December 14, 2005 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Age and injuries and illnesses resulting in days away from work, 2004

A total of 1.3 million injuries and illnesses in private industry required recuperation away from work beyond the day of the incident in 2004. This was a decline of 56,600 illnesses and injuries, or 4.3 percent, from 2003.

Percent distribution of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work, by age, 2004
[Chart data—TXT]

Workers aged 20 to 24 accounted for 11.3 percent of injured workers, slightly higher than their share of hours worked (10.4 percent).

Workers 45 to 64 had 31.8 percent of the injuries and illnesses with days away from work, lower than their share of hours worked at 34.1 percent.

These data are from the BLS Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities program. Additional information is available from "Lost-Worktime Injuries and Illnesses: Characteristics and Resulting Time Away From Work, 2004" (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 05-2312.

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