2009 Nonfatal Occupational Injuries
and Illnesses: Private Industry, State
Government, and Local Government
Case and Demographics
November 9, 2010
Rate of injuries and illnesses with days away from work,
by ownership, 2009
All Ownerships
117
Private Industry
106
State Government
180
Local Government
185
0
25
50
75
100
125
150
175
200
Rate per 10,000 full-time workers
Number of injuries and illnesses with days away from work,
by ownership, 2009
All Ownerships
1,238,490
Private Industry
964,990
State Government
75,840
Local Government
197,660
0
200,000
400,000
600,000
800,000
Number of cases
1,000,000
1,200,000
1,400,000
Local and state government both had much higher rates than in private industry. Local government had a rate of 185 injuries and illnesses per 10,000 full-time
workers and state government had a rate of 180. Private industry had a rate of 106.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2010
Chart 1
Number of injuries and illnesses with days away from work,
private industry, 2003-2009
1,400,000
1,200,000
Goods-producing
407,610
408,400
1,000,000
Service-providing
394,090
380,440
349,450
311,890
241,310
800,000
600,000
908,310
400,000
850,930
840,580
803,060
809,420
766,250
723,680
Total cases with days
away from work
2003: 1,315,920
2004: 1,259,320
2005: 1,234,680
2006: 1,183,500
2007: 1,158,870
2008: 1,078,140
2009: 964,990
200,000
0
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
In 2009, the number of injuries and illnesses with days away from work declined 10.5 percent, the largest decline since 2003. Injuries and illnesses for goodsproducing industries declined by 22.6 percent, while in service-providing industries they declined by 5.6 percent.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2010
Chart 2
Percent change in incidence rate of injuries and illnesses
by selected events and exposures, private industry, 2008-2009
Below average
improvement
Did not improve
Above average improvement
Struck by object
Transportation accident
Total contact with objects
Caught in object
Overexertion in lifting
Highway accident
All Private industry
All events or exposures, -6.1%
Fall at same level
Total overexertion
Struck against object
Slips or trips
No Change
Fires and explosions
Total assaults
Repetitive motion
All other assaults
Assaults by animals
20.0
15.0
10.0
5.0
0
-5.0
-10.0
-15.0
Percent change
In 2009, the rate of injuries and illnesses from being struck by objects declined by 11.2 percent in private industry. Transportation accidents declined by 9.8
percent. Total assaults, which includes assaults by animals and all other assaults, increased, as did injuries and illnesses from repetitive motion.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2010
Chart 3
Number and incidence rate of injuries and illnesses for occupations
with 18,000 cases or more, all ownerships, 2009
Laborers and freight, stock, and
material movers
64,910
Nursing aides, orderlies,
and attendants
50,620
48,180
Janitors and cleaners,
except maids
47,790
Heavy and tractor-trailer
truck drivers
35,590
456
316
328
410
Light or delivery truck drivers
28,290
94
Retail salespersons
26,690
Construction laborers
26,190
Registered nurses
382
131
General maintenance and
repair workers
21,660
195
Number of cases
(Total cases=1,238,490)
18,440
Correctional officers and jailers
Days-away-from-work rate
(All ownerships rate = 117)
18,180
Maids and housekeeping cleaners
60,000
603
Police and sheriff's patrol officers
32,210
80,000
407
40,000
20,000
0
Number of cases
446
0
278
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
Rate per 10,000 full-time workers
Twelve occupations had a total of 18,000 cases or more in private industry, state government, and local government. Of these, police and sheriff’s patrol
officers had the highest rate of injuries and illnesses by far. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers had the highest number of cases.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2010
Chart 4
Incidence rate and number of injuries and illnesses for occupations
with high incidence rates, all ownerships, 2009
Transit and intercity bus drivers
736
Emergency medical technicians
and paramedics
511
600
446
Correctional officers and jailers
442
Fire fighters
436
Refuse and recyclable
material collectors
410
Truck drivers, light or delivery
407
Laborers and freight, stock, and
material movers
500
35,590
9,800
Nursing aides, orderlies,
and attendants
456
700
9,440
Police and sheriff's patrol officers
603
800
Number of cases
(Total cases=1,238,490)
Days-away-from-work rate
(All ownerships rate = 117)
400
300
200
100
0
Rate per 10,000 full-time workers
50,620
18,440
14,210
4,690
32,210
64,910
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
Number of cases
In 2009, there were 9 occupations with at least 1/10 of one percent of full-time employment and had rates greater than 400 injuries and illnesses per 10,000 fulltime workers. Transit and intercity bus drivers had the highest rate of 736, followed by police and sheriff’s patrol officers.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2010
Chart 5
Occupations with 20,000 or more injuries
and illnesses, private industry, 2006-2009
100,000
80,000
60,000
2006
2007
2008
2009
40,000
20,000
0
Eight occupations had 20,000 or more cases in private industry in 2009. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers had the largest number of cases, as
they have for several years. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers and nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants followed with very high numbers of cases.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2010
Chart 6
Rates of injuries and illnesses for selected healthcare
and protective service occupations, by ownership, 2009
Registered nurses
Emergency medical technicians and
paramedics
Psychiatric technicians
Licensed practical and licensed
vocational nurses
Private Industry
Local Government
State Government
Nursing aides, orderlies, and
attendants
Psychiatric aides
Fire fighters
Police and sheriff's patrol officers
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
1,600
Rate per 10,000 full-time workers
These occupations are frequently employed in both the private and public sectors. Psychiatric aides had very high rates of injuries and illnesses in both private
industry and state government. The source for a majority of these cases was health care patients.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2010
Chart 7
Rates of injuries and illnesses for selected education
and transportation occupations, by ownership, 2009
Preschool and kindergarten teachers
Elementary and middle
school teachers
Secondary school teachers
Special education teachers
Private Industry
Local Government
State Government
Teacher assistants
Transit and intercity bus drivers
School bus drivers
Heavy and tractor-trailer
truck drivers
Light or delivery truck drivers
0
200
400
600
800
Rate per 10,000 full-time workers
1,000
1,200
Teacher assistants had a much higher risk of injuries and illnesses than teachers in private industry and in local government. In private industry, teacher
assistants had a rate of 162.9 cases per 10,000 full-time workers, higher than the rates for all other teachers shown here, and higher than the rate for all workers
in private industry at 106.4. In local government, teacher assistants have a rate of 126.5, higher than the rates for other teachers, but lower than the rate for all
local government workers (184.8).
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2010
Chart 8
Distribution of injuries and illnesses with days away from work
and employment by gender, 2009
Private Industry
Injuries and Illnesses
State Government
Injuries and Illnesses
Female
38%
Female
40%
Female
48%
Male
52%
Male
62%
Local Government
Injuries and Illnesses
Male
60%
Employment
Employment
Employment
(Current Population Survey,
Wage and Salary workers)
(Current Population Survey,
Wage and Salary workers)
(Current Population Survey,
Wage and Salary workers)
80%
60%
52%
48%
80%
60%
80%
59%
41%
60%
40%
40%
40%
20%
20%
20%
0%
0%
0%
Male
61%
39%
Female
Injury and illness cases in state government were split relatively evenly between men and women, even though there were more women employed in state
government. In local government, men had 60 percent of cases despite only having 39 percent of employment.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2010
Chart 9
Number of injuries and illnesses and percentage of cases involving
Hispanic or Latino workers by industry, private industry, 2009
Trade, transportation, and
utilities
27,640
20,060
Manufacturing
17,560
22.9
Leisure and hospitality
14,290
27.7
Education and health services
11.3
Professional and business
services
13,970
25.0
Natural resources
7,330
4,320
Financial activities
4,250
Other services
10,000
53.2
21.8
20.3
Information
810
20,000
20.3
Construction
15,570
30,000
16.8
0
Cases involving Hispanic or Latino workers
12.4
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
Percent of total cases where
race or ethnicity is reported
In 2009, there were 125,790 injuries and illnesses among Hispanic or Latino workers. Hispanic or Latino workers made up 19.7 percent of
injuries and illnesses where race or ethnicity was reported. They suffered 53.2 percent of injuries and illnesses in natural resources, 27.7 percent in leisure and
hospitality, and 25 percent in professional and business services. Race and ethnicity was not reported in one-third of private industry cases.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2010
Chart 10
Median days away from work due to injuries and illnesses
and incidence rate by age of worker, all ownerships, 2009
12
106
65 and older
55 to 64 years
11
10
9
117
45 to 54 years
123
35 to 44 years
123
25 to 34 years
6
109
20 to 24 years
5
114
Median days away from work
(All ownerships median days= 8)
15
10
16 to 19 years
4
Days-away-from-work rate
(All ownerships rate = 117)
5
0
Median days away from work
106
0
50
100
150
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 19 to 12 days for those workers 65 years old and older. The rates declined for all age groups
in private industry from 2008, except for workers 35 to 44 years old and workers 65 years and older, where there was no significant change.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2010
Chart 11
Injury and illness topology
Nature of
disabling
condition
Event or
exposure
A nursing aide
sprains her back
from
overexertion
while lifting a
patient.
Part of
body
affected
Source
directly
producing
disability
Each injury or illness is described from four viewpoints.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2010
Chart 12
Distribution of injuries and illnesses by nature, all ownerships, 2009
All other natures, 16.9%
Tendonitis, 0.3%
Chemical burns, 0.4%
Amputations, 0.5%
Carpal tunnel syndrome, 0.9%
Heat burns, 1.4%
Sprains, strains, 39.8%
Back pain, hurt back, 3.4%
Multiple traumatic injuries, 4.2%
Fractures, 7.3%
Soreness, pain, except back, 7.8%
Bruises and contusions, 9.1%
Cuts, lacerations, punctures, 7.9%
Sprains and strains and bruises made up nearly half of all injuries and illnesses. Sprains and strains accounted for 493,170 injuries
and illnesses in 2009. Bruises accounted for 113,280 injuries and illnesses. The number of cases for all natures of
injuries and illnesses shown declined except for heat burns, which did not change significantly.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2010
Chart 13
Median days away from work and incidence rate due to
injuries and illnesses by nature, all ownerships, 2009
30
Fractures
21
20
14
10
Median days away from work
(All ownerships median days= 8)
20
1
Tendonitis
0
8
Total multiple trauma
8
Back pain, hurt back only
47
10
9
5
4
20
All other natures
2
Heat burns
4
Cuts, lacerations,
punctures
4
Bruises and contusions
5
9
11
Chemical burns
3
15
Amputations
Soreness, pain, except back
Days-away-from-work rate
(All ownerships rate = 117)
25
1
8
5
30
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Sprains, strains
7
35
9
0
Median days away from work
1
0
20
40
60
Rate per 10,000 full-time workers
In 2009, fractures were the most severe nature of injuries and illnesses, having a median of 30 days away from work to recover, followed by carpal tunnel
syndrome with 21 days and amputations with 20 days.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2010
Chart 14
Distribution of injuries and illnesses by part of
body, all ownerships, 2009
All other parts, 0.8%
Neck, 1.3%
Body systems, 1.8%
Head, 6.5%
Back,
19.6%
Multiple parts, 12.4%
Trunk, except back,
13.2%
Total lower extremities,
22.8%
Total upper extremities,
21.5%
Injuries and illnesses of the lower extremities accounted for 281,820 cases in 2009 a decline of 9.4 percent. Injuries and illnesses to
upper extremities declined 8.2 percent to 265,980, and injuries to the back declined 10 percent to 242,380. This change in distribution of
body parts injured caused back injuries to slip below 20 percent of all cases.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2010
Chart 15
Median days away from work and incidence rate due to injuries and
illnesses by part of body, all ownerships, 2009
22
14
Wrist
14
Knee
10
Total trunk
10
Total lower
extremities
9
8
Foot, toe
8
Arm
8
Ankle
6
Median days away from work
(All ownerships median days= 8)
39
27
15
5
Finger
5
Hand
3
5
6
23
25
2
5
9
5
8
Total head
2
10
5
Neck
Days-away-from-work rate
(All ownerships rate = 117)
15
11
Back
Total upper
extremities
7
20
5
Multiple parts
7
25
8
Shoulder
3
Eyes
0
Median days away from work
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Rate per 10,000 full-time workers
Injuries to the shoulder took the most time to recover from, requiring a median of 22 days away from work. Wrist and knee injuries took a median of 14 days
away from work to recuperate.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2010
Chart 16
Distribution of injuries and illnesses by source, all ownerships, 2009
All Other,
18.0%
Floors, walkways, and ground surfaces,
21.0%
Chemicals, 1.4%
Furniture,
4.0%
Hand tools,
4.1%
Machinery,
5.1%
Worker motion or position,
13.9%
Health care patients,
5.6%
Parts and materials,
7.7%
Containers,
10.5%
Vehicles,
8.8%
Four sources accounted for more than half of all nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses that resulted in days way from work: floors, walkways, and ground
surfaces with 21.0 percent; worker motion or position with 13.9 percent; containers with 10.5 percent; and vehicles with 8.8 percent.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2010
Chart 17
Median days away from work and incidence rate due to
injuries and illnesses by source, all ownerships, 2009
11
16
Worker motion
10
Containers
10
Floors
10
Vehicles
8
Machinery
8
Parts and materials
7
12
25
10
6
9
7
Health care patients
6
4
Furniture
5
Hand tools
5
Median days away from work
(All ownerships median days= 8)
2
Days-away-from-work rate
(All ownerships rate = 117)
15
10
5
2
Chemicals
0
Median days away from work
0
5
10
15
20
25
Rate per 10,000 full-time workers
Injuries and illnesses from worker motion had a median of 11 days away from work, followed by injuries from containers, floors, and vehicles, which each had a
median of 10 days away from work to recover. Injuries and illnesses as a result of contact with floors had a very high rate.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2010
Chart 18
Distribution of injuries and illnesses by event or
exposure, all ownerships, 2009
Contact with objects and equipment,
24.1%
Bodily reaction and exertion,
38.5%
Other events, 1.3%
Fires and explosions, 0.2%
Assaults and violent acts, 4.2%
Exposure to harmful substances,
4.4%
Falls,
22.4%
Transportation accidents,
4.9%
Eighty-five percent of all injuries and illnesses were from three events: Bodily reaction and exertion, contact with objects and equipment, and falls.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2010
Chart 19
Median days away from work and incidence rate due to injuries
and illnesses by event or exposure, all ownerships, 2009
21
13
10
Overexertion in lifting
10
Transportation accident
9
Caught in object
9
Fall on same level
9
Fires and explosions
8
Slips or trips
8
Assaults by person
5
Struck by object
5
Struck against object
Days-away-from-work rate
(All ownerships rate = 117)
20
15
8
Fall to lower level
Median days away from work
(All ownerships median days= 8)
25
3
Repetitive motion
5
6
5
18
0
4
4
14
8
Exposure to harmful
substances
3
10
13
0
Median days away from work
5
0
5
10
15
20
Rate per 10,000 full-time workers
In 2009, injuries and illnesses from repetitive motion had a median of 21 days away from work to recover, but had a fairly low rate of 3 per 10,000 full-time
workers. Falls to lower level had a median of 13, higher than the median for all injuries and illnesses, and had a higher rate of 8 per 10,000 full-time workers.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2010
Chart 20
Number of musculoskeletal disorders, private
industry, 2003-2009
500,000
450,000
435,180 cases
402,700 cases
400,000
375,540 cases
357,160 cases
350,000
335,390 cases
317,440 cases
300,000
283,800 cases
250,000
200,000
150,000
33.1%
of total
cases
32.0%
of total
cases
30.4%
of total
cases
2003
2004
2005
30.2%
of total
cases
28.9%
of total
cases
29.4%
of total
cases
29.4%
of total
cases
2007
2008
2009
100,000
50,000
0
2006
From 2008 to 2009, the number of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) declined by 10.6 percent. MSDs accounted for 29.4 percent of total cases, the same
percentage as in 2008. The rate of MSDs in 2009 was 31.3 per 10,000 full-time workers, a decline of 6.3 percent from 2008.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2010
Chart 21
Number of musculoskeletal disorders, Rate of musculoskeletal disorders,
by ownership, 2008-09
by ownership, 2008-09
350,000
60
2008
2009
2008
2009
300,000
200,000
150,000
per 10,000 full-time workers
Number of cases
250,000
50
40
30
20
100,000
50,000
0
10
0
In 2009, the number of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in state government increased by 19.5 percent. Specific occupation groups in state government that
increased include transportation and material moving occupations (up 46.0 percent) and service occupations (up 34.5 percent). Local government and private
industry both had declines in the number of MSDs.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2010
Chart 22
Incidence rate and number of injuries and illnesses
due to musculoskeletal disorders by selected
occupations, all ownerships, 2009
Emergency medical technicians
and paramedics
234
4,480
Nursing aides, orderlies,
and attendants
226
25,160
146
Laborers and freight, stock, and
material movers
146
Transit and intercity bus drivers
1,880
140
Reservation and transportation
ticket agents and travel clerks
1,690
137
Fire fighters
134
Light or delivery service
truck drivers
118
Number of MSDs
(Total MSDs=348,740)
Highway maintenance workers
105
Janitors and cleaners
102
Nonrestaurant food servers
23,350
4,400
10,500
1,440
15,920
1,230
Days-away-from-work rate
(All ownerships rate = 33)
300
200
100
Rate per 10,000 full-time workers
10,000
20,000
30,000
Number of MSDs
40,000
These ten occupations had at least 1/10 of 1 percent of total employment, and had incidence rates of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) of 100 per 10,000 fulltime workers or higher. Emergency medical technicians and paramedics, and nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants had the highest rates of MSDs in 2009.
Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants; and laborers, freight, stock, and material movers had the highest numbers of MSD cases.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2010
Chart 23