing about the findings in Dying for Work is the number of preventable accidents that are claiming the lives of so many hard working men and women every year," said the report's co-author Marcy Goldstein-Gelb, executive director of MassCOSH. "More disturbing still is that many of these accidents are similar to the accidents that killed workers the year before, and the year before that."

Key findings from the report include:

· Thirteen firefights died in the line of duty in Massachusetts in 2011.
· Eight workers died on the job in the construction industry.
· Twelve workers in Massachusetts died from motor vehicle incidents.
· Falls contributed to the deaths of 12 workers in the commonwealth in 2011, including five in the construction industry.
· Six workers died as the result of workplace violence incidents.
· Nine servicemen from Massachusetts died in the War in Afghanistan in 2011.

In addition to facts and figures, the report also includes portraits of some of the faces of the fallen workers. Finally, the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, MassCOSH and Western MassCOSH stressed the need for strengthened OSHA regulations, protections for immigrant workers, toxic chemical regulation improvements, comprehensive worksite safety programs and more.

"Dying for Work in Massachusetts" report is released each year in conjunction with Workers' Memorial Day. Download the full report as a PDF here.

Sponsored Recommendations

3 Essential Elements for a Strong Safety Culture

March 13, 2024
Organizations globally have increased their attention on safety culture: trying to figure out what it really is and the aspects that are necessary to develop and sustain it. And...

Making the Case for Occupational Health Software

March 13, 2024
Deciding to invest in Occupational Health (OH) software can be a challenging leap for many organizations. This article will equip businesses with insightful strategies for effectively...

Fighting the Flu: Solutions for the Workplace

March 13, 2024
Seasonal flu continues to wreak considerable havoc both on individual wellness, as well as on our business continuity and productivity. Explore these solutions for protecting ...

Preventing SIFs with Digitization: Reduce Serious Injuries and Fatalities with Technology

March 13, 2024
This eBook discusses the origins of SIF prevention, outlines principles, models and tools available to EHS leaders to better detect and address SIF potential in their business...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!