Workplace fatalities in Kentucky have declined, according to Kentucky Cabinet of Labor Secretary Derrick Ramsey, and his department is looking to keep that number dropping.
Fatalities in the workplace dropped from 92 to 74 in 2017 and Secretary Ramsey says that’s at least partly thanks to their safety education initiatives, where the department performs consultations at businesses.
The number of injuries or illnesses in the workplace per 100 full-time employees fell from 3.7 in 2015 to 3.4 in 2016, which is a large improvement from 1996, when the statistic was 8.4.
The division conducted 254 free on-site visits in 2017 that corrected serious hazards, which Secretary Ramsey says saved businesses around $12.5 million in penalties. He says the Kentucky Safe program’s number priority is making sure workers stay healthy and in doing so, it helps the state look attractive to businesses looking to settle here.
He says the 34th Governor’s Safety and Health Conference will take place May 8th through the 11th at the Sloan Convention Center in Bowling Green, and he urges business to come take part. Anyone interested can register at KSHN.net and for more information about the Kentucky Safe program, visit kysafe.ky.gov