The Risks

There were 5,703 work-related fatalities in private industry in 2004.
In that same year there were 4.3 million total workplace injuries
and illnesses, of which 1.3 million resulted in days away from
work.
Occupational illnesses, injuries and fatalities in 2004 cost the
United States’ economy $142.2 billion, according to National
Safety Council estimates. The average cost per occupational
fatality in 2004 exceeded one million dollars. To cover the costs to
employers from workplace injuries, it has been calculated that
each and every employee in this country would have had to
generate $1,010 in revenue in 2004.2
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) may occur at work. According to
recent statistics from the American Heart Association, there are
250,000 out-of-hospital SCAs annually. The actual number of SCAs
that happen at work are unknown. If an employee collapses
without warning and is not attended to promptly and effectively,
the employee may die. Sudden cardiac arrest is caused by
abnormal, uncoordinated beating of the heart or loss of the
heartbeat altogether, usually as a result of a heart attack.
Workplace events such as electrocution or exposure to low oxygen
environments can lead to SCA. Overexertion at work can also
trigger SCA in those with underlying heart disease.
The outcome of occupational illnesses and injuries depends on
the severity of the injury, available first-aid care and medical
treatment. Prompt, properly administered first aid may mean the
difference between rapid or prolonged recovery, temporary or
permanent disability, and even life or death.

Obtaining and evaluating information about the injuries, illnesses
and fatalities at a work site are essential first steps in planning a
first-aid program. Employers can use the OSHA 300 log, OSHA
301 forms, their Workers’ Compensation insurance carrier reports
or other records to help identify the first-aid needs for their
businesses. For risk assessment purposes, national data for
injuries, illnesses and fatalities may be obtained from the Bureau
of Labor Statistics (BLS) website at www.bls.gov/iif.