December 18, 1998 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Injury and illness incidence rate lowest on record

In 1997, a total of 6.1 million injuries and illnesses were reported in private industry workplaces, resulting in an incidence rate of 7.1 cases per 100 full-time workers.  This rate was the lowest reported since the Bureau began tracking this information in the early 1970s.

[Chart data—TXT]

The incidence rate for injuries and illnesses was 8.5 cases in 1993, but has fallen each year since then.  The decline in the case rate was reflected in both the goods-producing and service-producing industries.

The injury and illness incidence rate for goods-producing industries was 9.9 cases per 100 full-time workers in 1997.  Among specific goods-producing industries, manufacturing had the highest incidence rate at 10.3 cases per 100 full-time workers.  

The service-producing sector reported an incidence rate of 5.9 cases per 100 workers.   Among specific service-producing industries, transportation and public utilities had the highest incidence rate at 8.2 cases per 100 full-time workers.

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."