April 24, 2002 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Truck drivers again have the most lost-time injuries

Truck drivers had more workplace injuries and illnesses involving time away from work than any other occupation in 2000.

[Chart data—TXT]

Truck drivers experienced 136,100 work-related injuries and illnesses that required recuperation away from work beyond the day of the incident. Each year since 1993, truck drivers have had the highest number of such injuries and illnesses of any occupation.

Nonconstruction laborers suffered the second highest number of occupational injuries and illnesses involving time away from work at 87,000, followed by nursing aides and orderlies at 74,200 and construction laborers at 45,400.

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