By the Numbers – Seasonal Safety

DID YOU KNOW?

This statistic shows the number of fatalities due to natural disasters in the United States in 2018, by type. There were total 49 fatalities reported at work due to floods in 2018. In total, there were 355 fatalities due to natural disasters in the United States that year. Nearly 5,200 American workers died on the job in 2017, and the worst part is, the majority of these deaths were preventable. Taking preventative action can spare workers needless pain and suffering.

An estimated 12.6 million people died as a result of living or working in an unhealthy environment in 2012 – nearly 1 in 4 of total global deaths, according to new estimates from WHO. Environmental risk factors, such as air, water and soil pollution, chemical exposures, climate change, and ultraviolet radiation, contribute to more than 100 diseases and injuries.

Over the last five years, weather-related deaths are up 41% from 2014, while the number of weather events have increased 5% and injuries have decreased 40%. In 2018, 62,339 weather events resulted in 782 deaths and 1,797 injuries. Heat waves, winter weather, and wildfires were responsible for the most deaths during 2018. The largest number of reported injuries resulted from heat waves, winter weather, and high winds including thunderstorm winds. The deadliest weather events in the United States over the past five years include Hurricane Irma, wild fires in California, and Hurricane Harvey.

KEEP IN MIND

The tornado season in North America begins in April, peaks in June and July, and ends in September. But really the storms can occur at any time, with approximately 1,000 tornadoes being reported in the United States and 80 in Canada each year. Tornadoes can move as fast as 70 miles per hour (112 km/h) and produce winds of more than 250 mph (400 km/h). They cause many deaths and…