U.S sees drop in work illnesses and non-fatal work accidents

According to a study conducted by the U. S Department of Labour’s Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS) released last March, the U.S workforce has seen a drop in work illnesses and non-fatal work accidents from 2006 to 2007.

As a direct result, the amount of days off also decreased significantly. The BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses showed that in 2007, there was a 4% decrease per 10,000 full-time workers from 2006.

There were 1.2 million cases requiring days away from work in private sectors out of 4 million total recordable cases.

Compared to 2006 rates, the number of days-away-from-work claims in 2007 fell by 2% or 24,630 cases.

Common work injuries
The research found that strains and sprains were the most common personal injury sustained in a workplace environment.

However, 2007 saw a 5% decline in the number of cases.

The bodily part which was most often affected by a work injury was the trunk, including the shoulder and back, which accounted for 33% of all injuries and illnesses. Cases involving the trunk dropped by 4% from 2006.

Ground surfaces, floors and walkways tended to be the most frequent culprits when in causing a work accident. These types of places contributed to 20% of all leave and actually increased by 7% from 2006 rates.

Occupation Trends
The study showed that in 2007, musculosketal disorders (MSDs) with days from work decreased by 21,770 cases from 2006. The MSDs rate of 35 cases per 10,000 full time workers declined by 8%. In 2006, there were 39 claims.

Material and stock movers, labourers and freight workers experienced the highest number of days off work, with 79,000 in 2007, but still saw a 7% drop from 85,120 in 2006.

Following these occupations were heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (57,050), nursing aides, orderlies and attendants (44,930), construction labourers (34,180), and light or delivery service truck drivers (32,930).

It was noted that 10 professions had more than 20,000 work injuries to account for in 2007. These occupations, including labourers, truck drivers and nurses made up 33% of all injuries and illnesses. In addition to this, these sectors have had more than 20,000 injuries and illnesses every year since 2003.

Gender, age and ethnic background
The study was also broken up into gender, age and racial background. Men accounted for 64% of injuries and illnesses and had an incidence rate of 134 per 10,000 workers. This was 22% higher than female workers.

The number of injuries and illnesses to hispanic and white workers in construction and extraction occupations declined significantly in 2007 (23%and 10%). However, injuries and illness amongst black workers increased by 7%.

Workers 65 years old and older had the lowest rate of work injuries at 96 per 10,000 workers, a 9% fall from 2006. Workers who were 20 to 24 years of age had the highest incidence rate at 134 cases per 10,000 full-time workers, a 6% decline from 2006.