Alaska is once again near the top of the list in workplace injuries and fatalities in the country.
The state’s construction and fishing industries contribute to the bulk of the incidents.
The State of Alaska Epidemiology office released its report on work-related injuries between 2001 and 2010.
Those 10 years encompass 3,150 non-fatal workplace injuries and 384 fatal injuries.
Characteristics of non-fatal and fatal work-related injuries in Alaska between 2001-2010.
Falls are the most common form on non-fatal injury and most of those belong to the construction industry. Construction workers make up 19 percent of the non-fatal injuries.
However, in Alaska fishing remains the leading cause of workplace fatalities. Commercial fishermen make up 33 percent of the fatal injuries in the ten year period.
The leading cause of death is drowning or submersion. Half of drowning and submersion deaths are due to a vessel sinking, burning or capsizing.
Pilots made up 13 percent of the fatal injuries.
The report found that from 2001-2012, “fatal work-related injuries occurred most frequently among commercial fishermen, fishing vessel captains, and pilots. Non-fatal work-related injuries occurred most often among construction workers, commercial fishermen, drivers, and food processors.”
The report attributes the increased risk of those occupations to hazardous work environments and the distance from trauma facilities.
