2008 Nonfatal Occupational Injuries
and Illnesses, Private Industry
Case and Demographics
November 24, 2009
Number of injuries and illnesses with days away from work,
2003-2008
1,400,000
1,200,000
407,610
408,400
1,000,000
394,090
380,440
Goods-producing
349,450
311,890
800,000
Service-providing
Total cases with days
away from work
600,000
908,310
400,000
850,930
840,580
803,060
809,420
2005
2006
2007
766,250
2003: 1,315,920
2004: 1,259,320
2005: 1,234,680
2006: 1,183,500
2007: 1,158,870
2008: 1,078,140
200,000
0
2003
2004
2008
In 2008, injuries and illnesses with days away from work declined 7.0 percent, the largest decline since 2003. Injuries and illnesses for goods-producing
industries declined by 10.7 percent, while in service-providing industries they declined by 5.3 percent.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work.
Chart 1
Percent change in incidence rate of injuries and illnesses
by selected events and exposures, 2007-2008
Below average
improvement
Above average improvement
Assaults by animals
Repetitive motion
Exposure to harmful substances
All other assaults
Fall to lower level
Highway accident
Transportation accident
Caught in object
Total object contact
Total assaults
Struck against object
Slips or trips
Overexertion in lifting
All events or exposures, -7.3%
Struck by object
Fall on same level
Total overexertion
0
-10.0
-20.0
-30.0
Percent change
No major category of events or exposures increased from 2007 to 2008. Assaults by animals fell by 25.0 percent, repetitive motion injuries fell by 17.9 percent,
and exposure to harmful substances fell by 14.3 percent. Struck by object, falls on same level, and total overexertion injuries declined by less than the average.
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 18,000 or more injuries
and illnesses, 2005-2008
100,000
80,000
60,000
2005
2006
2007
2008
40,000
20,000
0
These occupations had 18,000 or more injuries and illnesses with days away from work in 2008. Construction laborers, retail salespersons, janitors and
cleaners, light or delivery truck drivers, general maintenance and repair workers, registered nurses, and carpenters all had declines in the number of cases. The
other occupations were statistically unchanged from 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
Number and incidence rate for occupations with
18,000 or more injuries and illnesses, 2008
Laborers and freight, stock, and
material movers
79,590
Heavy and tractor-trailer
truck drivers
57,700
28,900
Retail salespersons
28,110
Janitors and cleaners
28,040
Light or delivery service
truck drivers
19,070
Registered nurses
18,650
Maids and housekeeping
cleaners
Number of cases
(Total = 1,078,140)
18,160
Carpenters
Days-away-from-work rate
(Private industry rate = 113)
18,020
Stock clerks and order fillers
Number of cases
20,000
383
90
243
324
General maintenance and
repair workers
20,800
40,000
449
Construction laborers
31,310
60,000
362
Nursing aides, orderlies, and
attendants
44,610
80,000
440
0
213
114
278
236
130
0
100
200
300
400
500
Rate per 10,000 full-time workers
In 2008, laborers and freight, stock, and material movers had the most cases with days away from work, and a rate of injury or illness of 440 per
10,000 full-time cases. Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants; truck drivers, both heavy and light; and construction laborers also all had very
high rates 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 4
Incidence rate and number of injuries and illnesses
for occupations with high incidence rates, 2008
449
Nursing aides, orderlies,
and attendants
440
Laborers and freight, stock,
and material movers
387
Emergency medical
technicians and paramedics
383
Construction laborers
354
Reservation and transportation
ticket agents and travel clerks
349
Roofers
4,560
31,310
57,700
4,920
3,400
Cooks, institution and cafeteria
331
5,510
Light or delivery service
truck drivers
324
400
79,590
Heavy and tractor-trailer
truck drivers
362
500
44,610
300
Industrial machinery
mechanics
298
Food servers, nonrestaurant
292
Welders, cutters, solderers,
and brazers
300
200
Rate per 10,000 full-time workers
100
0
28,040
7,820
Days-away-from-work rate
(Private industry rate = 113)
3,470
Number of cases
(Total = 1,078,140)
10,870
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
Number of cases
These twelve occupations have at least 1/10 of one percent of employment and an incidence rate that was two and one-half times the average or greater.
Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants, and laborers and freight, stock and material movers both had the highest rates statistically. Emergency medical
technicians and paramedics had a very high rate of injuries and illnesses, but a smaller number of cases.
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, 2008
Goods-producing
20%
Goods-producing
29%
Service-providing
71%
Service-providing
80%
Injuries and illnesses with
days away from work
Days-away-from-work rate:
Employment
Goods-producing: 140
(Total cases = 1,078,140)
Service-providing: 105
(BLS Quarterly Census of
Employment and Wages)
In 2008, goods-producing industries made up 20 percent of private industry employment but accounted for 29 percent of injuries and illnesses with days away
from work. Service-providing industries made up 80 percent of employment and 71 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 employment
by gender of worker, 2008
Women
36%
Women
42%
Men
58%
Men
64%
Injuries and illnesses with
days away from work
Days-away-from-work rate:
Hours worked
Men: 125
(Total cases = 1,078,140)
Women: 97
(Current Population Survey,
Private Wage and Salary Workers)
Almost two-thirds of injured or ill workers were men in 2008, above their 58 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, 2008
Trade, transportation,
and utilities
31,810
25,360
Construction
25,090
Manufacturing
28.8
12.0
Leisure and hospitality
12,850
23.0
Natural resources and mining
9,110
5,310
Cases involving Hispanic or Latino workers
22.8
17.3
Other services
810
10,000
49.2
Financial activities
3,960
20,000
19.8
Education and health services
14,730
30,000
25.7
Professional business services
16,860
40,000
17.4
10.7
Information
0
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
Percent of cases
(where race or ethnicity is reported)
In 2008, there were 145,870 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. They suffered 49 percent of injuries and illnesses in natural resources, and 26 percent in
construction. Race and ethnicity 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, 2008
15
12
10
9
117
45 to 54 years
117
111
4
10
Median days away from work
119
20 to 24 years
Median days away from work
(Private industry median days= 8)
Days-away-from-work rate
(Private industry rate = 113)
109
25 to 34 years
5
15
55 to 64 years
35 to 44 years
6
20
102
65 and older
5
116
16 to 19 years
0
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 15 days for those workers 65 years old and older. The rate of injuries to workers 65
and older increased by 6.4 percent. The rate for all other groups declined.
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
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, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work.
Chart 10
Distribution of injuries and illnesses by nature, 2008
All other natures 16.6%
Tendonitis 0.4%
Chemical burns 0.5%
Amputations 0.6%
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome 0.9%
Heat burns 1.4%
Sprain, Strains
38.6%
Back pain, hurt back only
3.4%
Multiple traumatic injuries
4.1%
Soreness, Pain, Except Back
7.1%
Fractures
8.3%
Bruises, contusions
8.7%
Cuts, lacerations, and punctures
9.3%
Sprains and strains continue to be the most frequent nature of injury and illness. In 2008, there were 416,620 cases, making up 38.6 percent of all cases.
Fractures, a very serious injury, accounted for 8.3 percent 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 11
Sprains and strains by event or exposure and part of body, 2008
Contact with
object,
equipment
6.9%
Fall to lower
level
4.6%
All other
25.8%
All other
27.1%
Fall on same
level
11.1%
Back
40.2%
Slips, trips
6.9%
Ankle
8.7%
Overexertion
44.8%
Knee
12.4%
Days-away-from-work cases = 1,078,140
Shoulder
11.7%
Total sprains and strains = 416,620
Sprains and strains by event
Sprains and strains by
part of body
Sprains and strains made up nearly 4 out of 10 injuries. Overexertion was a common event causing this. Most of these cases affected the back.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work.
Chart 12
Median days away from work and incidence rate due to
injuries and illnesses by nature, 2008
28
Fractures
28
Carpal tunnel syndrome
1
Amputations
1
26
Tendonitis
11
9
Soreness, pain, except back
9
Sprain, strains
9
Total multiple trauma
6
Heat burns
6
Back pain, hurt back only
3
Days-away-from-work rate
(Private industry rate = 113)
Cuts, lacerations, and
punctures
3
Chemical burns
25
20
15
10
Median days away from work
8
44
5
5
19
2
4
Bruises
4
Median days away from work
(Private industry median days= 8)
30
0
All other natures
7
35
9
0
10
11
1
0
20
40
60
Rate per 10,000 full-time workers
In 2008, fractures and carpal tunnel syndrome were the most severe natures of injury and illness, with median days of 28 days away from work to recover.
Amputations had 26 days away from work to recover.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work.
Chart 13
Distribution of injuries and illnesses by part of body, 2008
All other parts 0.9%
Body systems 1.5%
Neck 1.5%
Head 6.8%
Back
20.6%
Multiple body parts
10.4%
Trunk, except back
13.4%
Lower extremities
22.3%
Upper extremities
22.6%
Upper extremities, lower extremities, and back each account for more than 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 14
Median days away from work and incidence rate due to
injuries and illnesses by part of body, 2008
20
15
10
Trunk
10
Arm
9
25
39
5
12
Multiple parts
8
6
Ankle
7
7
Median days away from work
(Private industry median days= 8)
6
Neck
6
Hand
5
2
4
10
Finger
Days-away-from-work rate
(Private industry rate = 113)
10
26
Foot, toe
5
Median days away from work
23
Back
Upper
extremities
7
15
5
Wrist
Lower
extremities
11
20
10
Knee
14
25
8
Shoulder
5
2
Head
2
Eyes
0
8
3
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Rate per 10,000 full-time workers
Injuries and illnesses that affect the shoulder take the most time to recover, with a median of 20 days, followed by the knee (15 days) and wrist (14 days). The
median for all injuries and illnesses was 8 days away from work.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work.
Chart 15
Distribution of injuries and illnesses by source, 2008
All other
15.0%
Floors, walkways, and ground surfaces
20.2%
Chemicals 1.4%
Furniture 3.9%
Health care patient
4.6%
Hand tools
4.7%
Worker motion or position
13.9%
Machinery
6.0%
Vehicles
8.5%
Containers
12.1%
Parts and materials
9.9%
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 20.2 percent; worker motion or position with 13.9 percent; containers with 12.1 percent; and parts and materials with 9.9 percent.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work.
Chart 16
Median days away from work and incidence rate due to
injuries and illnesses by source, 2008
Floors, walkways,
and ground surfaces
11
10
Worker motion or position
10
Vehicles
9
Containers
9
Machinery
7
10
14
7
11
Median days away from work
(Private industry median days= 8)
5
Health care patient
5
4
Furniture and fixtures
4
5
Median days away from work
5
Hand tools
Chemicals and chemical
products
3
Days-away-from-work rate
(Private industry rate = 113)
10
16
Parts and materials
6
15
23
0
2
0
5
10
15
20
25
Rate per 10,000 full-time workers
Floors, walkways, and ground surfaces has both a high median days away from work, at 11, and a rate of 23 injuries and illnesses per 10,000 full-time workers.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work.
Chart 17
Distribution of injuries and illnesses by event or exposure, 2008
Contact with objects and equipment
27.1%
Bodily reaction and exertion
38.6%
Other events 1.5%
Fires and explosions 0.2%
Assaults and violent acts 2.1%
Falls
21.8%
Exposure to harmful substances 4.2%
Transportation accidents 4.5%
Nearly nine out of ten injuries and illnesses resulted from three events: bodily reaction and exertion, contact with objects and equipment, and falls.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work.
Chart 18
Bodily reaction and exertion by occupation group
and part of body, 2008
Service
22.0%
All other
occupation
groups
34.7%
All other
parts
31.6%
Transportation and
material
moving
21.2%
Construction
and
extraction
9.5%
Production
12.6%
Bodily reaction and exertion
by occupation group
Back
41.2%
Wrist
5.7%
Days-away-from-work cases = 1,078,140
Knee
9.7%
Shoulder
11.8%
Total, bodily reaction
and exertion = 415,690
Bodily reaction and exertion
by part of body
Bodily reaction and exertion cases made up 38.6 percent of all cases involving days away from work. These cases most often resulted in injuries to the back
and frequently affected workers in service occupations and transportation and material moving occupations.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work.
Chart 19
Median days away from work and incidence rate due to
injuries and illnesses by event or exposure, 2008
18
15
7
Fall to lower level
12
10
Fall on same level
10
Slips, trips, loss of balance
without fall
10
Overexertion in lifting
Fires and explosions
6
Median days away from work
(Private industry median days= 8)
17
4
14
Caught in object, equipment,
or materials
7
5
0
2
Assaults by person
5
Struck by object
5
Struck against object
Days-away-from-work rate
(Private industry rate = 113)
15
5
Transportation accident
9
20
3
Repetitive motion
10
Median days away from work
7
Exposed to harmful
substance
3
5
16
0
5
0
5
10
15
20
25
Rate per 10,000 full-time workers
In 2008, repetitive motion injuries took the longest time to recuperate, with a median of 18 days away from work. The rate of these injuries is relatively low.
Falls on same level have a high rate of injuries and illnesses and also require more time to recuperate than the median for all injuries.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work.
Chart 20
Number of musculoskeletal disorders, 2003-2008
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
250,000
200,000
150,000
33.1%
of total
cases
32.0%
of total
cases
30.4%
of total
cases
30.2%
of total
cases
28.9%
of total
cases
29.4%
of total
cases
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
100,000
50,000
0
From 2007 to 2008, the number of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) declined by 5.4 percent . MSDs accounted for 29.4% of total cases., a small increase in
the proportion of cases from 2007. The rate of MSDs in 2008 was 33.4 per 10,000 full-time workers, a decline of 5.6 percent from 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
Distribution of musculoskeletal disorders
by nature of injury or illness, 2008
Sprains, strains, tears
74.4%
Soreness, pain, hurt,
except the back 7.9%
Back pain, hurt back 7.1%
Hernia 5.0%
Carpal tunnel syndrome 3.2%
Tendonitis 1.0%
Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
diseases and disorders, except tendonitis 1.4%
Three out of four musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are from a sprain, strain, or tear. Hernias of various types make up 5 percent of MSDs, and carpal tunnel
syndrome accounts for 3.2 percent.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work.
Chart 22
Incidence rate and number of injuries and illnesses due to
musculoskeletal disorders by selected occupations, 2008
232
Nursing aides, orderlies,
and attendants
228
Emergency medical technicians
and paramedics
2,180
Laborers and freight, stock, and
material movers
148
26,720
Light or delivery service
truck drivers
113
9,790
Industrial machinery
mechanics
101
90
Heavy and tractor-trailer
truck drivers
88
Maids and housekeeping
cleaners
87
Construction laborers
Days-away-from-work MSD rate
(Private industry MSD rate = 33)
79
Janitors and cleaners
Number of MSD cases
(Total = 317,440)
76
Driver/sales workers
100
Rate per 10,000 full-time workers
2,630
14,360
5,870
7,090
Cooks, institution and
cafeteria
84
200
2,690
Reservation and transportation
ticket agents and travel clerks
157
300
23,030
0
1,390
9,110
2,760
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
Number of cases
These twelve occupations have at least 1/10 of one percent of employment and an incidence rate of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) that was higher than 75
per 10,000 full-time workers. Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants, and emergency medical technicians and paramedics had the highest rates of MSDs in
2008. Nursing aides also had the second highest number of MSD cases in this group, behind laborers and freight, stock, and material movers.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work.
Chart 23