Work and Construction Injury Statistics for Florida

The Department Of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) tracks injury and illness statistics across the country, including in Florida. The non-fatal workplace injury rate in Florida was 3.8 per 100 full-time workers in 2010, the last year the data was available, according to the BLS. The rate for injuries requiring days away from work or a job transfer or restrictions was 1.7 per 100 full-time workers.

Below are some industries with high injury rates in 2010.

• Residential mental retardation, health, and substance abuse facility workers: 10.7 total recordable cases per 100 full-time workers
• Animal slaughtering/processing: 10.5 per 100 full-time workers
• Air transportation: 9.8 per 100 full-time workers
• Animal production: 9.1 per 100 full-time workers
• Motor vehicle parts manufacturing: 8.2 per 100 full-time workers

 

Of note, the overall rate for the construction industry in Florida was 4.0 per 100 full-time workers. It was 5.1 per 100 full-time workers in the agricultural industry and 3.4 per 100 full-time workers in the manufacturing industry.

Causes of Fatal Workplace Injuries in Florida 

According to BLS data, in 2012, the last year the data was available, there were 209 fatal work injuries in the state of Florida. This is down from over 400 work fatalities in 2004.

Of the workplace fatalities in 2012, 65 involved transportation incidents, while 44 fatalities involved workplace violence and other injuries caused by people or animals. Additionally, 42 involved slip, trip and fall accidents in the workplace. These three categories of injury causes accounted for nearly three-quarters of all fatal work accidents in 2012.

Of the fatal transportation incidents in Florida, roadway incidents contributed to 35 fatalities. In fact, roadway accidents accounted for 17 percent of all workplace fatalities in Florida. Other factors included pedestrian and vehicular incidents which were a factor in 13 workplace fatalities. When it came to workplace violence, intentional shooting of victims accounted for 23 fatalities.

The construction sector accounted for the largest number of fatalities in 2012. There were 55 fatalities in the construction industry, and that was an increase from 41 fatalities in 2011.

Legal Options for Workers Injured on the Job in Florida

If you suffered an injury in the workplace, you are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, regardless of who is at fault in the injury. If you have not begun receiving workers’ compensation benefits, speak to an attorney at Chalik and Chalik Law Offices. We’ll also help you explore other sources of compensation for damages, such as filing a third-party lawsuit if a party other than your employer or a coworker caused your accident.

Call 855-529-0269 to schedule an appointment with an attorney at our firm. You can also fill out our online contact form to set up a consultation.