What Are the Most Dangerous Jobs in Maryland?
When we think of dangerous jobs, our minds often go to construction or other similar labor-intensive occupations. Even with all of the safety protocols in place, accidents on job sites still occur every day, causing serious injuries, illnesses, and death.
Some jobs cause more injuries or deaths than others, but what are the most dangerous jobs in Maryland?
In this blog post, we’ll focus on which jobs and industries in Maryland cause the most occupational fatalities, which industries create the most workers’ compensation claims, and what you can do if your workplace is unsafe.
Occupations With the Most Workplace Fatalities
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were 80 occupational fatalities in 2021. The occupations with the most fatalities were:
- Natural resources, construction, and maintenance: 21
- Service occupations: 24
- Production, transportation, and material moving: 19
Transportation and material moving, construction, and protective services had the greatest number of fatalities above all other more specific occupations, causing 15, 10, and 10 fatalities, respectively. The top five fatal occupational injuries mirror these numbers and are listed as:
- Violence and other injuries by persons or animals: 23 deaths
- Transportation incidents: 21 deaths
- Exposure to harmful substances or environments: 19 deaths
- Contact with objects and equipment: 8 deaths
- Slips, trips, and falls: 6 deaths
Maryland Industries with the Most Workers’ Compensation Claims
According to the annual report from the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission (MWCC), 21,661 claims were filed in 2023. The top five industries with more than 100 filed claims were:
- Police – Security: 1,827 claims filed
- Colleges or Schools (including daycare): 1,254 claims filed
- Storage Warehouses General Merchandise N.O.C: 886 claims filed
- Truckmen N.O.C.: 851 claims filed
- Unclassified (insufficient data): 850 claims filed
Which Parts of the Body Are Most Reported for Injuries?
The most common body part claimed for disability was the lower thorax, or the lower back, with 1,379 total claims. Shoulder injuries were the second most common, with 1,216 claims, and third was knees at 935.
How Many Disability Claims Are Awarded?
Although more than 20,000 workers’ compensation claims were filed in 2023, only 14,452 of these were awarded compensation for the following types of awards:
- Permanent Total: 19
- Permanent Partial: 8,725
- Fatality: 41
- Compromise: 5,667
What You Can Do If Your Workplace Is Unsafe
Even if you don’t work in industries or occupations with higher workers’ compensation claims, you may still encounter hazards within your workplace. It could be unsafe work practices, or potentially dangerous chemicals not stored properly.
Anything that might be (or already is) a risk to your health and safety while on the job should be reported to the proper agency.
If You Think There May Be a Hazard
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is the occupational safety research branch of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The purpose of NIOSH is to identify workplace health hazards and recommend ways to prevent work-related injuries and illnesses.
If you think there may be a hazard at your place of work and you want peace of mind, you can request a Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) through the online portal on the CDC website.
If There Are Known Hazards
The Maryland Occupational Health and Safety (MOSH) Act gives employees the right to file complaints about workplace safety and health hazards. Complainants can be either employees or representatives of employees, and these complaints can be made anonymously.
If you have seen hazards within your workplace and you believe you or others are in danger, you can file a complaint with MOSH. Additionally, if there is an emergency or if the hazard is life-threatening, you can call 1-888-257-MOSH (6674).
If You’ve Already Been Injured on the Job
In the unfortunate event that you’ve suffered an injury or an illness due to your occupation, you can file a workers’ compensation claim. Depending on the nature and complexity of your accident, you may want to seek legal guidance from a knowledgeable Maryland workers’ compensation attorney.
Our legal team at Belsky & Horowitz, LLC handles all workers’ compensation claims and will gladly meet with you during a free consultation to discuss the details of your case.
We have the experience, and the knowledge to make even the most complex issues make sense.
