Texas workers are sometimes involved in accidents on the job, and some of those result in fatalities. The United States Department of Labor recently released the final count of workplace fatalities in the U.S. for 2014, and the number of deaths across industries was higher than previously reported.
The final fatality number for 2014 was 4,821, which rose from the previously reported 4,679 deaths. There were 3.4 deaths per 100,000 full-time workers, which was the first increase in the workplace fatality rate since 2010. The increased numbers reflected updates to the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries for 2014.
Within the private construction industry, the total was 9 percent higher than in 2013 and the highest it has been since 2008. According to the report, 899 construction workers died during 2014 while working. In all industries, workers who were 55 and older accounted for 1,691 fatalities. Working on roadways resulted in the deaths of 1,157 workers, which was a 5 percent increase from 2013. Slips, trips and falls led to the deaths of 818 people at work.
When an employee dies as a result of a workplace accident, the surviving family members may be left struggling financially while also experiencing the overwhelming grief and pain caused by their loved one’s sudden death. The workers’ compensation insurance program allows the family members of workers who are killed in work accidents to file claims for death benefits to help ease some of the financial burden. An attorney can often explain the types of benefits that may be available as well as the procedure for applying for them.