Occupations with the Most Injuries and Illnesses with Days Away from Work, 2002
by William J. Wiatrowski
Bureau of Labor Statistics

Originally Posted: May 26, 2004

• In 2002, there were 4.7 million nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses in the private sector.



• Nearly 1 in 3 (about 1.4 million) required at least 1 day away from work beyond the day of the incident.



• Truck drivers had the largest number of such lost-worktime incidents (112,200), followed by nursing aides (79,000) and nonconstruction laborers (76,600).



• Injured or ill truck drivers typically were men; half of their injuries were sprains or strains, often to the trunk or lower extremities.



• Most of the nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants who were injured or became ill were women suffering sprains and strains to the back due to overexertion related to lifting or moving patients.

For more information, see Lost-Worktime Injuries and Illnesses: Characteristics and Resulting Days Away From Work, 2002, USDL 04-460 (U.S. Department of Labor, March 25, 2004), available on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/news.release/osh2.toc.htm

William J. Wiatrowski
Economist, Office of Safety, Health, and Working Conditions, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Telephone: (202) 691-6305; E-mail: Wiatrowski.William@bls.gov