Report says North Dakota is sixth most dangerous state for workers

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) - The AFL-CIO released its annual survey of workplace safety, and it says North Dakota is the sixth most dangerous state for workers.

It says nearly seven out of every 100,000 workers in the state died on the job in the past year.

Representatives from workers’ rights organizations honored them this morning at the State Capitol. They wrapped 11 ribbons around trees on the Capitol lawn, each of which has the name of a North Dakotan who died while working.

Dana Hillius, president of the Missouri Slope Labor Council, said cuts to OSHA have them worried about the coming year.

“We’re worried about inspections being down, OSHA official staffing being down, things of that nature, because the need is so great. We’re already understaffed and not provided enough staff that we need to really ensure there’s safe working places. So, cutting even more is problematic,” Hillius said.

Last year, North Dakota had the second-highest rate of workplace-related injuries.