Major Mississippi Industries with the Highest Rate of Workplace Fatalities

The residents of Mississippi are hard-working people and provide the rest of the US with some of the most important products: food, timber, petroleum, and gas. However, as any Mississippi workers compensation lawyer knows, they are also exposed to a lot of risks. Most of these risks are inherent to their field of work. But this does not mean that their employer cannot do more to reduce the rate of workplace fatalities and injuries.

Until the moment when every employer is up to the task of keeping their employees safe, workers must be aware of the risks they face on a daily basis. In this way, they can be more careful than usual. And, if there is no way of avoiding a severe workplace accident, an experienced Mississippi workers compensation lawyer will help them obtain their due workers comp benefits.

Statistics on Injured Workers in the State of Mississippi

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 41 residents of Mississippi lost their lives in workplace accidents in 2021. Although the charts show a constant decrease in workplace fatalities in our state, it is still unacceptable that people die on the job.

And other data compiled by the federal authority show that, in fact, our state exceeds or equals the national average for fatal occupational injuries by specific causes.

• Transportation accidents – 43.9 fatality rate in Mississippi vs. 38.2 national average
• Falls, slips, and trips – 22.00 fatality rate in our state vs. 16.4 national average
• Violence and other injuries by persons or animals – 14.6 mortality rate in our state vs.14.7 national average.

These Major Industries in Our State Have the Highest Fatality Rates

Mississippi is a national leader in several key industries. They are the industries that built our country and continue to play a crucial role in the everyday life of every American citizen.

But the price for the products and services originating in our state is sometimes too high. As a Mississippi workers compensation lawyer knows, sometimes it is weighed down by the loss of human lives.

These are the industries where the fatality rates, as well as the percentage of injured workers, are very high.

1. Transportation

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that the field of transportation and material moving has the highest fatality rate in our state. Out of the total 41 workplace fatalities in Mississippi in 2021, 13 victims were working in this industry.

Most of them were motor vehicle operators:

• Truck drivers
• Delivery drivers
• Traveling sales agents.

Unfortunately, there is no surprise here, as motor vehicle accidents remain one of the number one causes of accidental death across the US. 

As it happens, Mississippi has very busy road traffic. A study prepared in 2016 by TRIP research group determined that the vehicle miles traveled in our state were 39.5 billion and expected to increase by 30% in 2030. While this is an explanation for the high fatality rates in the transportation industry, it is certainly not an excuse.

2. Agriculture

One-third of the population of Mississippi works in the agricultural sector. This industry generates around $6.3 billion each year from more than 41,000 farms spread across our state.

One would think that a part of this wealth would go into providing agricultural workers with reliable machinery and high-quality personal protection equipment. Unfortunately, as any Mississippi workers compensation lawyer can tell you, it isn’t so.

Actually, agriculture remains one of the industries with one of the highest fatality rates according to OSHA calculations. Most of these fatal accidents are related to tractor accidents and getting crushed under heavy machinery.

3. Fishing

Another great contribution of our state to the overall food production in the US comes from fishing. Mississippi is a leader in the production of farmed catfish and shrimp, together with other saltwater and freshwater types of fish and seafood.

But this type of work exposes the employees of fishing companies to a series of inherent risks – the most obvious one being drowning. Operating heavy machinery also poses significant risks, especially if the equipment is old and not maintained/repaired frequently.

4. Manufacturing

Our state started an accelerated industrial development program in the 1960s, focusing on processed foods, upholstered products, lighting equipment, and automotive parts. Despite the constant progress in creating safe and automated work environments in this sector, accidents continue to happen.

Electrocution, coming into contact with heavy objects, and slip and fall accidents are the most common types of accidents in the manufacturing industry. In some cases, these accidents prove fatal, leaving grieving families in need to recover death benefits from the negligent employer.

In this situation, an experienced Mississippi workers compensation lawyer will make sure that the family receives the maximum amount allowed by law.

5. Mining

In our state, most mining activities are related to the extraction of gas and petroleum. And this is an extremely dangerous workplace for anyone. We are talking about the most highly flammable substances known to man. Fires or explosions can break out at the slightest mistake or malfunction.

Thus, the high fatality rates in this industry are due to:

• Severe burn injuries
• Carbon monoxide inhalation
• Exposure to dangerous chemicals.

6. Forestry

Finally, our state is known for its production of cotton. At present, there are modern machines performing heavy work. But this does not mean that workers are safe from severe accidents.

Poor maintenance or failure to diagnose an impending malfunction can result in very serious accidents, where workers are caught in or crushed by these machines, or get into contact with live electrical wires.

A Mississippi Workers Compensation Lawyer Will Protect Your Rights!

Workplace injuries range from minor to catastrophic. Sometimes, an employee can return to work after a few days’ rest at home. In other situations, they become a part of the unfortunate statistical data on workplace fatalities.

For an experienced Mississippi workers compensation lawyer, no employer is above the law. No matter how big and powerful a company may be, we know that the law protects injured workers and their families. And we are ready to fight for their rights.

We encourage you to get in touch with us as soon as possible after a workplace accident. We offer every new client a free case review, where we evaluate the available evidence and help you understand your legal options. Do not let too much time go by – call us to schedule your initial appointment now: 601-519-4181!