All industries in New Hampshire and other states pose occupational hazards, and the goal of most employers is to provide safe work environments. In many cases, achieving workplace safety is easier said than done. However, workers’ compensation benefits claims continue to come from a wide variety of industries.

A Time magazine compilation of the most hazardous jobs in the U.S. indicates that the leading cause of on-the-job deaths in 2016 was transportation accidents. Truck drivers, farmers and groundskeepers were some of the victims who lost their lives in job-related vehicle accidents. Slips, trips and falls used to be second on the list of most frequent causes of fatalities, but workplace violence is now number two on the list. While most people might think disgruntled colleagues are responsible for such deaths, most workplace violence cases involve customers assaulting workers as well as armed robberies.

Time’s top ten list of occupations in which most fatalities occurred in 2016 starts with logging workers in the forestry industry, followed by those who have fishing-related jobs. Next come flight engineers and aircraft pilots, with roof workers, trash collectors, and workers in the recycling industries following closely. Those who work in the iron and steel industry are also at risk, and so are sales and truck drivers. The final three life-threatening sectors include agricultural managers, like ranchers and farmers, construction supervisors and extraction workers, and groundskeepers and maintenance workers.

The grief of New Hampshire families who have lost loved ones in fatal workplace accidents may overshadow the financial consequences of such tragedies. However, when it comes to the expenses related to end-of-life arrangements and the sudden loss of income, the death benefits provided by the workers’ compensation insurance program can ease the burden. Legal counsel can assist with the complicated administrative and legal processes of benefits claims.