The Vermont workers' compensation attorneys at Brady / Donahue have assisted workers from a wide range of industries to pursue the benefits and compensation that are owed to them following an unexpected workplace injury. In our experience, every job carries some degree of risk for a work accident, but some jobs tend to be more hazardous and result in more accident claims. These occupations could be dangerous due to the nature of the work, or possibly due to the employer’s fault, failing to properly supervise or train their workers to prevent an accident from happening.
Based on most recent data from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) in 2016, 2017, and 2018 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the following could be considered the five most dangerous jobs in Vermont:
1. Truck Driver
Truck drivers and transportation-related occupations accounted for nearly 1 out of every 5 workplace deaths in Vermont from 2016 to 2018. With an estimated 3.5 million truckers in the U.S. driving large tractor-trailers and delivery trucks to transport the goods that we consume every day, semi truck drivers routinely top national and state lists for workplace injuries and fatalities due to the long hours they spend on the road. Truck accidents in Vermont can arise from speeding, slick or slippery roads, distracted driving, fatigue, DUI, or the reckless actions of other drivers on the road. Regular vehicle inspections aim to reduce maintenance issues, but truckers still might find themselves stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire, blown engine, or some other mechanical issue, and when you add Vermont's often poor winter driving conditions to the mix, truck drivers are at high-risk for a serious traffic accident or injury.
2. Maintenance & Repair Workers
From 2016 to 2018 there were 7 workplace fatalities for the occupational category, “installation, maintenance, and repair,” making it the second-deadliest occupation in Vermont. Linemen, industrial mechanics, heavy vehicle technicians, HVAC installers, and wind turbine technicians are just a few examples of this occupational category. Mechanical maintenance and repair workers install, inspect, and repair heavy machinery in their day-to-day jobs. With many mechanical moving parts and dangerous implementations, industrial equipment often leads to very high workplace accident rates – people in this line of work can be hurt by being struck by objects, electrical shock, falling from great heights, or exposure to extreme temperatures. Due to the high risk of injury for maintenance and repair workers in Vermont, it is important for these workers to know how to handle a workplace injury in Vermont as well as the types of workers' compensation benefits that may be available to them.
3. Construction Worker
According to the CFOI for Vermont, from 2016 to 2018 “construction and excavation occupations” accounted for more than 1 in 10 fatal worker injuries in the state. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that four types of construction accidents account for nearly 60% of the fatalities within the industry:
Falls from roofs, ladders and scaffolding as well as falls on the same level
Struck by object (such as materials dropped from an elevated surface)
Electrocution (through contact with overhead or underground power lines, exposed wires, overloaded circuits and defective tools and equipment)
Caught in between (including being caught in machinery or in a cave-in)
If you have suffered a construction injury in Vermont, don't hesitate to ask a workers' compensation lawyer at Brady / Donahue about how to file a claim for your workers' compensation benefits.
4. Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers
Some of the most dangerous jobs in the United States are loggers, fishermen, and farm workers, and it's no different here in Vermont, where from 2016 to 2018 there were 3 fatalities and dozens of injuries in these occupations. Logging is not only the most dangerous job in America, it is 31x more dangerous than the average job nationwide, according to AdvisorSmith, a business insurance advisor. We love the Green Mountain State for its farms and forest land, but along with these great treasures comes the potential for occupational injury.
Logging workers use heavy machinery to fell trees and handle logs, and most logger injuries are attributed to contact with machines and falling logs.
Fishing workers typically spend most of their time on a body of water, exposing them to hazardous conditions. The most common workplace fatality for fishermen is drowning.
Farmers are at high risk for fatal and nonfatal injuries, and it’s one of the few industries in which family members are also at high risk for injury, due to sharing the work or living on-site, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The leading cause of death for farmers and farm workers is transportation incidents, such as tractor rollovers.
Whenever heavy machinery or equipment is involved in an accident, it is important to determine if the manufacturer can be held liable for a third-party claim due to a defective product, as this opens up the possibility for an injured worker to receive additional compensation.
5. Grounds Maintenance Worker
Groundskeepers and Service occupations accounted for the 5th highest number of deaths in Vermont from 2016 to 2018. A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that falls, transportation accidents, and traumatic exposure to harmful substances or environments are what most often lead to fatalities in this occupation. Because grounds maintenance workers in Vermont often spend most of their time working next to busy roads or underneath heavy, unstable objects (like falling tree limbs) this occupation has higher than normal fatality and injury rates than the average occupation.
Contact a Workers’ Compensation Attorney near me
Broken bones, brain injuries, and loss of limbs are just a few of the different types of injuries a worker may face in the most dangerous jobs of Vermont. In tragic cases, workplace injuries can lead to permanent disability or death. No matter how small or large your work injury, when it comes to lost income and your enjoyment of life, it is critical to hold the at-fault parties accountable. For more information on what to expect with a Vermont Workers’ Compensation claim, watch our helpful workers' compensation video guide. Then, when you’re ready to get started on your workers’ compensation claim, contact Brady / Donahue for a free initial consultation.
