2017 SURVEY OF OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES & ILLNESSES

CHARTS PACKAGE

November 8, 2018
Industry-level estimates

•Incidence rates and numbers of nonfatal work-related injuries and illnesses are presented by industry

and case types, including total recordable cases (TRC); days away from work, job transfer, or restriction

(DART) cases; days away from work (DAFW) cases; and other recordable cases (ORC).

•Industry-level estimates for nonfatal injuries and illnesses combined and for injuries only are presented

per 100 full-time workers for incidence rates and rounded to thousands for numbers of cases. Industrylevel estimates of illness cases are presented per 10,000 full-time workers.

Case circumstances and worker characteristics

•Estimates of case circumstance and worker characteristics are presented for the subset of cases

that resulted in days away from work (DAFW).

•Case circumstance include: event or exposure, source, nature of injury or illness, part of body,

day of week and time of incident

•Worker characteristics include: occupation, gender, age, and race

•DAFW incidence rates are calculated per 10,000 full-time equivalent workers and case counts

rounded to tenths.

NOTE:

•Chart packages prior to the 2016 Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) first published

industry-level results, followed several weeks later by more detailed estimates of case circumstances and

worker characteristics for cases that resulted in days away from work. Beginning with results from the

2016 SOII, chart packages combine highlights from both of these data series.

•Data users are cautioned to take into account the different levels of precision when analyzing

estimates presented in these charts.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2018
Incidence rate per 100 full-time workers

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

Year

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Nonfatal occupational injury and illness incidence rates

by case type, private industry, 2003-17

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2018

TRC = total recordable cases

DART = days away from work, job transfer, or restriction cases

DAFW = days away from work cases

DJTR = days of job transfer or restriction only cases

ORC = other recordable cases

5.0

4.8

4.6

4.4

4.2

3.9

3.6 3.5 3.4 3.4 3.3 3.2

3.0 2.9 2.8

2.6 2.5 2.4 2.3

2.1 2.0

1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.2 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.9 0.9 0.9

1.1 1.1 1.0 1.0 0.9 0.9 0.8 0.8 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7

2.4 2.3 2.2 2.1 2.1

1.9 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.4 1.3 1.3

The total recordable cases (TRC) incidence rate among private industry employers declined to 2.8 cases per 100 full-time workers in 2017—

down from 2.9 cases in 2016. While the incidence rate for days away from work, job transfer, or restriction (DART) cases declined to 1.5 

cases in 2017—down from 1.6 cases in 2016—the rates its components of days away from work (DAFW) cases and days of job transfer or 

restriction only (DJTR) cases were unchanged. The rate for other recordable cases (ORC) cases also remained unchanged from 2016.

View data 1
Distribution of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses by private industry sector, 2017

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2018

Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction

Utilities

Management of companies and enterprises

Finance and insurance

Information

Educational services

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Arts, entertainment, and recreation

Other services (except public administration)

Professional and technical services

Administrative and waste services

Wholesale trade

Construction

Transportation and warehousing

Accommodation and food services

Retail trade

Manufacturing

Health care and social assistance

0 125 250 375 500 625

548.1 34.7

394.6 34.3

386.0 9.7

275.0 7.6

208.3 7.3

194.3 3.8

154.9 3.0

112.1 4.8

66.8 2.9

63.7 2.3

56.2 2.7

47.2 3.0

37.0 | 1.5

32.0 | 1.7

25.9 | 1.7

19.0 | 1.6

10.3 | 0.9

9.8 | 0.5

Number of cases

(in thousands)

Injuries

Illnesses

Injuries accounted for 95 percent of cases reported among all private industry workplaces combined in 2017, as well as the majority of 

cases reported among individual industry sectors. Illnesses accounted for only a small fraction of cases reported in each industry sector. 

View data 2
Incidence rates and numbers of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses

by private industry sector, 2017

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2018

Finance and insurance

Professional and technical services

Management of companies and enterprises

Information

Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction

Educational services

Utilities

Other services (except public administration)

Administrative and waste services

Real estate and rental and leasing

Wholesale trade

Construction

Accommodation and food services

Retail trade

Manufacturing

Health care and social assistance

Arts, entertainment, and recreation

Transportation and warehousing

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

6.0 4.0 2.0 0 200 400 600

5.0

4.6

4.2

4.1

3.5

3.3

3.2

3.1

2.8

2.4

2.2

2.1

2.0

1.9

1.5

1.3

0.9

0.8

0.5

10.2

11.2

20.6

27.5

33.7

38.5

46.6

50.2

58.9

66.0

69.6

116.9

157.9

198.1

215.7

282.6

395.7

428.9

582.8

Incidence rate

(per 100 full-time workers)

Number of cases

(in thousands)

The estimated rate of occupational injuries and illnesses across industry sectors ranged from 5.0 cases per 100 full-time workers in 

agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting to 0.5 cases in finance and insurance. Health care and social assistance had the highest number 

of injuries and illnesses, accounting for approximately 1 in 5 injury and illness cases reported by private industry employers in 2017. 

View data 3
The manufacturing and health care and social assistance industry sectors together reported 55.6 percent of all private industry illness cases 

in 2017. The estimated rate of occupational illness across private industry was 12.8 cases per 10,000 full-time equivalent workers, with rates 

ranging among industry sectors from 3.0 cases in the finance and insurance sector to 29.8 cases in agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting. 

Incidence rates and numbers of nonfatal occupational illnesses

by private industry sector, 2017

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2018

Finance and insurance

Professional and technical services

Wholesale trade

Construction

Information

Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction

Other services (except public administration)

Management of companies and enterprises

Educational services

Retail trade

Accommodation and food services

Administrative and waste services

Transportation and warehousing

Utilities

Arts, entertainment, and recreation

Health care and social assistance

Manufacturing

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

45.0 30.0 15.0 0 15 30 45

29.8

27.6

24.2

19.5

16.7

15.5

9.2

8.7

8.2

7.4

7.4

7.3

7.0

6.7

6.0

5.3

3.5

3.0

0.5

0.9

1.5

1.6

1.7

1.7

2.3

2.7

2.9

3.0

3.0

3.8

4.8

7.3

7.6

9.7

34.3

34.7

Incidence rate

(per 10,000 full-time workers)

Number of cases

(in thousands)

View data 4
Nonfatal occupational injury and illness incidence rates by case type and ownership, 2017

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2018

Private industry State government Local government

1.4

1.6

0.9

1.9

2.3

1.5

0.4

0.7 0.7

1.7

2.6

1.3

3.6

5.0

2.8

Incidence rate per 100 full-time workers

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

TRC DART DAFW DJTR ORC

TRC = total recordable cases

DART = days away from work, job transfer, or restriction cases

DAFW = days away from work cases

DJTR = days of job transfer or restriction only cases

ORC = other recordable cases

Case type

Continuing a trend since 2008, the total recordable cases (TRC) incidence rate of injuries and illnesses remained 

highest among local government workplaces (5.0 cases per 100 full-time equivalent workers), compared to state 

government (3.6 cases) and private industry (2.8 cases) workplaces. The private industry TRC rate declined from 

2.9 cases in 2016 to 2.8 cases in 2017, while local and state government rates remained statistically unchanged. 

View data 5
Incidence rates and numbers of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses

by select industry, state government, 2017

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2018

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (NAICS 6113)

Police protection (NAICS 92212)

Hospitals (NAICS 622)

Correctional institutions (NAICS 92214)

Nursing and residential care facilities (NAICS 623)

14.0 10.5 7.0 3.5 0 10 20 30 40

10.9

7.9

7.7

7.2

1.8

8.0

12.1

22.0

24.2

31.8

Incidence rate

(per 100 full-time workers)

Number of cases

(in thousands)

National public sector estimates of nonfatal injuries and illnesses, covering more than 4.9 million state government workers* in 2017, are available 

for select industries within state government and provide for limited comparisons to same industries in local government or private industry. For 

example, rates observed for state government hospitals or for state government nursing and residential care facilities may differ significantly from 

rates in private industry and in local government as a result of different types of facilities that are more prevalent in one compared to the other.

* 2017 employment from the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW)

View data

6
Incidence rates and numbers of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses

by industry, local government, 2017

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2018

Elementary and secondary schools (NAICS 6111)

Hospitals (NAICS 622)

Water sewage and other systems (NAICS 2213)

Nursing and residential care facilities (NAICS 623)

Public administration (NAICS 92)

15.0 10.0 5.0 0 100 200 300

6.5

6.0

5.4

5.1

3.9

3.2

8.2

27.1

198.9

225.8

Incidence rate

(per 100 full-time workers)

Number of cases

(in thousands)

While the incidence rate for elementary and secondary schools (NAICS 6111)—3.9 cases per 100 full-time equivalent workers—was 

lower than the average rate for all local government workers (5.0 cases), this industry accounted for 38.2 percent (198,900 cases) 

of all injuries and illnesses among local government workers in 2017. Conversely, the incidence rate for nursing and residential care 

facilities (NAICS 623)—6.0 cases per 100 full-time equivalent workers—was higher than the average rate for all local government 

workers, while accounting for only 0.6 percent (3,200 cases) of all injuries and illnesses among local government workers.

View data

7
State nonfatal occupational injury and illness incidence rates*

compared to the national rate, private industry, 2017

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2018

* Total recordable case (TRC) incidence rate per 100 full-time workers

State rate not available

State rate statistically greater than national rate

State rate not statistically different from national rate

State rate statistically less than national rate

AL

(2.5)

AK

(3.8)

AZ

(2.9) AR

(2.5)

CA

(3.2) CO

CT(3.2)

DE(2.3)

DC(1.5)

FL

GA

(2.6)

HI

(3.8)

ID

IL

(2.6)

IN

(3.3)

IA

(3.5)

KS

(3.0) KY

(3.1)

LA

(1.9)

ME

(4.8)

MD(2.6)

MA(2.7)

MI

(3.1)

MN

(3.2)

MS

MO

(2.6)

MT

(4.3)

NE

(3.0) NV

(3.7)

NH

NJ(2.6)

NM

(2.7)

NY

(2.2)

NC

(2.3)

ND

OH

(2.6)

OK

OR

(3.8)

PA

(3.1)

RI

SC

(2.5)

SD

TN

(2.9)

TX

(2.2)

UT

(3.0)

VT(4.6)

VA

(2.4)

WA

(4.0)

WV

(2.9)

WI

(3.6)

WY

(3.5)

PR

Private industry and public sector estimates are available for 41 participating states and for the District of Columbia for 2017. The 

private industry injury and illness rate was statistically higher in 20 states than the national rate of 2.8 cases per 100 full-time 

workers, lower in 15 states and in the District of Columbia, and not statistically different in 6 states. Caution should be taken when 

comparing rates among different states as some differences can be attributed to different industry composition within each state. 

View data

8
Nonfatal occupational injury and illness incidence rates for cases with days away from work 

by ownership, 2017

The incidence rates of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses resulting in 

days away from work for “All ownerships” have decreased each year since 2011. 

Incidence rate per 10,000 full-time workers

Number of cases with days away from work

Number of nonfatal occupational injury and illness cases with days away from work

by ownership, 2017

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2018

Local government

State government

Private industry

All ownerships

0.0 40.0 80.0 120.0 160.0 200.0

98.0

89.4

143.8

161.0

Local government

State government

Private industry

All ownerships

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

1,109,270

882,730

57,520

169,020

9

View data
95.2 81.5

0.0

100.0

200.0

Incidence rate per 10,000

full-time workers

Male

61%

Female

38%

Private industry 

Injuries and Illnesses

Male

56%

Female

44%

State government 

Injuries and Illnesses

222.8

111.4

0

100

200

300

Incidence rate per 10,000

full-time workers

Nonfatal occupational injury and illness incidence rates and distribution of cases with days away 

from work by gender and ownership, 2017

The incidence rate of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses resulting in days away from work for male workers 

in private industry decreased to 95.2 cases per 10,000 full-time workers in 2017, down from 98.4 cases in 2016.

189.1

110.0

0.0

100.0

200.0

300.0

Incidence rate per 10,000

full-time workers

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2018

Male 

61%

Female 

38%

Local government 

Injuries and Illnesses

10 View data
Median days away from work is a key measure of severity of injuries and illnesses resulting in days away from work. Half of 

the cases involved more days and half involved fewer days than the specified median. Workers 55 to 64 years old required 

more time to return to work than workers in other age groups and their incidence rate was among the highest in 2017.

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2018

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

by age of worker, all ownerships, 2017

20 15 10 5 0

16 to 19 years

20 to 24 years

25 to 34 years

35 to 44 years

45 to 54 years

65 years and over

55 to 64 years

0.0 50.0 100.0 150.0

15

14

12

9

6

5

4 112.1

96.3

89.1

90.8

106.0

109.5

92.1

Median days away from work

(All ownerships median days = 9)

Days-away-from-work rate

(All ownerships rate = 98.0)

11

View data
Nonfatal occupational injury and illness incidence rates for cases with days away from work by 

selected event or exposure, all ownership, 2013-17

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

Overexertion and

bodily reaction

Falls, slips, trips Contact with objects or

equipment

Violence and other

injuries by persons or

animals

Transportation

incidents

Event or exposure

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Incidence rate per 10,000 

full-time workers

Across the five-year period from 2013 to 2017, the rate of occupational injuries and illnesses resulting from 

overexertion and bodily reaction decreased from 37.7 cases per 10,000 full-time workers in 2013 to 32.0 cases in 2017.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2018

12

View data
Nonfatal occupational injury and illness incidence rates for cases with days away from work by 

selected nature of injury or illness, all ownership, 2013-17

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

Sprains, strains, tears Soreness, pain Cuts, lacerations,

punctures

Bruises, contusions Fractures

Nature of injury or illness

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Incidence rate per 10,000 full-time 

workers

The rate of occupational injuries and illnesses resulting in sprains, strains, or tears 

decreased from 40.2 cases per 10,000 full-time workers in 2013 to 35.0 cases in 2017.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2018

13

View data
In 2017, injuries and illnesses resulting in tendonitis led to 33 median days away from work, fractures led 

to 31 median days away, and carpal tunnel syndrome led to 30 median days away. Sprains, strains, and 

tears occurred at a rate of 35.0 cases per 10,000 full-time workers in 2017, down from 36.3 cases in 2016.

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2018

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

by nature, all ownerships, 2017

50 40 30 20 10 0

Punctures (except gunshots)

Cuts, lacerations, punctures

Cuts, lacerations

Chemical burns and corrosions

Heat (thermal) burns

Bruises, contusions

Multiple injuries with sprains

Multiple traumatic injuries

Soreness, pain

Sprains, strains, tears

Amputations

Multiple injuries with fractures

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Fractures

Tendonitis

0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0

33

31

30

24

22

11

9

8

7

5

5

4

4

4

3

8.7

35.0

Less than 0.5

8.6

1.4

17.1

7.2

1.7

8.9

0.6

Median days away from work

(All ownerships median days = 9)

Days-away-from-work rate

(All ownerships rate = 98.0)

Less than 0.5

Less than 0.5

Less than 0.5

2.4

1.1

View data 14
Eleven occupations had 20,000 or more days-away-from-work cases across all ownerships. Laborers and 

freight, stock, and material movers accounted for 6 percent of total cases resulting in days away from work. 

Police and sheriff’s patrol officers had the highest rate of injury and illness among these occupations.

Nonfatal occupational injury and illness number of cases with days away from work and incidence rates for selected 

occupations with 20,000 cases or more, all ownerships, 2017

Number of cases Incidence rate per 10,000 full-time workers

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2018

Light truck or delivery services

Construction laborers

Stock clerks and order fillers

Registered nurses

Retail salespersons

Police and sheriff's patrol officers

General maintenance and repair workers

Nursing assistants

Janitors & cleaners, except maids & 

housekeeping cleaners

Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

Laborers and freight, stock, and material 

movers, hand

90,000 60,000 30,000 0 0.0 175.0 350.0 525.0 700.0

64,410

47,860

35,580

34,210

30,580

27,120

25,200

24,540

23,990

23,290

22,830

110.0

314.5

447.5

231.0

80.0

165.8

285.7

262.1

293.0

278.1

305.4

Number of cases 

(Total=1,109,270)

Days-away-fromwork rate = 98.0

15

View data
0.0

50.0

100.0

150.0

Fall on same level Roadway incidents Struck by object

Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

0.0

50.0

100.0

150.0

Struck by object Overexertion in

lifting or lowering

Fall on same level

Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, 

hand*

0.0

50.0

100.0

150.0

Violence and other

injuries by persons

or animal

Fall on same level Roadway incidents

Police and sheriff’s patrol officers

0.0

50.0

100.0

150.0

Fall on same level Overexertion in

lifting or lowering

Violence and other

injuries by persons

or animal

Nursing assistants

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Nonfatal occupational injury and illness incidence rate for cases resulting in days away from work by selected occupations and 

leading event or exposure, all ownership, 2013-17

Incidence rate per 10,000 full-time workers

*Incidence rates are not available for 2014 for Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers.

Event or exposure

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2018

Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers; heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers; police and sheriff’s 

patrol officers; and nursing assistants were among occupations that had at least 20,000 days-away-from-work 

cases in 2017. Falls on the same level was a common event leading to occupational injuries in these occupations. 

16

View data
Nonfatal occupational injury and illness incidence rates for cases involving days away from work for selected healthcare 

and protective service occupations by ownership, 2017

These occupations often are employed in both the private and public sectors. In state government, 

the incidence rate of psychiatric aides (1,160.7 cases per 10,000 full-time workers) in 2017 was 

over seven-times greater than the incidence rate for all state government workers (143.8 cases).

Private industry

Local government

State government

Incidence rate per 10,000 full-time workers

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2018

Registered nurses

Psychiatric technicians

Psychiatric aides

Police and sheriff's patrol officers

Nursing assistants

Licensed practical and licensed

vocational nurses

Firefighters

Emergency medical technicians

and paramedics

0.0 200.0 400.0 600.0 800.0 1,000.0 1,200.0 1,400.0

17

View data
Nonfatal occupational injury and illness incidence rates of musculoskeletal disorders with days away from work 

by ownership, 2017

Musculoskeletal disorders accounted for 32 percent of days-away-from-work cases in 2017 in private industry 

and occurred at a rate of 28.6 cases per 10,000 full-time workers. This rate was down from 29.4 cases in 2016.

Number nonfatal occupational injury and illness cases of musculoskeletal disorders with days away from work 

by ownership, 2017

Number of injuries and illnesses with days away from work

Incidence rate per 10,000 full-time workers

Local government

State government

Private industry

Local government

State government

Private industry

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2018

0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0

28.6

38.0

44.8

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

282,750

15,210

47,010

18

View data
Nonfatal occupational injury and illness incidence rates and number of cases of 

musculoskeletal disorders by selected occupations, all ownerships, 2017

These ten occupations had at least 0.1 percent of total employment. The incidence rates for musculoskeletaldisorder cases increased for bus drivers from 173.3 cases per 10,000 full-time workers in 2016 and 

emergency medical technicians and paramedics from 167.3 cases per 10,000 full-time workers in 2016.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2018

Rate per 10,000 full-time workers

Maids and housekeeping cleaners

Light truck or delivery services 

drivers

Laborers and freight, stock, 

and material movers, hand

Telecom equipment installers & 

repairers, except line installers 

Reservation & transportation 

ticket agents & travel clerks

Highway maintenance workers

Nursing assistants

Firefighters

Emergency medical 

technicians and paramedics

Bus drivers, transit & intercity

Number of cases

250.0 200.0 150.0 100.0 50.0 0.0 0 8,000 16,000 24,000 32,000

206.2

187.4

167.5

166.3

164.2

127.2

119.6

117.6

105.7

100.7

2,540

4,310

5,680

18,090

2,060

1,510

2,470

24,800

8,680

6,760

Number of MSD cases 

(Total=344,970)

Days-away-fromwork MSD rate = 30.5

19

View data