Trial Lawyers
Are The Difference

Our attorneys have been assisting the Orange County and Southern California communities for over 40 years.

Request free consultation

California Work Injury Statistics

Request free consultation
Posted By DAM Firm | August 4 2023 | Workers' Compensation

Workplace injuries are not uncommon in the state of California. However, it does help to associate actual data with various statistics to gain a better understanding of the issue. In general, workplace injury victims are able to recover money for their losses through workers’ compensation, but we strongly encourage any person who has sustained a severe on-the-job injury to reach out to an attorney for a free consultation.

California Work Injury Statistics

Fatal Work Injuries in California

Data available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the total number of workplace fatalities during a recent reporting year in California. Throughout that year, we see that there were 463 total fatal injuries in workplaces throughout the state. We can see the breakdown of these fatal injuries is as follows:

  • 122 transportation incidents
  • 99 falls, slips, or trips
  • 97 incidents of violence or injuries by other persons or animals
  • 85 incidents of exposure to harmful substances or environments
  • 52 contact with other objects and equipment
  • 5 fire and explosion incidents

The data goes on to show that 428 of the fatal workplace injuries were men and 35 were women.

Non-Fatal Work Injuries in California

The U.S. Department of Labor shows that, as of July 30, 2023, there have been 14,107 total workers’ compensation claims filed in California. 

Data provided by the California Department of Industrial Relations shows that some industries in the state pose more risks than others. The numbers included in the list below represent the total number of recordable cases per 10,000 workers in the industry (categories pre-arranged by the state):

  • Agricultural, forestry, fishing, and hunting – 4.6
  • Construction – 3.1
  • Manufacturing – 3.0
  • Retail – 4.7
  • Transportation and warehousing – 5.9

However, even though these industries may pose more risks to workers, it is crucial to understand that workplace injuries can occur in any type of work environment. Individuals working inside of an office building can sustain a slip and fall injury just the same as a person at a construction site. Every workplace poses risks, though those risks vary depending on the environment.

Some of the most common violations of workplace safety regulations, according to the OSHA Education Center, include issues with ladders, scaffolding, slip and fall prevention, hazardous material safeguarding, and machine guarding. Additionally, other common OSHA violations include electrical safety issues as well as respiratory protection problems.

Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Standards After Inspections By OSHA [2021]

  1. Fall Protection – Construction  (29 CFR 1926.501)
  2. Respiratory Protection – General (29 CFR 1910.134)
  3. Ladders – Construction (29 CFR 1926.1053)
  4. Hazard Communication – General(29 CFR 1910.1200)
  5. Scaffolding – General Requirements – Construction (29 CFR 1926.451)
  6. Fall Protection – Training (29 CFR 1926.503)
  7. Controlling Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout) – General (29 CFR 1910.147)
  8. Eye and Face Protection – General (29 CFR 1926.102)
  9. Powered Industrial Trucks – General (29 CFR 1910.178)
  10.  Machinery and Machine Guarding – General (29 CFR 1910.212)

Source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Do You Need a Work Injury Attorney?

There is no specific requirement to have an attorney after a workplace injury occurs, but if you or somebody you love has been injured on the job in or around San Bernardino, we encourage you to reach out to a work injury attorney in San Bernardino as soon as possible. Work injury claims can be challenging, particularly when dealing with aggressive insurance carriers or employers. Your lawyer can step in and be an advocate on your behalf through every step of the process.

Workplace injury claims often pit injury victims against aggressive workers’ compensation insurance carriers. The number one priority after any type of workplace injury must be care for the injured worker. Your attorney will put you first and help you recover the compensation needed for your medical expenses as well as lost wages if the injury prevents you from returning to the job right away.

Free Consultation

  • *required fields
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.