Pennsylvania Ranked Fifth Among Most Dangerous States for Workers

Pennsylvania may be the fifth most dangerous state for workers in the country, according to a new study. Based on 2011 data from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the study highlights both the most dangerous states in which to work and the most hazardous industries for workers in the U.S.

After an analysis of rates of injuries which involve “days of job transfer or restriction,” Pennsylvania emerged with a rate of 0.8 such injury cases per 100 workers, tying the keystone state with eight others for fifth place on the ignominious list. Maine took the top spot with nearly double the rate, while New York was the relative safest at 0.1 cases for every 100 workers. Though differences in environment and the ways that workplace injuries are classified and reported from state to state inevitably threaten to skew the findings of such research, this study does provide a valuable snapshot of job-related injury rates that calls attention to the prevalence of work injuries nationwide.

The study further ranks the industries with the highest occurrences of work injuries in the U.S., and according to the findings, amusement park workers may have the most dangerous job in the country. Those employed in the amusement park/arcade industry group face a rate of 3.2 transfer or restriction days per 100 workers. Animal slaughtering/processing workers are only slightly behind with a rate of 3.1, while employees in the beverage manufacturing and foundry industries can expect to see an average of 2.7 transfer/restriction days for every 100 workers.

While workers’ compensation law varies between states, it’s clear that workers injured on the job deserve fair compensation regardless of their state or industry. In Pennsylvania, our Philadelphia workers’ compensation attorneys can help you get the PA workers’ compensation benefits to which you’re entitled. Contact us to learn more about workers’ compensation in Pennsylvania.