Summary
- • Over 2.8 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses were reported by private industry employers in 2019.
- • The construction industry had the highest number of fatal work injuries in 2018, with 1,008 reported cases.
- • Healthcare and social assistance workers had a total of 582,800 workplace injuries and illnesses in 2019.
- • In 2017, the most common workplace injuries reported were sprains, strains, and tears, accounting for 34% of all cases.
- • 5,333 fatal work injuries were recorded in the United States in 2019, a 2% increase from the previous year.
- • The leading causes of workplace injuries and illnesses in 2019 were overexertion and bodily reaction, accounting for 32% of cases.
- • Men had a higher rate of workplace injuries than women in 2019, with 104.3 cases per 10,000 full-time equivalent workers.
- • Slips, trips, and falls accounted for 27% of all nonfatal workplace injuries in 2018.
- • The median number of days away from work due to workplace injuries in 2019 was 8 days.
- • The manufacturing industry reported 401,800 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2019.
- • In 2019, 243 workers died from exposure to harmful substances or environments in the workplace.
- • 33% of all fatal workplace injuries in the United States in 2019 were transportation-related incidents.
- • Workers aged 55 and older had a higher rate of workplace injuries in 2019 compared to younger age groups.
- • In 2018, 8% of all nonfatal workplace injuries were the result of violence and other injuries by persons or animals.
- • The construction and extraction occupations had the highest number of fatal injuries in 2019, with 1,066 cases reported.
Workplace injuries: As common as Monday mornings and as unpredictable as office gossip, the statistics tell a tale of bumps, bruises, and the occasional calamity. In a world where overexertion can rival the most formidable coworker, where slips, trips, and falls are the unexpected guests at the company party, and where sprains, strains, and tears make a dramatic entrance, its no surprise that the workplace arena can be a battlefield. From constructions fatal dance to healthcares many missteps, lets dive into the numbers that remind us to watch our step, steer clear of harmful substances, and always keep on our toes in the riveting saga of workplace injuries.
Common causes of workplace injuries
- In 2017, the most common workplace injuries reported were sprains, strains, and tears, accounting for 34% of all cases.
- The leading causes of workplace injuries and illnesses in 2019 were overexertion and bodily reaction, accounting for 32% of cases.
- Slips, trips, and falls accounted for 27% of all nonfatal workplace injuries in 2018.
- In 2018, 8% of all nonfatal workplace injuries were the result of violence and other injuries by persons or animals.
- 1 in 10 workplace injuries in 2018 were the result of trips, slips, and falls.
- 16% of all nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2019 were related to falls, slips, and trips.
Interpretation
In a world where sprains, strains, and tears have become the new workplace fashion, overexertion and bodily reactions are the latest dance moves causing a stir. But watch out for the slippery slopes of slips, trips, and falls, as they continue to be the ultimate party crashers in the office. And let's not forget the unexpected guests - violence and animal antics - making a cameo appearance in the workplace injury scene. Remember, in the workplace injury circus, balancing acts are key, or else you might just find yourself taking a tumble down the statistics ladder.
Demographic trends in workplace injuries
- Men had a higher rate of workplace injuries than women in 2019, with 104.3 cases per 10,000 full-time equivalent workers.
- Workers aged 55 and older had a higher rate of workplace injuries in 2019 compared to younger age groups.
- Workers aged 25-44 had the highest rate of nonfatal workplace injuries in 2019, with 94.6 cases per 10,000 full-time equivalent workers.
- Workers aged 25-44 accounted for the highest number of nonfatal workplace injuries in 2019, with 1,004,800 cases reported.
Interpretation
In 2019, it seems men took the lead in the workplace injury Olympics, with a higher rate of mishaps compared to their female counterparts. Meanwhile, the seasoned veterans of the workforce, aged 55 and older, showcased their injury-prone skills, outshining the younger age groups. Surprisingly, the middle-aged crowd of 25-44-year-olds dominated the nonfatal injury scene, proving that experience doesn't always equate to a safer work environment. To all the 25-44-year-olds out there, maybe it's time to trade in those ergonomic chairs for bubble wrap suits!
Fatal work injuries statistics
- The construction industry had the highest number of fatal work injuries in 2018, with 1,008 reported cases.
- 5,333 fatal work injuries were recorded in the United States in 2019, a 2% increase from the previous year.
- In 2019, 243 workers died from exposure to harmful substances or environments in the workplace.
- 33% of all fatal workplace injuries in the United States in 2019 were transportation-related incidents.
- The construction and extraction occupations had the highest number of fatal injuries in 2019, with 1,066 cases reported.
- In 2018, 2,814 work-related fatalities occurred in transportation and material moving occupations.
- The agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting industry had 107 fatal work injuries in 2018.
- Construction laborers had the highest number of fatal work injuries in 2019, with 253 reported cases.
- 49% of work-related fatalities in 2018 were the result of transportation incidents.
- In 2018, 743 fatalities were reported in the construction and extraction occupations.
- The transportation and material moving occupations had the highest number of fatal work injuries in 2019, with 1,020 reported cases.
- Manufacturing assemblers and fabricators had 30 fatal work injuries in 2019.
- 37% of all fatal work injuries in 2018 were due to falls, slips, and trips.
Interpretation
The workplace injury statistics paint a sobering picture of the dangers faced by workers across various industries. From construction to transportation, the numbers reveal the harsh reality of fatal incidents that occur on the job. It's a stark reminder that safety measures and protocols must be prioritized and enforced diligently to protect workers from harm. While the data may be just numbers on a page, behind each statistic is a life lost and a family forever changed. As we digest these figures, let us not only reflect on the risks involved in different occupations but also recommit to ensuring that every worker returns home safely at the end of each day.
Time away from work due to injuries
- The median number of days away from work due to workplace injuries in 2019 was 8 days.
- Only 35% of nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2019 required days away from work for recovery.
- In 2019, the median number of days away from work due to sprains, strains, and tears was 11 days.
Interpretation
In a world where time is money, the workplace injury statistics for 2019 paint a revealing picture. With a median of 8 days away from work for injuries, one can't help but wonder if "working from home" has taken on a whole new meaning. And with sprains, strains, and tears clocking in at a median of 11 days away, it seems some employees are truly going above and beyond in their dedication to the art of injury recovery. Nonetheless, with only 35% of nonfatal injuries requiring time off work, one can't help but admire the resilience and tenacity of the modern-day worker.
Workplace injury rates by industry
- Over 2.8 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses were reported by private industry employers in 2019.
- Healthcare and social assistance workers had a total of 582,800 workplace injuries and illnesses in 2019.
- The manufacturing industry reported 401,800 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2019.
- The professional and business services industry had 226,400 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2019.
- In 2019, the private industry as a whole reported a total of 2.8 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses.
- The construction industry had a rate of 9.7 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time workers in 2019.
- Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations accounted for 13% of all nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2019.
- In 2019, the manufacturing industry reported 116,000 cases of nonfatal workplace injuries due to contact with objects and equipment.
- In 2019, the leisure and hospitality industry reported 188,800 cases of nonfatal workplace injuries.
- Workers in the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction industry had a rate of 3.9 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time workers in 2019.
- In 2019, there were 192,300 cases of nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in the transportation and warehousing industry.
- The professional and business services industry had a rate of 1.7 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time workers in 2019.
- In 2019, there were 111,600 cases of nonfatal workplace injuries due to transportation incidents in the wholesale trade industry.
- Workers in the construction industry had a higher rate of nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2019 compared to other industries.
Interpretation
In a world where workplaces resemble battlegrounds of safety hazards, the 2.8 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported in 2019 paint a picture where office chairs may be more dangerous than they appear. With healthcare and social assistance workers taking the brunt of nearly 600,000 mishaps, it seems band-aids and stethoscopes aren't always the only weapons needed in that field. The manufacturing industry, with over 400,000 incidents, could use a manual on handling more than just machinery, and the construction industry seems to have embraced the art of flirting with danger, boasting a higher rate of injuries compared to its peers. As professionals dodge falling objects and narrowly avoid transportation incidents, it's clear that the workplace acrobatics of balancing productivity and safety are no easy feat. Take heed, fellow workers, for a sprain from a stapler may be closer than you think.