Fifty-eight workers died on the job in Massachusetts last year and firefighting supplanted construction as the most dangerous job in the state, according to a report from the Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health (MassCOSH).
Firefighting overtook construction as the deadliest job in the state in 2011, rising from 5 work-related deaths in 2010 to 13 last year, accounting for 22 percent of all workplace fatalities. In 2010, the construction industry topped the list with 10 on-the-job deaths, but dropped to second place with 8 fatalities. Also on the list for 2011 were the transportation industry with 7 job-related deaths, and three commercial fishermen died to their trade, compared with four in 2010. The human services industry, with workers in the mental health, social services and other areas, lost three employees in 2011. Three people also died doing tree care and removal.
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