Report IDs State's Most Dangerous Jobs
Massachusetts Workplace Fatalities Rose Last Year
Updated: 12:38 PM EDT Apr 26, 2012
How dangerous is your job? The answer is in an alarming new report that looks at the risks many state workers face."He was type of guy that everyone loved being around. He was funny, hardworking. Everything he did in his life was for his kids," said Steve Buckman's son, Tony. Click Like For Boston Weather Updates:But Steve Buckman went to work one morning and was suddenly gone. He was exposed to live wires on the job and the Stoughton father of three was electrocuted."This didn't have to happen, and it shouldn't have happened," Tony said.According to the Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health, or MassCosh, the state lost more than one worker a week in 2011, with 58 Bay state workers dying on the job last year. That number was up from the year before. Construction continues to prove one of the most dangerous industries, and falls accounted for one-fifth of all deaths. Attorney Douglas Sheff has represented hundreds of people involved in what he says were senseless accidents."And the one common denominator that almost all of them have is that they were easily preventable," said Sheff.MassCOSH said tough economic times don't help the situation."In a bad economy we hear that workers are afraid to report injuries or they're told, 'You're lucky to be working. You're lucky to be working, don't report hazards.' If you don't report a hazard, then you're putting somebody in a dangerous situation," said Marcy Goldstein-Gelb, of MassCOSH.Another concern is that Massachusetts' public employees are not covered by federal occupational safety and health guidelines."We really have inadequate protections for our public employees," said Goldstein-Gelb.MashCOSH is hoping to change that. The safety advocates will take their report to the Statehouse on Thursday, and Tony Buckman and other families will pause to publicly remember the loved ones they lost.
BOSTON —
How dangerous is your job? The answer is in an alarming new report that looks at the risks many state workers face.
"He was type of guy that everyone loved being around. He was funny, hardworking. Everything he did in his life was for his kids," said Steve Buckman's son, Tony.
Click Like For Boston Weather Updates:
But Steve Buckman went to work one morning and was suddenly gone. He was exposed to live wires on the job and the Stoughton father of three was electrocuted.
"This didn't have to happen, and it shouldn't have happened," Tony said.
According to the Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health, or MassCosh, the state lost more than one worker a week in 2011, with 58 Bay state workers dying on the job last year. That number was up from the year before.
Construction continues to prove one of the most dangerous industries, and falls accounted for one-fifth of all deaths. Attorney Douglas Sheff has represented hundreds of people involved in what he says were senseless accidents.
"And the one common denominator that almost all of them have is that they were easily preventable," said Sheff.
MassCOSH said tough economic times don't help the situation.
"In a bad economy we hear that workers are afraid to report injuries or they're told, 'You're lucky to be working. You're lucky to be working, don't report hazards.' If you don't report a hazard, then you're putting somebody in a dangerous situation," said Marcy Goldstein-Gelb, of MassCOSH.
Another concern is that Massachusetts' public employees are not covered by federal occupational safety and health guidelines.
"We really have inadequate protections for our public employees," said Goldstein-Gelb.
MashCOSH is hoping to change that. The safety advocates will take their report to the Statehouse on Thursday, and Tony Buckman and other families will pause to publicly remember the loved ones they lost.