TAKEAWAY: As one of the most highly-populated States, Texas has a high incidence of injuries and fatalities, year after year. This article examines the Texas data compared to other States and explores the leading causes of workplace injuries and fatalities in Texas.
Jump Ahead
Every year, thousands of people are injured or killed in workplace accidents. And while some workplaces are more dangerous than others, any workplace can be a risk if the proper safety precautions are not in place.
We also highlight ways employers in Texas can reduce the risk of accidents in the workplace by looking at risk-prevention recommendations for high-risk industries. So if you’re curious about the dangers present in Texas workplaces, read on.
Occupational injury and fatality rates in Texas, compared with U.S. wide
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) identified 2.2 million cases of nonfatal injuries in private industry employees Nationwide in 2021. This number is slightly up from 2.1 million cases in 2020.
Texas repeatedly shows some of the country’s highest numbers of occupational injury cases and fatalities. Nonfatal occupational injury and illness data in the private industry from 2018 showed that Texas had the second-highest number of recordable cases Nationwide, second only to California.
Texas comes out highest with occupational fatality statistics. Data from 2003-2018 shows it has the highest number of fatal workplace injuries Nationwide in recent years.
California is the most populated State, with Texas second, so it’s essential to recognize these statistics don’t equate to the highest rates when accounting for population. Data from 2001-2020 showed that Wyoming has the highest injury fatality rates, with 13 fatalities in 2020 for every 100,000 workers.
Still, as one of the States with the highest number of fatal work injuries, Texas employers must understand which industries and jobs have the highest injury and fatality risks and the common causes.
SureHire USA offers Fit-for-duty Testing Services to cover all situations, including pre-employment, post-incident, reasonable suspicion, and return to work. Services include drug and alcohol testing, pulmonary function testing, audiometric testing, fitness-to-work testing, and background checks.
Most high-risk jobs in Texas State
Data from 2019 and 2020 shows that the industries with the highest numbers of fatalities in Texas are:
- Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations
- Production, transportation, and material moving occupations
Construction and extraction occupations and Transportation and material moving occupations come out as the jobs with the highest risks.
The construction industry is known to be dangerous for several reasons, including equipment malfunction and falls from heights. Extraction operations include those used in the mining and oil and gas industries, and other notoriously dangerous sectors with a high accident and injury risk.
Transportation employees face several risks, including driver fatigue and distraction, which can lead to crashes. Material moving occupations include job roles in the manufacturing industry (another high-risk injury sector), such as pallet handlers who may use machinery and manual labour to transport materials.
High-risk industries for non-fatal injuries and illnesses in Texas State from 2020 and 2021 data include:
- Veterinary services
- Flooring contractors
- Ice manufacturing
- Continuing care retirement communities and assisted living facilities for the elderly
- Animal slaughtering
- Construction machinery manufacturing
- Couriers and messengers
Most common workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities in Texas State
Transportation incidents are the leading cause of fatal occupational injuries in Texas, with 283 incidents out of 608 total fatal injuries in 2019 and 214 out of 469 in 2020. Transportation accidents occur in workplaces where employees are required to drive, such as delivery and taxi drivers.
Second in line for both years were falls, slips, and trips. Falls often occur when working from heights, such as during job tasks from ladders or roofs in the construction industry.
Slips and trips often happen in workplaces with significant foot traffic, such as restaurants and retail stores. They can also occur when workplace hazards are not properly identified, communicated, or minimized; for example, failing to use a “wet floor” sign when needed.
Other leading causes include violence and other injuries by persons or animals, exposure to harmful substances or environments, and contact with objects and equipment. Workplace violence can occur in any workplace but is more common in workplaces where there is significant customer interaction, such as customer service representatives and retail employees.
Risk prevention for employers in high-risk industries
Texas isn’t alone in occupations with a high risk of injuries and fatalities. Transportation and manufacturing are two high-risk sectors highlighted in the Texas data. These industries are commonly identified as high-risk, so employers in these sectors must take action to reduce injury and fatality risks for employees.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) developed a Manufacturing Program to help protect workers in this industry. Focus areas include:
- Preventing injuries and fatalities from contact with objects and equipment.
- Avoiding work-related injuries such as musculoskeletal disorders.
- Minimizing exposure to occupational safety and health hazards.
- Evaluating new and emerging technologies to help protect workers.
NIOSH developed a comprehensive review titled Work-Related Roadway Crashes: Challenges and Opportunities for Prevention for the transportation sector. It identifies workers with the highest risk of traffic crashes, covers the causes of work-related roadway crashes, and offers preventative recommendations for employers.
Texan employers can follow the recommended steps for high-risk industry employees to reduce occupational injury and fatality statistics. Examples include:
- Identifying workplace hazards and other risk factors for accidents, injuries, and fatalities for each job role in the workplace.
- Make adjustments and additions to workplace equipment, policies, and procedures, as required. For example, if employees are required to drive, the workplace should have a policy that requires them to use a hands-free device while driving. Another example could be enforcing a zero-tolerance policy for violence and a procedure for reporting incidents of workplace violence.
- Provide relevant education and training for employees, such as training on workplace hazards and risks and how to avoid them.
- Implement Fit-for-duty testing to determine whether a job candidate or current employee has the physical ability to meet job performance standards.
Employers must also be knowledgeable about occupational testing laws in Texas. Categories covered include Occupational Drug Testing, Duty to Accommodate, Pre-employment Tests and Examinations, and more. Understanding these laws helps Texas companies determine testing obligations relevant to their State.
SureHire USA offers Fit-for-duty Testing Services to cover all situations, including pre-employment, post-incident, reasonable suspicion, and return to work. Services include drug and alcohol testing, pulmonary function testing, audiometric testing, fitness-to-work testing, and background checks.
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