Nonfatal Workforce Injuries and Illness Rates Declined in 2009

Nonfatal instances of private sector workplace injuries and illnesses declined “significantly” in 2009, according to a report issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The Workplace Injury and Illness Summary indicates that nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses among private industry employers declined by a rate of 3.6 cases per 100 equivalent full-time workers, down from the prior year’s rate of 3.9 per 100. The incidence rate of injuries alone in the private sector fell by 11% in 2009. While such injury and illness rates dropped for all private sector establishments, the manufacturing sector showed the largest decline of 23% (161,100 cases) from 2008 to 2009. According to the BLS, this sector represents approximately 39% of the total private industry decline of such reports for 2009. Dropping by an injury and illness reporting rate of 22%, the construction industry comes in second. The highest incidents of injury and illness reports in 2009 arose from mid-size (between 50 and 249 workers) private industry employers; predictably, small establishment (those with fewer than 11 workers) reported the fewest incidents.

Nearly 95% of the 3.3 million reports of the combined incidents of nonfatal injuries and illnesses were injuries, 74.8% (2.3 million) of which occurred in service-related industries. This data is not completely surprising, given that 81.1% of the private industry workforce covered by the survey is involved in the service industry. Reports of workplace illnesses accounted for slightly more than 5% of the total incidence reports. According to the BLS, goods-producing industries in the private sector accounted for nearly 34% of all occupational illnesses cases. This industry was also responsible for the greatest decline in illness reports for 2009.

The drop in nonfatal injuries and illnesses continues a six-year trend (estimates from the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses was first published in 2003). However, the Department of Labor claims there is room for improvement. In a statement, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said: “While the reported decline in workplace injuries and illnesses is encouraging, 3.3 million workplace injuries and illnesses are 3.3 million too many.” Suggesting that the BLS’s data might not be accurate given alleged “widespread existence of programs that discourage workers from reporting injuries,” Solis added that the “Occupational Safety and Health Administration is aggressively working to ensure the completeness and accuracy of injury data compiled by the nation's employers. . . . we will continue to issue citations and penalties to employers that intentionally under-report workplace injuries.”

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Information contained in this publication is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or opinion, nor is it a substitute for the professional judgment of an attorney.