Fatal workplace injuries a serious concern for California workers

When a person suffers an injury on the job, he or she has the right to pursue benefits through a workers’ compensation claim. Even knowing that benefits are available in case of a workplace accident, a worker may still have concerns about his or her health and safety while on the job. Since 2014, fatal workplace injuries are up by 22%, which means that California employees have a good reason to be concerned.

It is always tragic when a person dies on the job, regardless of why it happened. When these events occur, employers should strive to investigate the cause of the accident and implement steps to ensure that it does not happen again. There is no clear reason why the rate of work-related fatalities continues to rise in the state, although it is lower than the national average.

Existing regulations are designed to protect the safety and well-being of men and women who work in various types of jobs. Despite regulations and enforcement, fatal accidents continue to be a concern, particularly among Latino workers. There are probably multiple factors that play a role in this, and Cal/OSHA pledges to continue to study the problem and increase awareness.

Workers’ compensation insurance covers workplace injuries, but it also offers support to grieving California families. If a loved one was killed in a work accident, surviving dependents have the right to pursue death benefits through an insurance claim. It is not always easy to secure these benefits, and a person considering a claim may want to work with an experienced attorney from the very beginning of the process.