Work-Related Deaths Up in 2012 in Texas

Texas had more than 500 work-related fatalities in 2012, an increase of more than 20 percent from the previous year.

According to preliminary data from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor of Statistics, the most dangerous job in the state was driving heavy and tractor-trailer trucks.

The Texas Department of Insurance said in a statement the number of deaths involving heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers increased by 57 percent in 2012, up from 77 incidents to 121.

Construction trade workers followed, with 82 fatal injuries in 2012 compared to 59 incidents in 2011.

The insurance department says transportation incidents continued to be the leading cause of fatal work injuries and accounted for most of the total increase in 2012, rising by 90 incidents from 2011.