December 28, 1998 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Injuries and illnesses with lost workdays declining

As the incidence of "lost workday" cases declined steadily from 4.1 to 3.3 cases per 100 workers from 1990 to 1997, the mix between those involving restricted duties at work only and those requiring at least some recuperation away from work has changed.

[Chart data—TXT]

Cases with days of restricted work activity only have risen from 0.7 per 100 workers in 1990 to 1.2 cases per 100 workers in 1997.  Cases resulting in days away from work, on the other hand, have declined for seven years in a row; at 2.1 cases per 100 workers, the 1997 rate was the lowest on record.

As a result, the share of lost workday cases that involved only restricted work activity has risen from 17 percent in 1990 to 36 percent in 1997. Conversely, those requiring days away from work have made up a declining share of lost workday cases.

Restricted work activity may involve shortened hours, a temporary job change, or temporary restrictions on a worker’s regular job. Cases with days away from work may also involve days of restricted work activity. Both are considered lost workday cases.

Data on occupational injuries and illnesses are produced by the BLS Safety and Health Statistics program.  For additional information, see News Release USDL 98-494, "Workplace Injuries and Illnesses in 1997."