July 03, 2006 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Workplace injuries and illnesses among nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides

More than half of the work-related injuries and illnesses among nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides are related to overexertion.

Percent of nonfatal injuries and illnesses involving days away from work by selected events for nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides and all workers, 2004
[Chart data—TXT]

Among workers in general, about a quarter of injuries and illnesses are the result of overexertion. Most of the cases of overexertion among nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides result from lifting patients.

This information is from the BLS Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities program. To find out more, see "Occupational Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities among Nursing, Psychiatric, and Home Health Aides, 1995-2004," in Compensation and Working Conditions Online, June 2006.