To many people, the timber industry brings up some quaint image of a rugged lumberjack happily hacking away in the forest, going home satisfied after a long hard day of honest work. Unfortunately, while logging might indeed be fulfilling to many, this stereotype easily masks the fact that the timber industry is the most dangerous one in the United States.

In 2002, 104 people in this line of work were killed on the job, equating to a rate of 118 fatalities per 100,000 employed. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, this makes them almost 30 times more likely to be hurt than the average American worker. In fact, the next most dangerous line of work, commercial fishing, had almost 50 fewer accidents-per-100,000.

The top-ten list of most hazardous jobs for that year was rounded out by pilots and navigators, metal workers, driver-sales workers, roofers, electrical power installers, farm workers, construction crew members, and truck drivers.

In addition to the danger of falling trees and rolling logs, which accounts for about 70% of logging injuries, timber workers also face the threat of mechanical malfunctions involving powerful, fast-spinning saw blades. Unlike most slip-and-fall accidents in a mailroom or typical occupational hazards in other settings, even the smallest mistake in a timber industry position can lead to lifelong complications and even death.

Contact Us

For more information on what to do if you or someone you love has been affected by an accident while on the job in a timber industry setting, talk to an experienced Chicago personal injury attorney today by calling 312-466-8200.