April 11, 2002 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Injuries and illnesses that resulted in time away from work in 2000

More than 4 out of 10 injuries and illnesses resulting in time away from work in 2000 were sprains and strains.

Lost-worktime injuries and illnesses resulting in time away from work, by selected nature of injury and illness, 2000 (in thousands)
[Chart data—TXT]

The number of cases of sprains and strains declined from 963,500 in 1994 to 728,100 in 2000. This decline of over 24 percent was about the same as the decline in overall cases in that period.

From 1999 to 2000, the number of lost worktime cases due to fractures and back pain increased. In all of the other categories shown in the chart, there was a decrease in cases between 1999 and 2000.

These data are a product of the BLS Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities program. Additional information is available from news release USDL 02-196, "Lost-Worktime Injuries and Illnesses: Characteristics and Resulting Time Away From Work, 2000."

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