Excavation and trenching are some of the most hazardous jobs within the construction industry. Therefore, Minnesota residents who are familiar with this industry may not be surprised to learn that the fatality rate for excavation and trenching workers is more than 100 percent higher than the rate for general construction workers. Besides dying from the ground caving in on the worker, workers can also die from other dangers such as drowning, inhaling toxic fumes and suffocating from oxygen depletion. In addition, if they encounter an underground utility while working, they can die from explosions or electrocutions.
How to protect excavation and trenching workers
Overexertion one of the leading workplace injury issues
There are various statistics to consider in evaluating workplace injury issues in Minnesota and throughout the nation. The number of injuries of a certain type can be an indicator of success or failure in managing safety. Additionally, the cost burdens of certain types of injuries are important. Some statistics were released on Jan. 14, 2016, and musculoskeletal disorders topped the list of disabling job-related injuries during 2013.
Improved fatality statistics in mining during 2015
Mining employees in Minnesota may face serious dangers in their line of work, but they may appreciate the fact that 2015 was a historically low year for mining deaths in the United States. Statistics are compiled by the Mine Safety and Health Administration, which reported only 28 industry fatalities for the year. This was a decrease of nearly 40 percent from the previous year. Statistics for the mining industry exclude those related to oil and gas.
Practices in managing workers' compensation cases
A workplace injury can become costly for both employers and employees in Minnesota. Cost containment is a priority for companies as they consider medical costs ranging from emergency room visits to the ongoing need for pain medications. Similarly, workers may face challenges in their financial lives after an accident on the job because of lost wages. Workers' compensation benefits cover only a percentage of an employee's lost wages, leaving a shortfall. In attempting to avoid these costs, there may be situations in which either an employer or an employee resists reporting an incident. However, studies indicate that one of the most important factors in keeping injury-related costs down is reporting a claim promptly, preferably within the first 24 hours.
