Airline Worker Injuries

Airline workers are subject to a wide range of injuries while working in Fort Lauderdale, as well as while they are up in the air and at various airports across the country and the globe. Fort Lauderdale is home to many airline workers and members of flight crews who operate out of the Fort Lauderdale International Airport. There are also many airline workers and flight attendants who work out of Miami but live in Broward County or Palm Beach County. Generally speaking, many types of jobs associated with the airline industry are among the most dangerous in the United States and in many parts of the world. Indeed, data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that flight attendants and airline pilots sustain workplace injuries at a significantly higher rate than workers in other industries. In BLS data, worker injuries in the airline industry are commonly listed in the top three most dangerous jobs in the country in terms of injury rates.

Why are airline worker jobs so dangerous, and what types of injuries occur most often? Our Fort Lauderdale workers’ compensation lawyers have more information.

Airline Worker Jobs 

Airports and airlines employ many different people in a wide variety of occupations. Some of the most common types of jobs in the airline industry include the following:

• Airline pilots and flight engineers;
• Flight attendants;
• Airline baggage handlers;
• Airline reservations agents;
• Avionics technicians;
• Air traffic controllers;
• Aircraft fuelers;
• Aircraft maintenance technicians and mechanics; and
• Aeronautical engineers.

The types of accidents that result in airport and airline worker injuries depend upon the specific job a person is doing. For example, the primary task for airline pilots is to fly and navigate planes, helicopters, and other types of aircraft. Flight attendants are responsible for providing services to airline passengers and for responding to emergencies onboard. In addition, flight attendants are tasked with passenger safety. Baggage handlers, as the title suggests, are responsible for lifting, loading, and transporting baggage at airports and on runways and tarmacs.

Common Injuries Impacting Flight Attendants and Baggage Handlers 

According to the BLS, airplane crashes are the primary cause of injuries among airline pilots, and they are often fatal. Flight attendants and baggage handlers are exposed to a range of other types of hazards and can be injured in a variety of accidents. Common injuries affecting flight attendants include but are not limited to:

• Bruises and lacerations caused by passenger violence;
• Repetitive motion injuries resulting from motions involved in serving passengers;
• Exposure to harmful substances onboard the airplane, as well as exposure to x-rays and other substances that can cause long-term effects including cancer;
• Injuries caused by contact with objects or equipment;
• Transportation-related accidents, including injuries in plane crashes;
• Overexertion injuries caused by bending or twisting or lifting; and
• Slips, trips, and falls.

Common injuries affecting baggage handlers include but are not limited to:

• Crush injuries caused by contact with baggage or related machinery;
• Transportation-related accidents, including those on the tarmac while transporting baggage;
• Overexertion injuries resulting from lifting and loading baggage;
• Slips and falls, or trips and falls, while loading baggage or transporting it; and
• Exposure to hazardous substances.

Contact a Fort Lauderdale Workers’ Compensation Attorney

 If you need help seeking workers’ compensation benefits, one of the experienced Fort Lauderdale workers’ compensation attorneys at the Law Offices of David M. Benenfeld, P.A. can help you with your claim today.

Sources:

bls.gov/opub/ted/2021/nonfatal-workplace-injuries-and-illnesses-for-flight-attendants-in-2019.htm

bls.gov/opub/ted/2019/fifty-nine-pilots-died-of-a-fatal-workplace-injury-in-2017.htm