Data Bank Focus: A Safer Workplace

The Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities program of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provides annual information on the rate and number of work-related injuries, illnesses and fatal injuries. This year’s report shows that the incidence rates of nonfatal injuries and illnesses declined across all private industry sectors between 2008 and 2010. This continues the downward trend seen since the bureau began collecting data in 2002.

The preliminary data for fatal injuries shows a total of 4,547 work-related deaths. This figure comes from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries program conducted by the BLS. Fatal events are most often attributed to one of four incidents: highway incidents, homicides, falls and being struck by an object. The number of fatal injuries, regardless of cause, was lower in 2010 than 2000.

Workforce Management, December 2011, p. 14-15 Subscribe Now!