The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has released some of its findings on work-related fatalities in Illinois and across the U.S. It appears that there was a 2% increase in such fatalities between 2017 and 2018, with the number going from 5,147 to 5,250. However, the rate of worker fatalities remained at 3.5% per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers in those two years.
Warehouses pose dangers for workers
Anecdotal evidence suggests that more workers than ever are employed in Illinois warehouses as the online shopping segment continues to grow. To fulfill those millions of online orders received each day, warehouse workers must package, select and ship out the products on demand. With just one company, Amazon, controlling more than 150 million square footage of warehouse space around the globe and many more competitors following, warehouses are in many cases replacing brick-and-mortar retail stores. This also means that there are more full-time workers in warehouses and even part-time workers looking for supplemental income around the holidays.
