Nonfatal Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Case and Demographics November

2007 Nonfatal Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Case and Demographics November 20, 2008 Number of injuries and illnesses with days away from work, 2003-2007 1,400,000 1,200,000 407,610 408,400 394,090 380,440 349,450 1,000,000 Goods-producing industries 800,000 908,310 850,930 840,580 803,060 809,420 Service-providing industries 600,000 Total cases 2003: 1,315,920 400,000 2004: 1,259,320 2005: 1,234,680 2006: 1,183,500 200,000 2007: 1,158,870 0 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 In 2007, injuries and illnesses with days away from work declined 2.1 percent. Injuries and illnesses for goods-producing industries declined by 8 percent. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 1 Percent change in incidence rate of injuries and illnesses by selected events and exposures, 2006-2007 Did not improve Struck against object Caught in objects, equipment, materials Highway accident Below average improvement Above average improvement Overexertion Overexertion in lifting Transportation accidents Exposure to harmful substances Contact with objects, equipment, materials Repetitive motion All events or exposures, - 4.4% Struck by object Slips, trips, loss of balance without fall Fall on same level Assaults and violent acts Assaults and violent acts by animal 15% 10% 5% 0% -5% -10% -15% In 2007, incidence rates for all events or exposures decreased by 4.4 percent. Each of the subcategories of contact with object, equipment had improvement in their incidence rate, but only two had above average improvement. Struck against object improved by 14 percent and caught in object improved by 11 percent. Struck by object improved by 3 percent. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 2 Occupations with 20,000 or more injuries and illnesses, 2003-2007 100,000 90,000 2003 80,000 70,000 60,000 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 rs a n an d d m fre at ig er h ia t, l m st H ea ov ock vy er , s an d tr tr act uc or N ur k -tr dr ai si ng iv le er r ai s de an s, d or at de te r nd lie C on an s, st ts ru ct io n la Li bo gh re to rs rd el iv tr ery uc s k er dr v R iv ice et er ai s ls al es pe rs on Ja s ni to rs an d cl ea ne rs s en w anc or e ke an rs d , g re en pa er ir R al eg is te re d nu rs es nt C ar pe nt er 2004 2005 2006 2007 La bo These 10 occupations have had 20,000 or more cases for the past 5 years. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers had a 7 percent decrease in days-away-from-work cases from 2006 to 2007. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 3 M ai re Number and incidence rate for occupations with 20,000 or more injuries and illnesses, 2007 Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants Construction laborers Light or delivery service truck drivers Retail salespersons Janitors and cleaners Carpenters Maintenance and repair workers, general Registered nurses 100,000 Number of cases (Total = 1,158,870) Days-away-from-work rate (Private industry rate = 122) 80,000 60,000 40,000 79,000 434 57,050 44,930 349 465 34,180 394 32,930 370 32,920 30,060 103 262 23,800 23,460 238 125 0 200 286 20,020 20,000 400 600 Number of cases Incidence rate (per 10,000 full-time workers) These 10 occupations have 20,000 or more cases of injuries and illnesses. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers had 79,000 cases of injuries and illnesses and a rate of 434 per 10,000 workers. Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants had a higher rate, 465 per 10,000 workers, but fewer cases. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 4 Incidence rate and number of injuries and illnesses for occupations with high incidence rates, 2007 Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers Food servers, nonrestaurant Construction laborers Light or delivery service truck drivers Roofers Emergency medical technicians and paramedics Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers Heating, A/C, and refrigeration mechanics and installers Reservation and transportation ticket agents 600 465 434 415 394 370 363 350 349 336 313 304 400 200 0 12,300 7,030 4,400 20,000 40,000 Days-away-from-work rate (Private industry rate = 122) Number of cases (Total = 1,158,870) 60,000 80,000 3,700 4,360 57,050 4,740 34,180 32,930 44,930 79,000 Incidence rate (per 10,000 full-time workers) Number of cases These eleven occupations have 1/10 of one percent of employment and an incidence rate of 300 or more. Food servers had a rate of 415 per 10,000 workers, but a much lower number of cases compared to heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers whose rate was 349. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 5 Injuries and illnesses and employment by industry domain, 2007 Goods Producing 30% Goods Producing 20% Service Providing 70% Service Providing 80% Days-away-from-work rate Injuries and illnesses with days away from work (Total cases = 1,158,870) Goods-producing: 153 Service-providing: 112 Employment (BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages) In 2007, goods-producing industries made up 20 percent of private industry employment but accounted for 30 percent of injuries and illnesses with days away from work. Service-providing industries made up 80 percent of employment and 70 percent of injuries and illnesses. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 6 Injuries and illnesses and hours worked by gender of worker, 2007 Women 35% Women 41% Men 64% Men 59% Days-away-from-work rate Injuries and illnesses with days away from work (Total cases with gender reported = 1,153,900) Men: 134 Women: 105 Hours worked (Current Population Survey, Private Wage and Salary Workers) Almost two-thirds of injured or ill workers were men in 2007, well above their 59 percent share of the total hours worked. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 7 Number of injuries and illnesses and percentage of cases involving Hispanic or Latino workers by industry, 2007 34,290 29,990 25,480 18,480 15,580 14,600 10,300 3,770 3,690 1,130 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 Trade, transportation, and utilities Manufacturing Construction Leisure and hospitality Professional and business services Educational and health services Natural resources and mining Financial activities Other services Information 0% 6% 10% 16% 19% 20% 18% 8% 38% 11% 12% 10% 20% 30% 40% Cases involving Hispanic or Latino workers Percent of cases in industry involving Hispanic or Latino workers In 2007, there were 157,320 injuries and illnesses among Hispanic or Latino workers. Hispanic or Latino workers made up 20 percent of injuries and illnesses where race or ethnicity was reported. Race is not reported in nearly one-third of all cases. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 8 Median days away from work due to injuries and illnesses and incidence rate by age of worker, 2007 65 and over 16 96 55 to 64 12 120 45 to 54 10 123 Age of worker 35 to 44 8 124 25 to 34 6 118 20 to 24 Median days away from work (Private industry median days = 7) 4 134 16 to 19 20 Days-away-from-work rate (Total, all ages = 122) 15 10 4 124 5 0 50 100 150 Median days away from work Incidence rate (per 10,000 full-time workers) Median days away from work is a key measure of severity of injuries and illnesses. Injuries and illnesses become more severe as age increases, requiring 4 days away from work for workers aged 16 to 24 and 16 days for those workers 65 years old and older. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 9 Injury and illness topology Nature of disabling condition sprains A laborer his from back Part of body affected Event or exposure overexertion in boxes. lifting Source directly producing disability Each injury or illness is described from four viewpoints. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 10 Distribution of injuries and illnesses by nature, 2007 All other natures, 17.4% Tendonitis, 0.4% Chemical burns, 0.5% Amputations, 0.6% Carpal tunnel syndrome, 1.0% Heat burns, 1.5% Multiple traumatic injuries, 4.0% Back pain, 3.2% Sprains, strains 38.4% Soreness, pain, except back, 6.8% Fractures, 8.2% Bruises, contusions 8.7% Cuts, lacerations, and punctures, 9.2% Sprains and strains accounted for 444,510 injuries and illnesses with days away from work and had an incidence rate of 47. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 11 Median days away from work and incidence rate due to injuries and illnesses by nature, 2007 Fractures Carpal tunnel syndrome Amputations Multiple traumatic injuries Tendonitis Soreness, pain, except back Back pain Sprains, strains, tears Heat burns Bruises, contusions Cuts, lacerations, and punctures Chemical burns 40 30 28 21 10 10 8 8 8 5 4 4 3 20 0 1 20 2 11 11 4 47 1 8 1 1 5 10 Median days away from work (Private industry median days = 7) Days-away-from-work rate (Total, all natures = 122) 40 60 Median days away from work Incidence rate (per 10,000 full-time workers) Fractures had the most median days away from work in 2007 with 30 days, followed by carpal tunnel syndrome with 28 days and amputations with 21 days. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 12 Distribution of injuries and illnesses by part of body, 2007 All other parts, 0.9% Neck, 1.5% Body systems, 1.5% Head, 6.8% Upper extremities, 23.2% Multiple body parts, 10.4% Trunk, 33.2% Back 20.4% Lower extremities, 22.5% Upper extremities, lower extremities, and back each accounted for one-fifth of all injuries and illnesses. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 13 Median days away from work and incidence rate due to injuries and illnesses by part of body, 2007 Shoulder Knee Wrist Lower extremities Multiple body parts Arm Ankle Trunk Foot, toe Back Upper extremities Neck Hand, except finger Finger 30 20 10 18 15 14 10 9 9 8 8 7 7 7 6 5 5 0 10 2 5 11 20 6 25 28 Median days away from work (Private industry median days = 7) Days-away-from-work rate (Total, all parts = 122) 30 40 50 6 7 41 13 5 28 8 10 Median days away from work Incidence rate (per 10,000 full-time workers) Injuries and illnesses to the shoulder (18 days), knee (15 days), and wrist (14 days) required the most time to recuperate in 2007, at least twice the median time required for all body parts. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 14 Distribution of injuries and illnesses by source, 2007 All other sources, 15.0% Floors, ground surfaces, 19.9% Chemicals and chemical products, 1.5% Furniture and fixtures, 4.0% Health care patient, 4.4% Worker motion or position, 14.3% Handtools, 4.7% Machinery, 6.0% Vehicles, 8.4% Containers, 11.8% Parts and materials, 10.1% Four sources accounted for more than half of all nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses that resulted in days way from work: floor, ground surfaces with 20 percent; worker motion or position with 14 percent; containers with 12 percent; and parts and materials with 10 percent. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 15 Median days away from work and incidence rate due to injuries and illnesses by source, 2007 Floors, walkways, and ground surfaces Worker motion or position 11 24 11 17 Vehicles Machinery Containers Parts and materials Health care patient Furniture and fixtures Tools, instruments, and equipment Chemicals and chemical products 15 10 9 10 8 7 8 14 7 12 6 5 6 5 Median days away from work 5 8 (Private industry median days = 7) Days-away-from-work rate 3 5 0 2 5 10 15 (Total, all sources = 122) 20 25 30 Median days away from work Incidence rate (per 10,000 full-time workers) Floors, walkways, and ground surfaces and worker motion or position had the highest median days away from work with rates of 24 and 17 respectively. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 16 Distribution of injuries and illnesses by event or exposure, 2007 Bodily reaction and exertion 38.0% Contact with objects, equipment, and materials 27.4% Falls, 21.9% All other events, 1.3% Fires and explosions, 0.2% Assaults and violent acts, 2.1% Exposure to harmful substances, 4.6% Transportation accidents, 4.6% Nearly 9 out of 10 nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses that resulted in days away from work in 2007 were from contact with objects, equipment, and material; bodily reaction and exertion, or falls. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 17 Median days away from work and incidence rate due to injuries and illnesses by event or exposure, 2007 Repetitive motion Fall to lower level Fires and explosions Transportation accidents Overexertion Slips, trips, loss of balance without fall Fall on same level Overexertion in lifting Caught in objects, equipment, and materials Struck by object Struck against object Assaults and violent acts by persons Exposure to harmful substances 30 20 10 20 15 11 10 9 9 9 8 8 5 5 5 3 0 2 6 10 20 30 40 8 6 17 Median days away from work (Private industry median days = 7) Days-away-from-work rate (Total, all events or exposures = 122) 15 4 18 0 6 28 4 8 Median days away from work Incidence rate (per 10,000 full-time workers) Of the events shown, repetitive motion injuries and illnesses had the highest median days away from work, but a relatively low incidence rate. At 20 days, its median was almost three times the median for all injuries and illnesses. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 18 Number of musculoskeletal disorders, 2002-2007 600,000 500,000 400,000 300,000 34.0% of total cases 33.1% of total cases 32.0% of total cases 30.4% of total cases 30.2% of total cases 28.8% of total cases 200,000 100,000 0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 In 2007, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) accounted for 333,760 cases, or 29 percent of the total injuries and illnesses with days away from work. The incidence rate for MSDs declined 9 percent from 2006 to 2007. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 19 Distribution of musculoskeletal disorders by nature of injury or illness, 2007 Sprains, strains, tears 74.4% Back pain, hurt back, 6.9% Soreness, pain, except back, 6.7% Hernia, 4.6% Carpal tunnel syndrome, 3.5% Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue diseases and disorders, except tendonitis, 2.8% Tendonitis, 1.0% Sprains, strains, and tears accounted for nearly three-fourths of the musculoskeletal disorders that resulted in days away from work in 2007. Carpal tunnel syndrome accounted for 4 percent of the MSD cases. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 20 Incidence rate and number of injuries and illnesses due to musculoskeletal disorders by selected occupations, 2007 Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants Emergency medical technicians and paramedics Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers Reservation and transportation ticket agents Light or delivery service truck drivers Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers Bus, truck, diesel mechanics Maids and housekeeping cleaners Janitors and cleaners Driver/sales workers Construction laborers Welders, solderers, and brazers 300 200 252 179 149 132 117 100 88 83 80 80 80 76 100 0 2,770 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 3,010 6,920 1,770 5,490 9,190 1,900 10,450 16,430 2,230 27,030 24,340 MSD Incidence rate (Private industry MSD rate = 35) MSD cases (Total = 333,760) Incidence rate (per 10,000 full-time workers) Number of musculoskeletal disorder cases These occupations had a 0.5 percent or more of total cases and have more than twice the average MSD incidence rate. Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants have 7 times the average rate of MSDs but their number of cases declined 14 percent in 2007. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 21