Our community in Cedar Rapids is home to many hardworking people. They dedicate hours of their day on the job to support themselves and their families. Many also put their physical safety in jeopardy. The attorneys at Wertz Law Firm, P.C., have noticed a trend among our workers’ compensation clients, which led us to wonder: What are the most dangerous jobs in Cedar Rapids? We’ve analyzed data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and compiled our findings below.
Which Industries Have The Most Fatalities?
According to the most recent data available from BLS, transportation and material moving occupations are the most fatal. There were 19 fatalities recorded in this industry in Iowa in 2021. People in this industry move people and goods. Examples of jobs in this industry include:
- Delivery truck drivers
- Tractor-trailer truck drivers
- Railroad workers
- Hand laborers and material movers
Iowa’s second most deadly sector is trade, transportation and utilities. There were 16 people in this industry who passed away as a result of work activities in 2021. This sector encompasses all wholesale trade, retail trade, transportation, warehousing and utility occupations. Jobs in this industry relate to the following:
- Merchant wholesalers
- Retail stores
- Air transportation
- Rail transportation
- Water transportation
- Truck transportation
- Ground passenger transportation
- Pipeline transportation
- Mail delivery
- Electric power
- Natural gas
- Water supply
- Sewage removal
- Warehousing and storage
Almost all of the fatalities occurred among workers in transportation and warehousing occupations.
What Kinds Of Workers Suffer The Most Injuries?
In 2021, the most worker injuries happened in service-providing roles, with 22,100 total injuries. The most injuries occurred among trade, transportation, and utility workers, educational and health services workers, and retail workers.
Goods-producing occupations were the ones where the next most worker injuries occurred in Iowa. There were 12,800 total injuries recorded. Jobs include those in agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, mining, quarrying, oil and gas extraction, construction, and manufacturing.
Workers in Cedar Rapids who get hurt on the job, regardless of occupation, could benefit from talking to a workers’ compensation attorney. With legal support, workers have the best chances of getting all the benefits and compensation they are entitled to. The more resources they have, the smoother their recovery.