Source: Business Insurance

Angela Childers August 12, 2019 Fatalities among independent workers accounted for about 12% of all workplace deaths in 2016-2017, and independent workers have a disproportionately higher share of fatalities due to falls, slips and trips, according to report released from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday. injuries among independent workers dropped slightly between 2016 and 2017, reported the BLS, with 662 total fatal occupational industries identified among independent workers in 2016 and 613 in 2017. Prior to 2016, the BLS did not publish data specific to independent workers, which the government agency generally defined as self-employed workers who perform short-term and discreet tasks with no guarantee of future work beyond the task, and with the worker and client agreeing on the terms of the work.