NJ on List of Safest and Most Dangerous States to Work

There are some rather dangerous jobs out there. Roofer comes to mind, not just because of the possibility of falling, but also having to work in the scorching heat of the summer sun. Of course, police officers, firefighters, miners, garbage collectors, the list is long.

Injuries and deaths on the job have risen over the years, and dangerous workplaces are taking steps to reduce incidents at work. So it depends on what vocation you are in, but does it matter which state you work in? According to a new study, it does.

Fall protection agency, Edge Fall Protection, analyzed fatality injury rates using the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics data to find which states are the most dangerous and which states are the safest. The ratings and ranks are based on highest to lowest to determine which state reported the highest number of incidents and the lowest number of incidents. 

The study identifies where dangers can be found around the country. This could be due to gaps in a company’s safety measures or the types of jobs that seem to be the most popular in each location. 

Landing at the top of the list is Wyoming with a fatal injury rate of 12.7. This shows the risks present in some of the state's key industries, including agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, transportation, and utilities. Unfortunately, my nephew, Austin works in Wyoming and works in a couple of the industries listed. Wyoming's workforce faces significant hazards, which is a reminder of the need for a closer examination of safety practices.

This is true for the other dangerous states that fall into the top ten on the list. The second most dangerous state is North Dakota with a fatal injury score of 9.8. The top two are followed by Mississippi, New Mexico, West Virginia, Louisiana, South Carolina, Arkansas, Nebraska, and Tennessee.

Comparatively, New Jersey is considered a safe state according to the dangerous state list. With a rating of 2.7, we’re the fourth safest state in the country says the study.

The only states that scored better than Jersey are Massachusetts (2.4), Connecticut (2.0), and Rhode Island with the lowest rating at 1.4.

Chief Safety Officer Mike McCarty said, "Seeing the numbers laid out like this isn't just about stats on a page, but it is also a reminder that behind every number is a person, someone's family member, friend, or colleague. The findings bring attention for a reevaluation of workplace safety across the nation.” 

According to a survey by Slack, there's a loooong list of phrases or sayings that annoy us. We shared ours this morning. Mine is "I don't get paid enough for that!" If you don't get paid enough, then find another job! I never want to work with anyone with that attitude, it just makes it harder on everyone else. "That's not my job" is another. Maryann hates "new normal." She's a big fan of the "old normal." Here's more...

"As soon as possible" is disliked by 15% of those surveyed. How about "WIGTI" (Whenever I Get To It)?

Again, 15% of those surveyed were not interested in keeping anyone in any loop. Nor did they want to loop anyone in, circle back or have to deal with anything round.

The hatred of shapes continues as they found that references to anything square is also frowned upon.

True! In fact, there are 22 letters that aren't in "team." However, there is a "me." A similar "team" saying that's disliked is "Team Player"

Apparently the idea of "touching base" has become a negative phrase in the workplace. If you do "touch base" make sure you wash your hands!