An employee of Quarry Industries in Hyannis, MA was killed in an industrial accident that left him pinned under a slab of marble. The 49-year-old man was working on Tuesday, May 7th when he was trapped under the marble slab, which he and his fellow crewmembers were moving. He was found by officers from the Barnstable Police Department, who reported that the worker was not breathing when they arrived. A police officer performed CPR before the victim was transported to Cape Cod Hospital and pronounced dead.
Unfortunately, this accident was one of many in the workforce in Massachusetts this year. In fact, recent years have been some of the worst for occupational safety in the state of Massachusetts. Although it is still too early in the year to tell if the incident in Hyannis will contribute to the continuation of this pattern in 2019, the 2018 rate of worker deaths in the state shows a maintained high level of work-related fatalities.
The state’s Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health released a report on fatalities in 2018, which totaled 69 work-related deaths. Fifty-nine of the deaths were caused by on-the-job injuries, while 10 deaths resulted from occupational diseases, specifically in firefighters.
The report focused on injuries and ailments that are recognized as eligible for workers’ compensation. Therefore, many fatal occupational disease cases were not reported, because they are not legally defined in Massachusetts workers’ compensation laws. Cancer and heart disease are legally recognized as occupational diseases for firefighters, and development of the recognized diseases qualify firefighters for workers’ compensation. Construction was the most dangerous industry in Massachusetts in 2018 — 36% of workers who were killed on the job were in construction. Fourteen percent of Massachusetts employees who were fatally injured in 2018 worked in public administration (e.g. police, government, etc.). The majority of fatal workplace injuries in 2018 were caused by motor vehicle accidents.
In 2018, occupational fatalities occurred at a rate of 1.9 deaths per 100,000 workers in the state. This is only a slight decrease from the number of work-related fatal injuries in 2017 (2.1 deaths per 100,000 workers), which was the highest rate in Massachusetts in 11 years.
Morgan & Murphy, LLP — Experienced Work Accident Attorneys
The rate of fatal work accidents in Massachusetts was especially high in the last two years. These statistics should serve as motivation to employers throughout the state to dedicate to maintaining safe conditions for their workers. Of course, accidents can happen — when they do, contact Morgan & Murphy, LLP.
We’ve helped thousands of clients receive the workers’ compensation benefits they are entitled to: Our team has represented over 10,000 injury victims and recovered millions of dollars in the process.
Our attorneys are prepared to do what it takes to get injury victims the damages they deserve. With over 80 years of combined experience, we are well-versed in the preparation, negotiation, and in-trial action workers’ compensation cases require. Our services are completely free unless we win your case — start with a free case evaluation to learn how we can assist in your work injury case, as we have with thousands of others before.
If you have been injured on the job, our experienced attorneys are available to discuss your options. Send us a message or call (508) 966-7254 to learn your rights following an occupational accident. We are available 24/7 to speak in a free, no-obligation consultation.