Occupations with the Most Injuries and Illnesses

1
Occupations with the Most Injuries and
Illnesses with Days Away from Work, 2003
Laborers and material movers
89,510
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
71,900
56,820
Nursing aides, orderlies, attendants
41,620
Construction laborers
Janitors and cleaners
35,660
35,420
Retail salespersons
Light or delivery service truck drivers
33,280
Carpenters
29,480
Stock clerks and order fillers
26,520
Registered nurses
20,650
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
Injuries and Illnesses (1,315,920 injuries and
illnesses that resulted in days away from work)
Laborers and material movers suffered the most
injuries and illnesses with days away from work,
followed by heavy and tractor-trailer truck
drivers and nursing aides, orderlies and
attendants.
SOURCE Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.
Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational
Injuries and Illnesses.
2
Shares of Employment and Nonfatal Injuries and
Illnesses for Occupations with the Most Injuries
and Illnesses, 2003
10
9
8
Percentage of injuries and illnesses
7
Percentage of employment
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Retail salespersons
Stock clerks and order filers
Construction laborers
Registered nurses
Laborers and material movers
Carpenters
Janitors and cleaners
Nursing, psychiatric, home health aides
Drivers/sales workers and truck drivers
Drivers/sales workers and truck drivers laborers
and material movers nursing, psychiatric, and
home health aides construction laborers,
janitors and cleaners carpenters and stock
clerks and order filers experienced a higher
percentage of injuries and illnesses than their
employment share. Retail salespersons and
registered nurses experienced a lower percentage
of injuries and illnesses than their employment
share.
NOTE CPS employment data was not available for
heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers light or
delivery service truck drivers and nursing
aides, orderlies, and attendants. These
occupations were included in higher level detail
on this chart.
SOURCE Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.
Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational
Injuries and Illnesses.
3
Employment and Nonfatal Injuries and Illnesses
by Occupation Group, 2003
13.0
Management, Business, and Financial
2.0
16.6
Professional and Related
6.6
16.0
Service
21.3
12.9
Sales and Related
6.6
15.0
Office and Administrative Support
8.1
0.9
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
1.2
5.8
Construction and Extraction
11.5
4.0
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
8.3
8.8
Production
14.3
7.0
Transportation and Material Moving
19.8
Not reported
0.3
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
Employment - Current Population Survey, Private
Wage and Salary Workers
Total injuries and illnesses 1,315,920
Transportation and material movers production
workers installation, maintenance, and repair
workers construction and extraction workers,
and service workers had a much higher share of
injuries and illnesses than their employment
share would suggest.
SOURCE Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.
Department of Labor, Survey Occupational Injuries
and Illnesses.
4
Occupations with the Highest Median Days Away
from Work, 2003
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
14
Industrial machinery mechanics
12
Industrial truck and tractor operators
11
Light or delivery services truck drivers
11
Packers and packagers, hand
10
10
First-line supervisors/managers of construction
Driver/sales workers
10
10
Electricians
Assemblers and fabricators, all other
10
Home health aides
9
Construction laborers
9
All occupations
8
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Median days away from work
Of the occupations with at least 1/2 of the
total days away from work cases, heavy and
tractor-trailer truck drivers had a median of 14
days. Industrial machinery mechanics had a
median of 12 days. Industrial truck and tractor
operators and light or delivery services truck
drivers each had a median of 11 days. This
compared to a median of 8 days for all
occupations.
SOURCE Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.
Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational
Injuries and Illnesses.
5
Employment and Nonfatal Injuries and Illnesses
by Major Industry, 2003
Goods producing industries
Goods producing industries
21.5
31.0
78.5
69.0
Service producing industries
Service producing industries
Good-producing industries make up about 21
percent of private industry employment but
account for 31 percent of the injuries and
illnesses with days away from work while service
producing industries make up about 79 percent of
the employment and 69 percent of the injuries and
illnesses.
SOURCE Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.
Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational
Injuries and Illnesses.
6
Hours Worked and Nonfatal Injuries and Illnesses
by Gender of Worker, 2003
Women
Women
35.0
41.4
58.6
65.0
Men
Men
Injuries and Illnesses with days away from work
Hours worked
(Total 1,315,920 injuries and illnesses)
Chart excludes unreported data.
(Current Population Survey, Private Wage and
Salary Workers)
Almost two-thirds of the injured or ill workers
were men, well above their 59 percent share of
the nations hours worked.
SOURCE Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.
Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational
Injuries and Illnesses.
7
Hours Worked and Nonfatal Injuries and Illnesses
by Age of Worker, 2003
3.3
1.9
2.3
3.2
16 - 19
20 - 24
10.2
10.7
10.3
11.1
25 - 34
35 - 44
45 - 54
21.9
22.6
24.3
55 - 64
24.2
65
27.5
26.6
Injuries and Illnesses with days away from work
Hours worked
(Current Population Survey, Private Wage and
Salary Workers)
(Total 1,315,920 injuries and illnesses) Chart
excludes unreported data.
A majority of injured or ill workers were 20 to
44 years old. Workers 20 to 44 had a slightly
higher share of injuries and illnesses, while
workers 45 and older had a somewhat lower share,
than each of their hours worked shares suggest.
SOURCE Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.
Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational
Injuries and Illnesses.
8
Median Days Away from Work Due to Nonfatal
Occupational Injury and Illness by Age of Worker,
2003
18
65 and over
12
55 to 64
11
45 to 54
9
35 to 44
Age of worker
6
25 to 34
All agesmedian
5
20 to 24
4
16 to 19
3
14 to 15
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Median days away from work
The median days away from work due to nonfatal
occupational injuries and illnesses increased as
the age of the worker increased.
SOURCE Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.
Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational
Injuries and Illnesses.
9
Nonfatal Occupational Injuries and Illnesses by
Length of Service, 2003
Not reported0.7
Less than 1 year
23.0
Less than 1 year
More than 5 years
More than 5 years
30.6
32.1
45.8
1 year to 5 years
31.2
1 to 5 years
36.6
Employment
Injuries and Illnesses
(Current Population Survey, Private Wage and
Salary WorkersJanuary 2004)
(Total 1,315,920 injuries and illnesses)
Workers who were with their employers for more
than 5 years became injured or ill less often
than their employment share suggests.
SOURCE Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.
Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational
Injuries and Illnesses.
10
Injury and Illness Topology
Nature ofdisablingcondition
Part of bodyaffected
Nurse
sprains
her
back
while
lifting
patient
her
Sourcedirectlyproducingdisability
Eventorexposure
Each injury or illness is described from four
viewpoints.
SOURCE Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.
Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational
Injuries and Illnesses.
11
Private industry
Goods producing
Natural resources and mining
Construction
Manufacturing
Service providing
Contact with objects/equipment
Trade, transportation, and utilities
Fall to same level
Information
Overexertion
Financial activities
Professional and business services
Education and health services
Leisure and hospitality
Other services
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Incidence rates represent the number of injuries
and illnesses involving days away from work per
10,000 full-time workers
In goods producing industries, contact with
objects and equipment and overexertion were the
leading causes of injuries and illnesses. In
service providing industries, these same two
events along with falls to the same level were
the leading causes.
SOURCE Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.
Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational
Injuries and Illnesses.
12
The Nature of the Disabling Condition, Occupationa
l Injuries and Illnesses with Days Away from
Work, 2003
Multiple injuries
Tendonitis
3.6
Soreness, pain, except back
0.6
5.0
Carpal tunnel syndrome
1.7
Back pain
2.8
Amputations
0.6
Chemical burns
All other
0.6
16.0
Heat burns
1.5
Bruises, contusions
9.0
Cuts, lacerations, punctures
8.4
Sprains, strains
42.9
Fractures
7.2
Nature of Injury or Illness (1,315,920 injuries
and illnesses that resulted in days away from
work)
Sprains and strains accounted for 563,910 cases
or 43 percent of all nonfatal occupational
injuries and illnesses.
SOURCE Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.
Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational
Injuries and Illnesses.
13
The Part of Body Affected, Occupational Injuries
and Illnesses with Days Away from Work, 2003
Percent
25.0
23.1
22.7
21.2
20.0
15.0
12.8
9.9
10.0
5.0
3.6
2.8
1.6
1.4
0.8
0.0
Back
Upper extrem- ities
Trunk, except back
Multiple body parts
Head, except eye
Eye
Neck
Body systems
Other
Lower extrem- ities
The back and the upper extremities were involved
in almost one-half of all occupational injuries
and illnesses.
SOURCE Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.
Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational
Injuries and Illnesses.
14
Nonfatal Occupational Injuries and Illnesses by
Source of Injury or Illness, 2003
Chemicals, chemical products
1.5
All other
Containers
14.5
13.1
Furniture, fixtures
Health care patient
3.6
4.8
Machinery
6.2
Vehicles
8.3
Parts and materials
Handtools
9.6
4.4
Floor, ground surfaces
Worker motion or position
18.8
15.4
Source of Injury or Illness (1,315,920 injuries
and illnesses that resulted in days away from
work)
Four sources accounted for over half of all
nonfatal injuries and illnesses that resulted
in days away from work floor, ground surfaces
18.8 worker motion or position 15.4
containers 13.1 and parts and materials 9.6.
SOURCE Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.
Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational
Injuries and Illnesses.
15
The Manner in Which the Disabling Condition
Occurred, Occupational Injuries and Illnesses
with Days Away from Work, 2003
45
42.1
40
35
30
26.0
25
20.2
20
15
10
4.4
4.2
5
1.7
1.2
0.2
0
Bodily reaction and exertion
Assaults and violent acts
Contact with objects and equipment
Falls
Transportation accidents
Exposure to harmful substances
Fires and explosions
Other
Bodily reaction and exertion, contact with
objects and equipment, and falls accounted for
almost 90 of nonfatal injuries and illnesses
that resulted in days away from work.
SOURCE Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.
Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational
Injuries and Illnesses.
16
Median Days Away from Work Due to Nonfatal
Occupational Injuries or Illnesses by Nature, 2003
Carpal tunnel syndrome
32
Amputations
30
Fractures
30
Tendonitis
11
Multiple injuries
9
Sprains, strains, tears
8
Heat burns
5
All natures 8 days
Bruises, contusions
4
Cuts, lacerations
4
Chemical burns
2
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Median days away from work
Carpal tunnel syndrome had a median of 32 days
away from work, followed by amputations and
fractures with 30 days each.
SOURCE Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.
Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational
Injuries and Illnesses.
17
Median Days Away from Work Due to Nonfatal
Occupational Injuries or Illnesses by Part of
Body, 2003
Shoulder
18
17
Wrist
14
Knee
Multiple parts
10
9
Lower extremities
9
Trunk
Neck
8
7
Foot, except toe
7
Upper extremities
Back
7
All parts of body 8 days
6
Toe
5
Finger
Hand, except finger
5
4
Body systems
2
Eye
Head
2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Median days away from work
Injuries and illnesses to the shoulder (18 days),
wrist (17 days), and to the knee (14 days) took
the longest median time from which to recover.
SOURCE Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.
Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational
Injuries and Illnesses.
18
Median Days Away from Work Due to Nonfatal
Occupational Injuries or Illnesses by Event or
Exposure, 2003
Repetitive motion
22
Fall to lower level
15
Transportation accidents
14
Fires and explosions
10
Overexertion
10
Overexertion in lifting
9
Fall to same level
9
Slips, trips, loss of balance - without fall
8
Caught in equipment
8
Assaults and violent acts by person
All events 8 days
5
Struck against object
5
Struck by object
5
Exposure to harmful substances
3
0
5
10
15
20
25
Median days away from work
Repetitive motion, with a median of 22 days,
resulted in the longest absences from work among
the leading events and exposures. Falls to a
lower level with 15 days and transportation
accidents with 14 days had the next longest
median days away from work.
SOURCE Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.
Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational
Injuries and Illnesses.
19
Median Days Away from Work Due to Nonfatal
Occupational Injuries or Illnesses by Source, 2003
Worker motion or position
12
Vehicles
11
Floors, walkways, ground surfaces
10
Containers
9
Parts and materials
7
Machinery
7
All sources 8 days
Health care patient
6
Tools, instruments, and equipment
5
Furniture and fixtures
5
Chemicals and chemical products
3
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
Median days away from work
Of the source of the injury or illness, worker
motion or position vehicles floors, walkways,
ground surfaces and containers had medians
higher than the national median days away from
work.
SOURCE Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.
Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational
Injuries and Illnesses.
20
Musculoskeletal Disorders with Days Away from
Work by Nature of Injury or Illness, 2003
Back pain, hurt back 5.4
Soreness, pain, hurt, except the back 5.0
Carpal tunnel syndrome 5.1
Hernia 4.8
MSD system and connective tissue diseases and
disorders, except tendonitis 2.0
Sprains, strains, tears 76.1
Tendonitis 1.5
Nature of Injury or Illness (435,180 MSD cases
that resulted in days away from work)
Sprains, strains, and tears accounted for over
three-fourths of the musculoskeletal disorders
that resulted in days away from work in 2003.
SOURCE Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.
Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational
Injuries and Illnesses.