Private industry employers reported nearly 45,800 fewer nonfatal injury and illness cases in 2017 compared to a year earlier, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released last week. The BLS’ Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) tallied approximately 2.8 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported by private industry employers in 2017, which occurred at a rate of 2.8 cases per 100 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers. The 2017 rate of total recordable cases (TRC) fell 0.1 cases per 100 FTE workers to continue a pattern of declines that, apart from 2012, occurred annually since 2004.

Key findings

• The rates for different types of cases—days away from work (DAFW), days of job transfer or restriction only (DJTR), and other recordable cases (ORC)—were unchanged from a year earlier.
• The rate for DJTR cases has remained at 0.7 cases per 100 FTE workers since 2011.
• Nearly one-third of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses resulted in days away from work.
• Among the 19 private industry sectors, only manufacturing and finance and insurance experienced statistically significant changes in their overall rates of nonfatal injuries and illnesses in 2017—each declined by 0.1 cases per 100 FTE workers compared to 2016.

Cases Resulting in Days Away from Work (DAFW)

There were 882,730 occupational injuries and illnesses in 2017 that resulted in days away from work in private industry - essentially unchanged from 2016. The private industry incidence rate for DAFW cases was 89.4 cases per 10,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers in 2017. The median days away from work—a key measure of the severity of cases—was 8 in 2017, unchanged from 2016.

Causes of DAFW cases

The number of DAFW cases involving overexertion in lifting or lowering rose 3,250 cases to 97,990 in 2017, while the rate was unchanged at 9.9 cases per 10,000 FTE workers. The number of DAFW cases involving workers struck by objects or equipment fell 4,180 cases to 136,510 in 2017 and the rate decreased to 13.8 cases per 10,000 FTE workers, down from 14.5 in 2016. (See tables.)

Manufacturing industry safety

The incidence rate of total recordable cases in manufacturing decreased in 2017; however, the DAFW rate was unchanged from 2016 at 93 cases per 10,000 FTE workers. There were 115,550 DAFW cases in manufacturing, which was essentially unchanged from 2016.

The median days away from work in manufacturing was 8, one day fewer than in 2016. Four minor level occupation groups accounted for 67 percent of DAFW cases in 2017, including other production workers (30,210 cases); metal and plastic workers (19,610 cases); and material moving workers (15,260 cases). The fourth group among these—assemblers and fabricators—was the only one with a decrease, down 900 DAFW cases in 2017 to 12,140.

The incidence rate of total recordable cases in manufacturing decreased in 2017; however, the DAFW rate was unchanged from 2016 at 93 cases per 10,000 FTE workers. There were 115,550 DAFW cases in manufacturing, which was essentially unchanged from 2016. The median days away from work in manufacturing was 8, one day fewer than in 2016.

Four minor level occupation groups accounted for 67 percent of DAFW cases in 2017, including other production workers (30,210 cases); metal and plastic workers (19,610 cases); and material moving workers (15,260 cases). The fourth group among these—assemblers and fabricators—was the only one with a decrease, down 900 DAFW cases in 2017 to 12,140.

Causes of DAFW cases in manufacturing

The number of DAFW cases where the event or exposure was overexertion and bodily reaction fell 1,690 cases to 40,680 in 2017. The rate decreased to 32.7 cases per 10,000 FTE workers from 34.1 in 2016. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) accounted for 34 percent of the DAFW cases in manufacturing and fell 1,930 cases to 38,950 in 2017. The rate was 31.4 cases per 10,000 FTE workers, down from 32.9 in 2016. The median days away from work was 12, two days fewer than in 2016. Sprains, strains, and tears was the leading type of injury in manufacturing at 34,110, unchanged from 2016. The rate of 27.5 cases per 10,000 FTE workers was also unchanged from 2016. The median days away for injuries from sprains, strains, and tears was 10, one day fewer than in 2016.

Other industries

The number of DAFW cases in warehousing and storage increased from 2016 while the incidence rate was essentially unchanged. Three other industry subsectors—hospitals, administrative and support services, and social assistance—had decreases in both their case counts and incidence rates for DAFW cases.

More DAFW data

• The number of DAFW cases rose 2,930 cases to 17,390 in 2017. The incidence rate (182.4 cases per 10,000 FTE workers) in 2017 was essentially unchanged from 2016.
• The number of DAFW cases resulting from overexertion and bodily reaction rose 1,350 cases to 8,310 in 2017; contact with objects and equipment rose 620 cases to 4,370; and falls, slips, or trips rose 480 cases to 3,030.
• Transportation and material moving workers incurred 12,750 DAFW cases in 2017, an increase of 3,120 cases from 2016. In hospitals:
• The 51,380 DAFW cases in 2017 resulted in an incidence rate of 129.8 cases per 10,000 FTE workers, down from 134.3 in 2016.
• The incidence rate for DAFW cases resulting from overexertion and bodily reaction decreased to 56.7 cases per 10,000 FTE workers in 2017, from 62.1 in 2016.
• The incidence rate for DAFW cases resulting from falls on the same level increased to 25.2 cases per 10,000 FTE workers in 2017, from 23.6 in 2016.
• Healthcare practitioners suffered 23,570 DAFW cases in 2017, down 600 cases from 2016.
• In administrative and support services, the number of DAFW cases fell 5,680 cases to 37,380 in 2017. The incidence rate fell to 78 cases per 10,000 FTE workers, from 91.2 in 2016. Falls, slips, or trips was the leading type of event or exposure resulting in DAFW cases in 2017 and decreased 2,430 cases to 11,140. In social assistance: The number of DAFW cases in 2017 fell 4,750 cases to 19,360. The incidence rate fell to 88.4 cases per 10,000 FTE workers, from 113.8 in 2016. Falls, slips, or trips was among the leading types of event or exposure leading to DAFW cases in 2017 with 6,250 cases, a decline of 1,410 cases from 2016.

Click here to read the BLS report.

Nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses data by industry and case type are available at www.bls.gov/web/osh/summ1_00.htm and www.bls.gov/web/osh/summ2_00.htm.