December 20, 2005 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Distribution of days away from work due to workplace injuries and illnesses, 2004

Median days away from work was 7 days for all cases of lost-worktime injuries and illnesses on the job in 2004, down from 8 days in 2003.

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

About one in seven of all days away from work cases in 2004 involved just one day away from work. One-fourth of all cases resulted in 31 days or more away from work.

The median days away from work for goods-producing industries was 9 days, led by 12 days for the natural resources and mining industry sector. The median number of days away from work for service-providing industries was 7.

Median days away from work is a key measure of the severity of the injury or illness. This measure of severity designates the point at which half the cases involved more days and half involved fewer days.

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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