A total of 5.2 million injuries and illnesses were reported in private industry workplaces during 2001, resulting in a rate of 5.7 cases per 100 equivalent full-time workers, according to a survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

"Workplace injuries and illnesses have dropped for the ninth consecutive year, reaching an all-time low," said Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao. "There were 500,000 fewer job related injuries in 2001 than the year before."

That represents an eight percent decrease in cases compared with 2000, reducing the case rate from 6.1 in 2000 to 5.7 in 2001.

The rate for 2001 was the lowest since the Bureau began reporting this information in the early 1970s.

Rates are based on 100 full-time workers. In 1973, the first year data were collected, the incidence rate in private industry stood at 11 cases per 100 works. The rate has dropped steadily since the early 1990s, through boom and bust times:

1990 - 8.8

1991 - 8.4

1992 - 8.9

1993 - 8.5

1994 - 8.4

1995 - 8.1

1996 - 7.4

1997 - 7.1

1998 - 6.7

1999 - 6.3

2000 - 6.1

2001 - 5.7

Of the 5.2 million total injuries and illnesses reported in 2001, about 2.6 million were lost workday cases, requiring recuperation away from work or restricted duties at work, or both. The remaining 2.7 million were cases without lost workdays.

From 2000 to 2001, the incidence rate for lost workday cases decreased from 3.0 cases per 100 workers to 2.8 cases per 100 workers, and the rate for cases without lost workdays decreased from 3.2 cases per 100 workers to 2.9 cases per 100 workers.

Here are the 2001 incidence rates for major industry sectors:

Private industry - 5.7

Mining - 4.0

Construction - 7.9

Manufacturing - 8.1