October 26, 2007 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Occupational injuries and illnesses and establishment size

Nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses among private industry employers occurred at a rate of 4.4 cases per 100 equivalent full-time workers in 2006.

[Chart data—TXT]

Small establishments (those employing 1 to 10 workers) reported the lowest rate for injuries and illnesses combined (1.9 cases per 100 full-time workers). Mid-size establishments (those employing 50 to 249 workers) reported the highest rate (5.5 cases per 100 full-time workers).

While the incidence rate remained relatively unchanged for small establishments employing fewer than 11 workers, the rates for establishments in all other size classes declined significantly in 2006 compared to 2005.

These data are from the BLS Injuries and Illnesses and Fatalities program. To learn more about workplace injuries and illnesses see "Workplace Injuries and Illnesses in 2006," news release USDL 07-1562.  

 

Related TED article:

• Decline in injuries and illnesses rates continued in 2006