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Workplace accidents can happen even in the safest environments, but for workers in certain fields the risk for accidents and injuries is significantly greater.
Nationally, the most dangerous jobs include logging, commercial fishing, aviation, roofing and trucking. State-by-state statistics reveal some variances by profession. Following is a look at some of the most dangerous jobs in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.
Dangerous Jobs in Ohio
Did you know that Ohio’s largest export is industrial machinery? This sort of export is great for the state’s manufacturing economy, but it can also mean higher rates of workplace injury for employees in the equipment manufacturing industry.
There are also other industries associated with common workplace injuries in Ohio, including:
- Agriculture, including crop and animal production
- Construction, including nonresidential and infrastructure projects
- Food manufacturing, including sugar mills and dairy farming
- Plastics and rubber manufacturing
- Chemical manufacturing
Of course, the injuries received from accidents in these and other industries can range widely. However, some of the most common injury claims in Ohio involve reports of:
- Workplace violence
- Transportation accidents
- Injury from animals
- Falls, slips or trips
- Exposure to harmful substances
- Contact with objects or equipment
The physical injuries associated with these claims can range from mild injuries to lifelong disabilities, which is why Workers’ Compensation is so important. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 164 fatal work injuries in Ohio in 2016, the last full year for which comprehensive data is available.
Dangerous Jobs in Kentucky
One of the largest industries in Kentucky is the production of aviation and vehicle parts. This area of the economy is thriving, but it also means higher rates of injuries for aviation and vehicle manufacturing employees.
Kentucky officials also recorded significant numbers of workplace injuries and illnesses in other fields, including:
- Transit and ground passenger transportation
- Hospitals
- Transportation and warehousing
- Public administration
- Nursing and residential care facilities
- Correctional institutions
There are virtually countless causes of injuries and fatalities in each field, but some of the most common involve:
- Transportation accidents (51 percent of all fatalities)
- Contact with objects and equipment (21 percent of all deaths)
- Workplace violence
- Falls, slips and trips
- Exposure to harmful chemicals
- Fires and explosions
Temporary injury or long-term disability are not uncommon in many of these fields, and transportation and material-moving jobs were considered the most dangerous for Kentucky workers in 2016. In fact, 29 people died doing this work in 2016 (there were 92 total workplace fatalities across the state).
Dangerous Jobs in Indiana
Indiana has thriving vehicle, industrial and computer-parts industries. Because of this, many people in the state are employed by companies who specialize in these types of production. These industries also happen to utilize heavy equipment and require extensive transportation and warehousing, making them home to some of the most dangerous jobs in Indiana.
According to 2016 statistics, Indiana industries with high rates of injury include:
- Agriculture
- Forestry, fishing and hunting
- Construction
- Transportation and warehousing
- Electrical, appliance and component manufacturing
The incidents most associated with injuries and fatalities in Indiana workplaces involved:
- Transportation accidents (45 percent of fatalities)
- Workplace violence
- Animal-related injuries
- Contact with equipment
- Falls, slips and trips
Unfortunately, 137 people died from workplace incidents in Indiana in 2016. Thirty-three were associated with transportation accidents involving agriculture, foresting, fishing, and hunting employees.
What to Do if You’re Injured at Work in Ohio, Kentucky or Indiana
If you live in the tri-state area and work in one of the industries listed here, it’s important to know how to stay safe on the job. Proper training and safety procedures should be provided by your employers.
It’s also important to know what to do if you’re injured in a workplace accident or suffer a job-related ailment. Each state has a Workers’ Compensation program designed to provide medical and wage benefits to employees who were hurt on the job.
The Workers’ Compensation attorneys at Young, Reverman & Mazzei are proud to advocate for injured workers from the greater Cincinnati and Dayton areas, including our neighbors in Kentucky and Indiana. If you need help filing a claim for Workers’ Compensation benefits or appealing a denied claim, please call us today at 800-721-1678 or contact us online for your free consultation.
For a complete list of our tri-state offices and directions, please visit our locations page.
