Worker Health Status
The responsibility for collecting statistics on occupational injuries and illnesses is delegated to the BLS, which has reported annually since 1972 on the number and frequency of fatal and nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses in private industry. Before the 1992 SOII [BLS 1995], BLS statistics counted injuries and illnesses that included fatalities. Since 1992, BLS has been able to count fatal injuries more effectively through the use of a separate census—CFOI. And beginning with the 1992 SOII [BLS 1995], BLS has collected additional statistics from private industry regarding worker and case characteristics for seriously injured or ill workers (i.e., those requiring recuperation away from work beyond the day of the incident).
Data for Figures 1–9 through 1–26 come from CFOI and SOII. CFOI provides the most complete count of fatal occupational injuries available. BLS uses diverse State and Federal data sources to identify, verify, and profile fatal occupational injuries. The overall fatal occupational injury count for 2002 (5,524) was 6.4% lower than the count for 2001 (Figure 1–9). The fatal occupational injury rate for 2002 was 4.0 per 100,000 employed workers. The trend in rates reflects a decline beginning in 1993. Rates varied among States from 1.4 to 14.1 per 100,000 employed workers. Fatal occupational injuries exceeded 10 per 100,000 employed workers in Alaska, Wyoming, and Montana (Figure 1–10).
SOII measures the number of new occupational illness cases that are recognized, diagnosed, and reported each year. Some conditions (for example, chronic or latent illnesses caused by exposure to carcinogens) are difficult to identify as work-related and are not adequately recognized and reported. These chronic or latent illnesses are believed to be understated in the survey’s illness measures. The overwhelming majority of the reported new illnesses are those that are easier to relate directly to workplace activity (for example, contact dermatitis or carpal tunnel syndrome).
Private industry reported 5.2 million nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses in 2001, resulting in an overall incidence rate of 5.7 cases per 100 full-time workers (Figure 1–11). The number of injuries and illnesses resulting in time away from work (1.54 million cases in 2001) represents a decrease of 34% since 1992 (Figure 1–12). Nonfatal occupational injury and illness rates varied by State from 2.3 to 8.7 per 100 full-time workers. Lower rates are reported for States in the South, southern coastal States, and the Southwest (Figure 1–18).
Durable goods manufacturing accounted for the highest rate of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses reported in 2001 (8.8 per 100 workers), followed by construction (7.9), and agriculture, forestry, and fishing (7.3). The Services industry reported approximately 1.3 million cases, or 25% of all nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses in 2001 (Figure 1–14). Eight industries, each reporting at least 100,000 injuries, accounted for about 1.4 million injuries or 29% of the 4.9 million total (Figure 1–15). Injury rates were higher for mid-size establishments (those employing 50 to 249 workers) than for smaller or larger establishments (Figure 1–16).
About 333,800 new cases of occupational illness were reported in private industry in 2001 (Figure 1–21). From 1972 to 1982, the number of illness cases declined gradually from 210,500 to 105,600. This number increased and peaked sharply in 1994 at 514,700 cases (Figure 1–22). Disorders associated with repeated trauma (such as carpal tunnel syndrome and noise-induced hearing loss) affected 216,400 workers or 4% of the 5.2 million occupational injuries and illnesses and 64.8% of the 333,800 illness cases in 2001. These disorders declined for 7 consecutive years dating from 1995 (Figure 1–23). Occupational illness rates varied widely among the States, from 8.8 per 10,000 full-time workers in New Mexico to 142.6 in Maine. Higher rates were reported in the Midwest. Lower rates were reported for States in the South and in the southern coastal and western mountain States (Figure 1–26).
Fatal Injuries
How did the numbers and rates of fatal occupational injuries change during 1992–2002?
 | Figure 1-9 Numbers and rates of fatal occupational injuries, 1992-2002. The fatal occupational injury rate has varied from 5.3 per 100,000 workers in 1994 (6,632 fatal injuries) to 4.0 in 2002 (5,524 fatal injuries). Since 1993, the trend in rates reflects a steady decline. (Note: Charts using data for calendar year from the CFOI exclude deaths from the September 11 terrorist attacks.) (Source: BLS [2003a].) |
How did the rates of fatal occupational injuries differ by State in 2002?
 | Figure 1-10 Fatal occupational injury rates by State, 2002. Fatal occupational injury rates varied by State from 1.4 to 14.1 per 100,000 employed workers. (The U.S. rate was 4.0 per 100,000 employed workers in 2002.) Fatal occupational injuries exceeded 10 per 100,000 employed workers in Alaska, Wyoming, and Montana. (Sources: BLS [2003a]; BLS [2003b].) |
Injuries and Illnesses
Magnitude and Trend
How frequently did occupational injuries and illnesses occur during 1973–2001?
 | Figure 1-11 Incidence rates of occupational injuries and illnesses in private industry by case type, 1973-2001. The private-industry sector reported 5.2 million nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses during 2001, corresponding with an overall rate of 5.7 cases per 100 full-time workers. Approximately 2.6 million were lost-workday cases requiring recuperation away from work or restricted duties at work. The total occupational injury and illness incidence rate continues to decline. This trend is reflected in the private-sector data reported to BLS since 1973. (Note: Lost-workday cases include cases with days away from work and cases with restricted work activity only-that is, cases in which workers report to their jobs for limited duty. See Appendix B for details about case types.) (Source: BLS [2002b].) |
 | Figure 1-12 Number of nonfatal occupational injury and illness cases with days away from work in private industry, 1992-2001. The number of injuries and illnesses resulting in time away from work continues to decline. The 1.54 million cases in 2001 represent a decrease of 34% since 1992. Over the same period, the goods-producing segment of private industry experienced a 38.7% decrease, which is notably greater than the 31.1% decrease recorded for the service-producing segment of the private sector. (Source: BLS [2002b].) |
How did the rate of lost-workday injuries and illnesses change during 1973–2001?
 | Figure 1-13 Incidence rates for lost-workday cases of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses in private industry, 1973-2001. Since 1973, the incidence rate for lost-workday cases has varied from 4.3 per 100 full-time workers in 1979 to 2.8 cases per 100 full-time workers in 2001. Lost-workday case rates have been declining since 1990, with a strong contribution from decreases in cases with days away from work. The decline is offset by increases in restricted work activity cases, which have increased steadily since 1987. These cases include those with shortened workdays, temporary job changes, or temporary restrictions of job duties. (Source: BLS [2002b].) |
Industry
How were nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses distributed by major private-sector industry groups in 2001?
 | Figure 1-14 Number and rate of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses in private industry by industry, 2001. Durable goods manufacturing accounted for the highest rate of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses (8.8 per 100 workers) reported in 2001, followed by construction (7.9) and agriculture, forestry and fishing (7.3). Services reported approximately 1.3 million cases, or 25% of all nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses in 2001. (Note: Numbers of nonfatal injuries and illnesses are inside the bars.) (Source: BLS [2002b].) |
Which industry sectors accounted for the most nonfatal injury cases in 2001?
 | Figure 1-15 Number and rate of total nonfatal occupational injuries in private-industry sectors with at least 100,000 cases, 2001. Each of these eight industry sectors (ranked by occupational injury rate) reported more than 100,000 injuries in 2001. Air transportation reported the highest rate in the group (13.6 per 100 workers), followed by nursing and personal care facilities (13.0). Together, these eight industry sectors accounted for about 1.4 million nonfatal injuries, or 29% of the 4.9 million total. (Source: BLS [2002b].) |
How did nonfatal injury rates vary by establishment size in 2001?
 | Figure 1-16 Incidence rates for nonfatal occupational injuries in private industry by establishment size, 2001. By establishment size, nonfatal occupational injury rates varied from 7.1 to 2.0 per 100 full-time workers. Incidence rates were higher for establishments employing 50-249 workers than for smaller or larger establishments. This pattern did not hold for all industries. (Source: BLS [2002b].) |
How did the trends in nonfatal injuries and illnesses change within industries during 1992–2001?
 | Figure 1-17 Incidence rates of injuries and illnesses in six major industry sectors, 1992-2001. Overall, incidence rates declined for each of the selected industry sectors during 1992-2001. The highest rates occurred within durable goods manufacturing, construction, and nondurable goods manufacturing. (Source: BLS [2002b].) |
Rates among States
How did the rates of nonfatal injuries and illnesses differ by State in 2001?
 | Figure 1-18 Incidence rates of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses in private industry by State, 2001. Nonfatal occupational injury and illness rates varied by State from 2.3 to 8.7 per 100 full-time workers. (The U.S. rate was 5.7 per 100 full-time workers.) Lower rates were reported for States in the South, southern coastal States, and the Southwest. (Source: BLS [2003d].) |
How did the rate of lost-workday cases differ by State in 2001?
 | Figure 1-19 Incidence rates for lost-workday cases of nonfatal occupational injury and illness in private industry by State, 2001. Rates of lost-workday cases of nonfatal occupational injury and illness varied among the States from 1.9 to 5.0 per 100 full-time workers, with an overall U.S. rate of 2.8. Lower rates were reported for the South, southern coastal States, and the Southwest. (Source: BLS [2003d].) |
How did the rates of nonfatal injuries and illnesses involving days away from work differ by State in 2001?
 | Figure 1-20 Incidence rates for nonfatal occupational injury and illness cases involving days away from work in private industry by State, 2001. Rates of nonfatal occupational injury and illness cases with days away from work varied among the States from 1.2 to 3.5 per 100 full-time workers. (The U.S. rate was 1.7 per 100 full-time workers.) Lower rates were reported for the South, southern coastal States, Mississippi Delta, and western mountain States. (Source: BLS [2003d].) |
Illnesses
How many occupational illnesses occurred in 2001? What percentage of total occupational injuries and illnesses did they account for that year?
 | Figure 1-21 Injuries and illnesses in private industry, 2001. Of the 5.2 million nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses reported in 2001, 4.9 million or 93.6% were injuries. The remainder (333,800 cases or 6.4%) were work-related illnesses. Sixty-five percent (216,400 cases) of the nonfatal occupational illnesses were disorders associated with repeated trauma. (Source: BLS [2002b].) |
Magnitude and Trend
How did the numbers and types of occupational illness cases change between 1972 and 2001?
 | Figure 1-22 Number of illness cases in private industry by type of illness, 1972-2001. Since 1972, BLS data illustrate significant variation in the number of reported illness cases. From 1972 to 1982, the number of illness cases declined gradually from 210,500 to 105,600. This number increased and peaked sharply in 1994 at 514,700 cases. The number of cases declined steadily to 333,800 in 2001. Disorders associated with repeated trauma declined for 7 consecutive years dating from 1995. About 216,400 cases were reported in 2001, compared with a high of 332,100 cases in 1994. (Source: BLS [2002b].) |
How did the rates and types of occupational illnesses change between 1983 and 2000?
 | Figure 1-23 Incidence rates of occupational illness in private industry by illness category, 1984-2001. Since first reporting illness category rates in 1984, BLS has tracked the steep increase in overall illness rates that began in the mid-1980s and peaked in 1994. The overall pattern reflects the trends for disorders associated with repeated trauma. (Source: BLS [2002b].) |
How did the rates of selected occupational illnesses change between 1984 and 2001?
 | Figure 1-24 Incidence rates of occupational illness in private industry by illness category other than disorders associated with repeated trauma, 1984-2001. Rates for other categories of illness were smaller than for disorders associated with repeated trauma. These diseases and disorders represent approximately one-third of all reported occupational illnesses. Skin diseases or disorders have consistently accounted for 12%-14% of all occupational illness cases, with rates ranging from 8.2 to 4.3 per 10,000 full-time workers between 1992 and 2001. (Source: BLS [2002b].) |
Numbers and Rates among States
How did the number of occupational illness cases differ by State in 2001?
 | Figure 1-25 Number of occupational illness cases in private industry by State, 2001. The number of new cases among reporting States ranged from 400 to 41,700. States with the highest numbers included California (41,700), Michigan (30,200), Texas (17,200), and Illinois (14,500). (Source: BLS [2003d].) |
How did occupational illness rates differ by State in 2001?
 | Figure 1-26 Incidence rates for occupational illness in private industry by State, 2001. Occupational illness rates varied widely among the States, from 8.8 per 10,000 full-time workers in New Mexico to 142.6 in Maine. (The U.S. rate was 36.7 per 10,000 full-time workers.) Higher rates were reported in the Midwest. Lower rates were reported for States in the South and in the southern coastal and western mountain States. (Source: BLS [2003d].) |
