The Most Hazardous Work Environments Are Not What You Expect
If you were injured in a workplace accident, or if you are suffering from an occupational illness, discuss your case with an experienced Delaware workers’ compensation attorney from Silverman, McDonald & Friedman. We represent clients who have sustained workplace injuries in and around Wilmington, Newark and Seaford.
If you were asked to think of the most dangerous jobs for workers in Delaware, you might have some vague notion of police or firemen who put their lives on the line to help others every day. The last groups you might expect to be considered “high risk” would be nurses, engineers, and factory workers. We are looking at the statistics for those groups and what some of the reasons are for those high rates of injury.
Agricultural boom or bust
One of the most economically strong fields just outside Newcastle and Wilmington is the agricultural, or factory poultry farm industry. Every aspect of the trade has its risks for workers. From farmers using heavy machinery to grow the feed (fatality rate of 26.7 per 100,000 workers) to poultry plant workers suffering from carpal tunnel (34% of employees), falls, and stress-based illnesses, the entire trade is fraught with dangers.
Engineered to succeed, or destined to fail?
The University of Delaware is home to the top engineering program in the country. Therefore, it is no surprise that a major sector of the working population is comprised of engineers in varying specialties. Despite all the education and training involved, engineers and construction workers have one of the highest non-fatal injury rates in the state. This seems to be the result of the sheer numbers of people and activities involved, along with the use of heavy machinery and the associated risks.
Who nurses the nurses?
One of the more unexpected results of recent studies into workplace injuries and deaths is the high percentage of nurses and other healthcare professionals who face serious harm or fatalities as a result of their vocation. Hospital staff, health care and social assistance workers, and nurses have a higher rate of non-fatal injuries than any other field as a whole in Delaware. Our Delaware attorneys have helped numerous medical professionals receive compensation for injuries sustained on the job.
Some of those injuries may be due to the unique risks associated with caring for sick or suffering patients who may inadvertently infect, endanger or wound those who are only trying to be of assistance. Another factor may be the long shifts worked by employees in these fields. Though the total hours per week tend to be similar to other occupations, the long shifts mean that nurses and doctors may be overtired or unfocused toward the end, increasing their risk for accident or injury.
Our trusted Delaware workplace injury attorneys at Silverman, McDonald & Friedman are here to defend your rights if you have been injured in any workplace accident. Contact us by calling 302-888-2900 or filling out our contact form to schedule a free consultation with an experienced attorney in Wilmington, Newark, or Seaford today.
Attorney Jeffrey S. Friedman joined Silverman, McDonald & Friedman in 2001. He graduated from Widener University School of Law, and is admitted to practice law in Delaware and Pennsylvania, and in several Federal Circuit courts. He areas of concentration include auto accident and workers’ compensation cases. Read more about Attorney Friedman here.