According to an annual data report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the number of nonfatal, occupational injuries and illnesses remained unchanged in 2019.
Furthermore, the Nov. 4 report indicated that the incident rates of total recordable cases remained unchanged. Private industry workers faced an estimated 2.8 million nonfatal injuries and illnesses last year. The same number as the previous three years.
Also unchanged for the third consecutive year, was the recordable rate: 2.8 cases per 100 full-time workers.
Additionally, the BLS records the amount of nonfatal injuries and illnesses that result in at least a day of lost work. This rate was also essentially unchanged from years previous at 888,220.
Other Key Findings from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
The labor statistics report also provided this key information:
- The most prevalent sector was manufacturing, which accounts for 15 percent of the estimated total of injuries and illnesses. However, its total recordable rate decreased to 3.3 per 100 full-time equivalent workers from 3.4 in 2018.
- Same as in 2018, ill and injured workers spent a median of 8 days away from work.
- For employees aged 65 and older, the median days spent away from work doubled to 16.
- The days away from work incident rate for men decreased from 94.4 per 10,000 full-time equivalent workers from 94.3. The rate decreased for women from 83.4 to 80.4.
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Medical Treatment Numbers
The rate of private-industry workers injured with sprains, strains, or tears that resulted in days absent from work medical treatment went down from 7.3 cases to 6.5 cases per 10,000 full-time workers. Medical treatment facilities can include emergency rooms and/or inpatient hospitalization.
All estimates from the labor statistics report come from the bureau’s Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.
The results reveal that there is a need for greater intervention in the protection of worker health and safety. Here are some general steps you can take to create a better, safer, and healthier workplace:
- Get ahead of potential hazards. Don’t wait until it’s too late to take action on potential problems. In regulations with OSHA, make sure to use signage to remind employees of best practices with PPE and on-site equipment. Encourage workers to identify and report any potential safety or health violations.
- Implement proper training. All new workers should be given training that is easy to understand. Refresher courses should also be offered to existing workers or when workers change jobs within a company.
- Ensure workers have proper equipment. Make sure employees not only have the proper tools and equipment to safely do their job, but also make sure to maintain this equipment. Placing signage around the workplace is a great reminder.
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Give us a call at 1-844-622-8633, or complete the form below to schedule an on-site visit or to get your free quote!
