Castillo: A Destiny No Employee Ought to Endure| Staff Compensation Information

By Michael Castillo

Tuesday, January 12, 2021 | 53 | 0 | min read

The fatal work-related accidents in California again reached their highest level in eleven years. More than 400 deaths were recorded for the second consecutive year, and inequalities between Latinx and older workers continued to be exposed.

Michael Castillo

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in December that there were 451 work-related deaths in 2019, up from 422 in 2018 and the second straight year of more than 400 deaths since 2009 when 409 fatal injuries were reported.

This is the highest death rate since 465 workplace deaths in 2008.

Transport incidents continued to be the leading cause of death at 141, followed by violence by other people or animals at 94, and slips, trips and falls at 88.

Latinx and Hispanic workers again made up the largest proportion of deaths in California – nearly half – at 47%, up from 43% in 2018 and a stark contrast to the 20% recorded nationally.

Employees aged 55 and over made up more than a third at 35%, compared to 32% in 2018.

With these statistics continuing to grow for Latinx and older workers, it is clear that more needs to be done to protect these workers with population-based education and reach. Increasing security and training should be a top priority for employers.

The rate of fatal accidents at work per 100,000 also rose to 2.5 from 2.3 in 2018, but is still below the national rate of 3.5.

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting had the highest incidence rate at 13.9, followed by transport and supply at 7.5 and construction at 6.5.

Nationally, the BLS reported that there were 5,333 deaths in 2019, the highest national total since 2007, and found that one worker died from a work-related injury every 99 minutes. Texas had the most deaths with 608, followed by California with 451 and Florida with 306.

With the COVID-19 pandemic deepening inequalities between Latinx and older workers, it is more important than ever to hold employers accountable for taking protective measures, increasing the reach of education, and reducing their workplace death rate .

Dying at work is a fate no worker should suffer. We have to do better.

Michael Castillo is the communications director for the California Applicants’ Attorneys Association. This statement is republished with permission from the CAAA website.