MEC&F Expert Engineers : Transportation incidents have been the leading cause of work-related fatalities in Texas for the past ten years.

Sunday, February 1, 2015

Transportation incidents have been the leading cause of work-related fatalities in Texas for the past ten years.

A variety of industries and occupations require employees to drive or to be exposed to hazards associated with driving. Transportation incidents have been the leading cause of work-related fatalities in Texas for the past ten years. Data from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics illustrates the significance of these hazards in Texas.

Of the 493 occupational deaths in 2013, 43 percent (213 cases) involved transportation incidents. Of these cases, 154 were roadway transportation incidents, 12 were non-roadway incidents involving a motorized land vehicle occurring entirely off of a public roadway, 30 involved a worker being struck by a vehicle, and 8 were aircraft incidents. Nine involved other types of transportation incidents.
The service providing sector had a total of 120 transportation-related fatalities, with the majority of those in the trade, transportation and utilities subsector.
The incidence rate of non-fatal transportation accidents in Texas in 2013 was 5.1 per 10,000 full-time workers.
The incidence rate of non-fatal cases where vehicles were the source of injury was 5.1 per 10,000 full-time workers.
An estimated 3,980 non-fatal transportation accidents involved days away from work.

To minimize the occurrence of these types of transportation-related incidents in the workplace, the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation (TDI-DWC) encourages employers to implement effective accident prevention plans that address driving and vehicular hazards. In addition, the TDI-DWC encourages employers to implement and enforce written safety programs and policies for working in and around motor vehicles.