A recently-released report conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) finds that the number of cases of nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses that resulted in days away from work in the private sector declined by 11 % to 964,990 in 2009, representing the first time this category has fallen below 1 million since the BLS began collecting such data. The total private sector nonfatal workplace injury and illness incidence rate decreased by 6 % (106 cases per 10,000 full-time workers). According to the BLS, time away from work is considered a key measure of the severity of the occupational injuries and illnesses incurred.

In October, the BLS released an earlier report finding that nonfatal instances of private sector workplace injuries and illnesses declined significantly in 2009. The more recent study examined nonfatal injury and illness rates resulting in absenteeism.

Out of all private sector occupations, workers in health care and social assistance positions incurred injuries and illnesses at the highest incidence rate. Eighteen percent (172,820) of injury and illness cases resulting in absenteeism occurred in this sector, which represents an incidence rate of 139 cases per 10,000 full-time workers. One third of reported injuries and illnesses from this group was the result of overexertion.

Overall, workers in the transportation and warehousing industries had the highest incidence rate of all industry sectors (combined public and private), although the rate declined by 8 % in 2009. Injuries resulting in lost work days were most common in the transportation, trade, and utilities industries. Although the incidence rate decreased 11 % in 2009 to 391 cases per 10,000 full-time workers, the median days away from work for employees in these industry sectors increased to 9 days in 2009, compared to one day in 2008.

Workers in the mining industry suffered the longest periods of time off from work following an injury or illness. The BLS reports that such workers were absent from work a median of 26 days, compared to the median of 8 days for all other industries.

Other highlights of the report include the following findings:

• Many private sector industries reported a decline in injuries and illnesses resulting in time off from work. Significant decreases were reported for private sector construction and extraction workers (26 percent decrease); production workers (22 percent decrease); and transportation and material moving workers (13 percent decrease).
• Incidence rates declined 12 percent for both construction workers and production workers and decreased 5 percent for transportation and material workers.
• Although the incidence rates decreased overall in the private sector, some industries saw an increase in their rates: light or delivery service truck drivers (24 percent increase); landscapers and groundskeepers (10 percent increase); restaurant cooks (20 percent increase); and registered nurses (5 percent increase).
• The most frequent injuries reported were sprains, strains, and tears, although the number of such injuries decreased by 7 percent, and the incidence rate decreased by 4 percent to 47 cases per 10,000 full-time workers.
• The Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD) incidence rate declined by 9 percent to 348,740 cases but accounted for 28 percent of all cases for all industry sectors, the same proportion as reported in the previous year. According to the BLS, declines in reports of MSD cases in specific industries account for the overall decrease: private sector laborers and freight, stock, and material movers (17 percent decrease); truck drivers, heavy and tractor trailer (13 percent decrease); and nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants (7 percent decrease).

In a statement, David Michaels, OSHA’s assistant secretary of labor, said:

Injuries and illnesses requiring time away from work to recuperate can be costly to both employers and employees alike, often resulting in lost productivity for employers and lost wages for workers. All employers, private and government, can use the data released today to focus on areas with high incidence rates, and find and fix hazards to prevent future occurrences. We are continuing our efforts to ensure that these data are complete and accurate, so that they will assist employers in that effort.

Michaels expressed dismay that the incidence rate was higher in the public sector than in the private sector. Specifically, the injury and illness rate among local and state government workers was 185 cases and 180 cases per 10,000 full-time workers, respectively, as compared to 106 cases per 10,000 full-time employees in the private sector. Despite this decline for the private sector, Michaels claimed that economic factors such as increased unemployment and reduced hours could have contributed to the findings.

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