2014 Nonfatal Occupational 

Injuries and Illnesses: Cases 

with days away from work

Case and Demographics

November 2015
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015 Chart 1

The incidence rate of nonfatal injuries and illnesses for all ownerships decreased 2.1 percent from 2013 to 2014. All other top line rates 

and numbers of injuries and illnesses by ownership remained unchanged from 2013.

Rate of injuries and illnesses with days away from work,

by ownership, 2014

Local Government

State Government

Private Industry

All Ownerships

(Per 10,000 full-time workers)

0 40 80 120 160 200

Local Government

State Government

Private Industry

All Ownerships

(Number of cases)

0 200,000 400,000 600,000 800,000 1,000,000 1,200,000

107

98

170

166

1,157,410

916,440

67,400

173,570

Number of injuries and illnesses with days away from work, 

by ownership, 2014
710,170 691,210 692,890 687,560 691,260

223,020 226,930 225,830 229,530 225,180

0

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Number of injuries and illnesses with days away from work, 

private industry, 2010 - 2014

Goods-producing

Service-providing

Total cases with days 

away from work

2010: 933,200

2011: 918,140

2012: 918,720

2013: 917,090

2014: 916,440

The total number of private industry injury and illnesses (916,440 cases) was essentially unchanged from 2013. 

Similarly, the number of injuries and illnesses for both goods-producing and service-providing sectors were essentially

unchanged from 2013.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015 Chart 2
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015 Chart 3

Eleven occupations had 20,000 or more cases across all ownerships. Heavy & tractor-trailer truck drivers along with laborers and freight, 

stock, & material movers combined accounted for 10 percent of total cases. Police and sheriff’s patrol officers had the highest rate of 

injury and illness among these occupations. 

Number of cases Rate per 10,000 full-time workers

Incidence rate and number of injuries and illnesses for selected occupations 

with 20,000 cases or more, all ownerships, 2014

70,000 35,000 0

Construction laborers

Light truck or delivery services 

drivers

Retail salespersons

Stock clerks and order fillers

Registered nurses

General maintenance and repair 

workers

Police and sheriff's patrol officers

Nursing assistants

Janitors and cleaners, except 

maids

Laborers and freight, stock, and 

material movers

Heavy and tractor-trailer truck 

drivers

0 175 350 525 700

55,710

55,370

39,290

39,020

27,660

27,460

26,830

25,250

23,500

22,420

22,190

130

373

486

258

74

189

310

251

366

300

N/A

Number of cases 

(Total=1,157,410)

Days away from 

work rate = 107
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015 Chart 4

These occupations are among the ones that had at least 0.1 percent of full-time equivalent employment throughout the United States in 

2014. Among them, police and sheriff’s patrol officers had the highest rate at 486 cases per 10,000 full-time employees. Nursing 

assistants had an incidence rate at least three times greater than the rate for all workers. 

Rate per 10,000 full-time workers Number of cases

Incidence rate and number of injuries and illnesses for selected occupations 

with high incidence rates, all ownerships, 2014

Telecommunications installers & 

repairers, except line installers

Maids and housekeeping cleaners

Nonfarm animal caretakers

Heating, a/c & refrigeration 

mechanics & installers

Light truck or delivery services 

drivers

Construction laborers

Emergency medical technicians 

and paramedics

Heavy & tractor-trailer truck 

drivers

Nursing assistants

Correctional officers and jailers

Highway maintenance workers

Firefighters

Police and sheriff's patrol officers

0 20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000

486

600 400 200 0

448

433

423

373

366

333

310

300

285

274

272

270

27,660

14,440

5,110

16,050

39,020

55,710

7,010

22,190

22,420

6,590

3,090

18,390

5,110

Number of cases 

(Total=1,157,410)

Days away from 

work rate = 107
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015 Chart 5

These occupations are frequently employed in both the private and public sectors. 

Psychiatric aides had very high rates among these selected state government and private industry workers. 

The predominant source of injury or illness for psychiatric aides was health care patients. 

Rates of injuries and illnesses for selected healthcare and protective 

service occupations by ownership, 2014

Private industry

Local government

State government

Police and sheriff's patrol

officers

Firefighters

Nursing assistants

Psychiatric aides

Licensed practical and licensed

vocational nurses

Psychiatric technicians

Emergency medical technicians

and paramedics

Registered nurses

(per 10,000 full-time workers)

0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200 1,400
Distribution and incidence rates of injuries and illnesses with days away 

from work by gender and ownership, 2014

104 89

0

100

200

Incidence Rate

Male

62%

Female

38%

Private Industry 

Injuries and Illnesses

224

131

0

100

200

300

Incidence Rate

Male

56%

Female

44%

State Government 

Injuries and Illnesses

225

120

0

100

200

300

Incidence Rate

Male

60%

Female

40%

Local Government 

Injuries and Illnesses

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015 Chart 6

Male workers had a higher number of injuries and illnesses than female workers (where gender reported) in each of the

three ownership categories. Male workers employed by state or local government had higher rates of injury or illness 

than male workers in the private sector.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015 Chart 7

There were a total of 124,280 injuries and illnesses among Hispanic or Latino workers in 2014. Hispanic or Latino 

workers comprised 21 percent of cases where race or ethnicity was reported. Over half of the injuries and illnesses in the natural 

resources and mining sector occurred to Hispanic or Latino workers. 

Number of injuries and illnesses and percentage of cases involving 

Hispanic or Latino workers by industry, private industry, 2014

Information

Other services

Financial activities

Natural resources and mining

Professional business services

Education and health services

Construction

Leisure and hospitality

Manufacturing

Trade, transportation, and utilities

Cases involving Hispanic or Latino workers

30,000 20,000 10,000 0

25,230

21,310

16,110

15,800

14,250

13,260

9,960

4,610

3,190

550

Percent of total cases

0.0 25.0 50.0 75.0

26.6

12.5

26.5

13.0

28.4

22.7

60.3

17.1

25.7

17.3
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015 Chart 8

Median days away from work is a key measure of severity of injuries and illnesses. Half of the cases involved more days and half involved 

fewer days than a specified median. The median increased as the age of the worker increased. Workers 65 and older required nearly twice 

the recuperation time than all workers in 2014. The incidence rate for older workers was 94 cases per 10,000 full-time workers, compared 

to a rate of 96 for workers in age group 25 to 34 years.

Median days away from work and incidence rate due to injuries and 

illnesses by age of worker, all ownerships, 2014

Median days away from work Rate per 10,000 full-time workers

20 15 10 5 0 0 50 100 150

17

14

12

10

6

5

4 107

105

96

104

117

116

94

16 to 19 years

20 to 24 years

25 to 34 years

35 to 44 years

45 to 54 years

55 to 64 years

65 years and older

Median days away from work

(All ownerships median days = 9)

Days-away-from-work rate

(All ownerships rate = 107)
Injury and illness topology

Nature of 

disabling 

condition

Nature of 

disabling 

condition

A nursing aide

strains her back

from 

overexertion

while lifting a 

patient.

Source of 

injury or 

illness

Part of 

body 

affected

Event or 

exposure

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015 Chart 9

Each injury or illness is described from four viewpoints.

The Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) version 2.01 was utilized to code narratives. 
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015 Chart 10

Sprains, strains and tears made up over one-third of all injuries and illnesses in 2014. 

They remained essentially unchanged from 2013 at 420,870 cases. 

Distribution of injuries and illnesses by nature, 

all ownerships, 2014

Sprains, strains, tears,

36.4%

Soreness, pain, 17.1%

Bruises, contusions,

8.4 %

Fractures, 8.3%

Cuts, lacerations, 

punctures, 8.2%

All other natures,

21.6%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015 Chart 11

In 2014, fractures and carpal tunnel syndrome were the most severe, of the selected natures, resulting in a median of 32 days away from 

work. Among the fracture cases, approximately one-third occurred to hands and feet. Workers experienced sprains, strains and tears at a 

rate of 39 cases per 10,000 full-time workers, and required a median of 10 days away from work. 

Median days away from work and incidence rate due to injuries 

and illnesses by nature, all ownerships, 2014

Median days away from work

Punctures (except gunshots)

Cuts, lacerations, punctures

Chemical burns and corrosions

Cuts, lacerations

Heat (thermal) burns

Bruises, contusions

Multiple natures with sprains

Soreness, pain

Multiple traumatic injuries

Sprains, strains, tears

Tendonitis

Amputations

Multiple natures with fractures

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Fractures

40 30 20 10 0

32

32

31

19

15

10

10

9

8

5

5

4

3

3

2

Rate per 10,000 full-time workers

0 9 18 27 36 45

9

39

1

9

Less than 1

1

18

7

2

9

1

Less than 1

2

1

3

Median days away from work

(All ownerships median days = 9)

Days-away-from-work rate

(All ownerships rate = 107)
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015 Chart 12

Upper extremities were the most frequently injured part of the body with 346,170 cases. 

There were 268,860 injuries to lower extremities and 200,250 injuries to the back. 

Distribution of injuries and illnesses by part of body, 

all ownerships, 2014

Upper extremities,

30.0%

Lower extremities,

23.2%

Back, 17.3%

Multiple parts,

11.4%

Head, 7.3%

All other parts of body,

10.8%
Median days away from work and incidence rate due to injuries 

and illnesses by part of body, all ownerships, 2014

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015 Chart 13

Injuries to the shoulder required the most time away from work to recuperate with a median of 26 days. 

Knee injuries required a median of 17 days to recuperate.

Eye(s)

Head

Finger(s), fingernail(s)

Hand(s)

Hand(s), except finger(s)

Toe, toenail

Back

Neck

Foot

Ankle

Trunk

Upper extremities

Arm(s)

Lower extremities

Wrist

Knee(s)

Shoulder(s)

Median days away from work

32 24 16 8 0

26

17

15

12

11

10

9

9

9

8

8

7

6

5

5

3

2

Rate per 10,000 full-time workers

0 8 16 24 32 40

2

8

2

19

25

8

5

4

13

1

8

32

10

6

5

1

25

Median days away from work

(All ownerships median days = 9)

Days-away-from-work rate

(All ownerships rate = 107)
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015 Chart 14

Persons, plants, animals, and minerals were the source of injury or illness for 329,190 cases in 2014. More than half of these (174,640) 

involved bodily motion or position of the injured or ill worker while another 18 percent (58,090) involved health care patients.

Distribution of injuries and illnesses by source, 

all ownerships, 2014

Persons, plants, animals

and minerals, 28.4%

Structures and surfaces, 

Containers, furniture, and 21.0%

fixtures, 14.4%

Vehicles, 10.1%

Tools, instruments, and

equipment, 7.8%

Parts and materials,

7.5%

All other sources,

10.8%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015 Chart 15

Workers who sustained injuries and illnesses involving trucks required twice the 

recuperation time than for all workers at 18 median days away from work. 

Median days away from work and incidence rate due to injuries 

and illnesses by source, all ownerships, 2014

Chemicals, chemical products

Handtools

Patient

Furniture, fixtures

Person, other than injured 

or ill worker

Cart, dolly, hand truck

Floors, walkways, ground 

surface

Parts and materials

Machinery

Containers

Vehicles

Worker motion or position

Person, injured or ill worker

Ladders

Trucks

Median days away from work

21 18 15 12 9 6 3 0

18

15

13

13

12

10

10

10

10

9

7

7

7

5

3

Rate per 10,000 full-time workers

0 8 16 24

1

11

4

5

8

17

10

16

5

19

2

4

3

1

11

Median days away from work

(All ownerships median days = 9)

Days-away-from-work rate

(All ownerships rate = 107)
Distribution of injuries and illnesses by event or exposure, 

all ownerships, 2014

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015 Chart 16

Overexertion and bodily reaction along with falls, slips and trips accounted for approximately 60 percent of all injuries and illnesses 

with days away from work. The number of cases resulting from falls, slips and trips increased by 6.9 percent from 2013.

Overexertion and bodily

reaction, 33.2%

Falls, slips, trips, 

27.4%

Contact with object,

equipment, 22.2%

Violence and other injuries

by persons, 6.3%

Transportation incidents,

5.4%

All other events,

5.5%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015 Chart 17

Cases of repetitive motion involving microtasks had a high median of 23 days away from work but a relatively low rate of 3 cases per 

10,000 full-time workers. Overexertion and bodily reaction had the highest rate and a median days away from work of 13 days, four more 

than the median for all events or exposures.

Median days away from work and incidence rate due to injuries 

and illnesses by event or exposure, all ownerships, 2014

Exposure to harmful substances or

environment

Contact with object, equipment

Struck against object or equipment

Struck by object or equipment

Intentional injury by other person

Caught in or compressed by 

objects or equipment

Fall on same level

Slips, trips without fall

Falls, slips, trips

Fires and explosions

Overexertion in lifting or lowering

Transportation incidents

Overexertion and bodily reaction

Fall to lower level

Repetitive motion involving 

microtasks

Median days away from work Rate per 10,000 full-time workers

25 20 15 10 5 0

23

19

13

12

12

11

11

10

10

9

6

5

5

5

4

0 7 14 21 28 35 42

3

6

Less than 1

4

19

5

29

4

13

6

4

24

3

11

36

Median days away from work

(All ownerships median days = 9)

Days-away-from-work rate

(All ownerships rate = 107)
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015 Chart 18

The selected secondary sources identify the object, substances, equipment, and other factors that precipitated the event or exposure.

Ice, sleet, snow, and non-chemical liquids, such as water, contributed to 26 percent of total falls on the same level.

A contributing factor (secondary source) was not specified in half of the total falls on the same level cases.

Falls on same level by selected secondary sources, 

all ownerships, 2014

Total number of falls on the same level = 203,480

Secondary source not specified = 102,110

900

1,150

1,250

2,020

2,860

3,100

3,400

8,300

18,100

34,860

0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000

Ladders

Machinery

Plant & industrial vehicles, nonpowered

Animal & plant byproducts

Floors, walkways, ground surfaces

Power cords, electrical or extension

cords

Person other than injured or ill worker

Furniture and fixtures

Liquids, nonchemical

Ice, sleet, snow
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015 Chart 19

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) accounted for 32 percent of all cases in 2014. The incidence rate for MSDs in 2014 decreased from 2013 in 

private industry and local government. The incidence rate for MSDs for local government workers was higher than the MSD rate for all workers.

Local government

State government

Private industry

(Per 10,000 full-time workers)

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

32

42

48

298,460

Local government

State government

Private industry

(Number of cases)

0 50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000 250,000 300,000 350,000

16,670

50,450

Rate of musculoskeletal disorders with days away from work, 

by ownership, 2014

Number of musculoskeletal disorders with days away from work, 

by ownership, 2014
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015 Chart 20

These ten occupations accounted for at least 0.1 percent of total employment. Nursing assistants had the highest rate of MSDs 

among these occupations with 200 cases per 10,000 full-time workers as well as the highest number of MSD cases in 2014. 

Incidence rate and number of injuries and illnesses due to 

musculoskeletal disorders by selected occupations, all ownerships, 2014

20,920

Janitors and cleaners, except maids

Telecommunications installers and 

repairers, except line installers

Maids and housekeeping cleaners

Heavy and tractor-trailer truck 

drivers

Reservation and travel clerks

Light truck or delivery services 

drivers

Highway maintenance workers

Firefighters

Emergency medical technicians 

and paramedics

Nursing Assistants

Rate per 10,000 full-time workers

250 200 150 100 50

200

184

179

143

139

115

112

98

96

95

Number of cases

8,000 16,000 24,000 32,000

3,880

5,760

1,690

10,390

1,300

17,030

6,650

1,820

14,530

0 0

Number of MSD cases

(Total = 365,580)

MSD rate

(All ownerships rate = 34)