by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

New data shows there were 92 work-related fatalities in Arkansas during 2023, up 22.7% compared with the 75 fatalities in 2022. The 2023 fatality count was just below the record of 93 in 2011.

The data comes from the Arkansas Arkansas Department, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Report data showed 72 deaths in 2023 involving wage and salary workers in the private sector, up from 57 in 2022. Self-employed worker fatalities accounted for 14, up from 7 in 2022. Fatal injuries among local and state government workers accounted for 6 in 2023, down from 10 in 2022. 5 were local government workers, and 1 was a state government worker.

Arkansas work-related fatalities rise almost 23% in 2023

KUAR | By Ronak Patel

Last week, U.S Senator John Boozman, Republican of Arkansas, met with volunteer firefighters to hear their input on OSHA’s latest proposal to modernize requirements for emergency responders, according to the Resident News Network.

In an interview with Arkies in the Beltway, Boozman said the listening sessions have taught him how difficult the OSHA regulations would be on local fire departments.

“If you have a $15,000 or $20,000 increase and your budget is only $75,000 that’s real money,” Boozman said.

Boozman through the Senate Appropriations Committee required there to be listening sessions before the proposal is to be put into effect.

U.S Sen. Boozman meets with firefighters about potential OSHA regulations