If you are a worker in America, you probably already know that many people die on the job. Even a job that seems relatively harmless can result in serious injuries and deaths in the right circumstances.
It’s hoped that workers’ injuries can be reduced, but with changes in the government, it is actually possible that they may increase. Depending on how laws are adjusted, there is a potential for looser safety practices on the job. If there are no solid safety practices in place, the risk of injury increases.
In 2016, 5,190 workers died on the job in the United States. It’s believed that another 50,000 to 60,000 die every year because of occupational diseases. Around 4 million suffer from work-related injuries that may or may not result in death at a later time.
Prior to deindustrialization, there were many more injuries than we see today. However, that doesn’t mean Americans can stop worrying about safety on the job. Workplace dangers come in many forms, from chronic pain from repetitive movements to mesothelioma from exposure to asbestos. Workers in all industries struggle with a potential for danger.
It is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) job to help keep workplaces safe, but it has to abide by federal laws. There are some plans in the works to deregulate the speed used at production plants. Presently, OSHA still has some control over training and safety. However, if the government changes safety regulations on the whole, there is little that this organization can do to prevent that. That could mean an increase in injuries in every industry.