2013 Nonfatal Occupational 

Injuries and Illnesses: Cases 

with days away from work

Case and Demographics

January 2015
Local Government

State Government

Private Industry

All Ownerships

Rate per 10,000 full-time workers

Local Government

State Government

Private Industry

All Ownerships

Number of cases

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180

109

100

160

174

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

1,162,210

917,090

64,990

180,130

Rate of injuries and illnesses with days away from work,

by ownership, 2013

Number of injuries and illnesses with days away from work, 

by ownership, 2013

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

The 2013 incidence rate of nonfatal injuries and illnesses for all ownerships decreased by 2.1 percent from 2012. All other top line rates and 

numbers of injuries and illnesses by ownership remained statistically unchanged from 2012.
723,680 710,170 691,210 692,890 687,560

241,310 223,020 226,930 225,830 229,530

0

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Number of injuries and illnesses with days away from 

work, private industry, 2009-2013

Service-providing

Goods-producing

Total cases with days 

away from work

2009: 964,990

2010: 933,200

2011: 918,140

2012: 918,720

2013: 917,090

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

The total number of private industry injury and illnesses (917,090 cases) has remained statistically unchanged since 2010. Similarly, the number 

of injuries and illnesses for both goods-producing and service-providing sectors remained statistically unchanged for the last four years.
Number of cases Rate per 10,000 full-time workers

Number and incidence rate of injuries and illnesses for occupations 

with 20,000 cases or more, all ownerships, 2013

70,000 35,000 0

Stock clerks and order fillers

Light truck or delivery service drivers

Retail salespersons

Registered nurses

Police and sheriff's patrol officers

General maintenance and repair 

workers

Janitors and cleaners, except maids

Nursing assistants

Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

Laborers and freight, stock, and 

material movers

0 175 350 525

53,740

49,000

41,450

39,040

28,460

28,170

27,020

26,830

23,980

22,710

132

393

491

259

85

176

262

328

328

304

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

Number of cases 

(Total = 1,162,210)

Days away from

work rate = 109

Ten occupations had 20,000 or more cases across all ownerships. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers had the highest number of 

cases despite a 15 percent decrease from 2012. Police and sheriff’s patrol officers had the highest rate of injury and illness despite a 12 percent 

decrease from 2012. 
Rate per 10,000 full-time workers Number of cases

900 720 540 360 180 0 80,000

Construction laborers

Laborers and freight, stock, and 

material movers

Food preparation workers

Light truck or delivery services 

drivers

Heavy and tractor-trailer truck 

drivers

Heating, a/c and refrigeration 

mechanics and installers

Highway maintenance workers

Telecommunications line installers

Nursing assistants

Correctional officers and jailers

Firefighters

Police and sheriff's patrol officers

Transit and intercity bus drivers

0 20,000 40,000 60,000

677

491

457

421

393

387

374

330

328

328

321

304

302

7,440

28,170

14,540

15,970

41,450

4,330

4,450

7,320

49,000

23,980

17,010

53,740

20,710

Incidence rate and number of injuries and illnesses for occupations 

with high incidence rates, all ownerships, 2013

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, January 2015 Chart 4

Number of cases 

(Total = 1,162,210)

Days away from 

work rate = 109

These occupations are among the ones that had at least 0.1 percent of full-time equivalent employment throughout the United States in 2013. 

Transit and intercity bus drivers had the highest incidence rate of 677 cases per 10,000 full-time employees—nearly a 20 percent decrease from 

an incidence rate of 841 the prior year. Nursing assistants had an incidence rate at least three times greater than the rate for all workers. 
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

Rate per 10,000 full-time workers

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

Rates of injuries and illnesses for selected healthcare and protective 

service occupations, by ownership, 2013

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, January 2015 Chart 5

These occupations are frequently employed in both the private and public sectors. Psychiatric aides had very high rates among state government 

and private industry workers. The predominant source of injury or illness for these cases was health care patients. 
Distribution and rates of injuries and illnesses with days 

away from work, by gender where reported, 2013

107 91

0

100

200

300

Incidence Rate

Men

62%

Women

38%

Private Industry 

Injuries and Illnesses

199

131

0

100

200

300

Incidence Rate

Men

53%

Women

47%

State Government 

Injuries and Illnesses

236

125

0

100

200

300

Incidence Rate

Men

60%

Women

40%

Local Government 

Injuries and Illnesses

Rate per 10,000 full-time workers Rate per 10,000 full-time workers Rate per 10,000 full-time workers

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

The proportion of injuries and illnesses among male and female workers (where reported) was similar in the three ownership 

categories—with male workers having more cases than female workers. Men employed by local governments had higher rates of 

injury or illness than men in other ownerships.
Number of cases Hispanic or Latino workers percentage of total 

cases (where race or ethnicity reported)

30,000 20,000 10,000 0 75.0

Information

Other services

Financial activities

Natural resources and mining

Education and health services

Professional and business 

services

Construction

Leisure and hospitality

Manufacturing

Trade, transportation, and 

utilities

0.0 25.0 50.0

26,470

19,130

16,780

15,470

13,760

13,680

11,060

4,210

3,390

370

24.5

11.6

23.2

6.3

29.0

21.4

57.8

19.6

28.7

18.4

Number of injuries and illnesses and percentage of cases involving 

Hispanic or Latino workers by industry, private industry, 2013

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, January 2015 Chart 7

There were 124,330 injuries among Hispanic or Latino workers in 2013, statistically unchanged from 2012. 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 were to Hispanic or Latino workers. 
Median days away from work and incidence rate of injuries 

and illnesses by age of worker, all ownerships, 2013

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

15 10 5 0

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 over

0 50 100 150

14

13

11

9

6

5

4 111

102

101

108

120

115

97

Median days away from work

(All ownerships median days = 8)

Days-away-from-work rate 

(All ownership rate = 109)

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

Median days away from work is a key measure of severity of injuries and illnesses. The median increased as the age of the

worker increased. Workers 65 and older required the most median days away from work to recuperate among all age groups. However, this age 

group had an incidence rate of 97 cases per 10,000 full-time workers—among the lowest of all age groups.
Injury and illness topology

Nature of 

disabling 

condition

Nature of 

disabling 

condition

A nursing aide

sprains her back

from 

overexertion

while lifting a 

patient.

Source of 

injury or 

illness

Part of body 

affected

Event or 

exposure

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

Each injury or illness is described from four viewpoints. In survey year 2012, the Occupational Injury

and Illness Classification System (OIICS) version 2.01 was utilized to code narrative information. 
Distribution of injuries and illnesses by nature, 

all ownerships, 2013

Sprains, strains, tears,

36.7%

Soreness, pain,

17.4%

Cuts, lacerations, punctures,

8.5%

Bruises, contusions,

8.2%

Fractures,

7.9%

Multiple traumatic injuries,

2.8%

Heat burns, 1.4%

Carpal tunnel syndrome, 0.7%

Amputations, 0.6%

Chemical burns, 0.3%

Tendonitis, 0.2%

All other natures,

15.4%

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, January 2015 Chart 10

Sprains, strains, tears, made up over one-third of all injuries and illnesses in 2013. 

They accounted for 426,950 cases in 2013—down 4 percent from 2012.
Median days away from work and incidence rate due to injuries 

and illnesses by nature, all ownerships, 2013

Median days away from work

35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0

Punctures (except gunshots)

Cuts, lacerations, punctures

Cuts, lacerations

Heat burns

Bruises, contusions

Chemical burns and corrosions

Soreness, pain

Multiple injuries with sprains

Sprains, strains, tears

Multiple traumatic injuries

Tendonitis

Amputations

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Multiple injuries with fractures

Fractures

Rate per 10,000 full-time workers

0 9 18 27 36 45

32

30

28

27

14

11

10

9

8

5

4

4

4

4

3

9

40

1

9

2

19

7

2

9

1

Less than 1

1

1

3

Median days away from work

(All ownerships median days = 8)

Days-away-from-work rate 

(All ownership rate = 109)

Less than 1

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, January 2015 Chart 11

In 2013, fractures were the most severe nature of injuries and illnesses resulting in a median of 32 days away from work to recuperate. Among 

these fracture cases, nearly 40 percent of the injuries and illnesses occurred to hands and feet. Workers incurred sprains, strains, tears at rate of 

40 cases per 10,000 full-time workers, and required a median of 10 days away from work. 
Distribution of injuries and illnesses by part of body, 

all ownerships, 2013

Upper extremities,

29.7%

Lower extremities,

22.6%

Back,

18.2%

Multiple body parts,

11.1%

Head,

7.5%

Trunk, except back, 5.9%

Body systems, 2.2%

Neck, 1.5%

All other parts, 1.1%

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, January 2015 Chart 12

Upper extremities were the most frequently injured part of body with 345,560 cases. There 

were 263,220 injuries to lower extremities and 212,080 injuries to the back.
Rate per 10,000 full-time workers

Median days away from work

(All ownerships median days = 8)

Days-away-from-work rate 

(All ownership rate = 109)

Median days away from work

27 18 9 0

Eye(s)

Head

Finger(s), fingernail(s)

Hand(s), except finger(s)

Hand(s)

Back

Neck

Trunk

Toe, toenail

Foot

Ankle

Upper extremities

Arm(s)

Lower extremities

Wrist

Knee(s)

Shoulder(s)

0 9 18 27 36

24

16

14

12

11

10

9

9

9

8

7

7

6

5

5

3

2 2

8

2

20

26

8

5

4

13

1

9

33

10

6

5

1

25

Median days away from work and incidence rate due to injuries 

and illnesses by part of body, all ownerships, 2013

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

Injuries to the shoulder required the most time away from work to recuperate with a median of 24 days. 

Knee injuries required a median of 16 days to recuperate.
Persons, plants, animals, and 

minerals, 29.3%

Structures and surfaces,

19.6% Containers, furniture, and

fixtures, 15.0%

Vehicles,

9.5%

Tools, instruments, and

equipment, 8.4%

Parts and materials,

7.4%

Machinery, 4.8%

Chemicals and chemical products,

1.2%

All other sources, 4.8%

Distribution of injuries and illnesses by source, 

all ownerships, 2013

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, January 2015 Chart 14

Persons, plants, animals, and minerals were the source of injury or illness for 340,690 cases in 2013. More than half of these (177,370) involved 

bodily motion or position of the injured or ill worker while another 19 percent (65,060) involved health care patients.
Handtools

Median days away from work

30 24 18 12 6 0

Chemicals, chemical 

products

Patient

Furniture, fixtures

Person, other than injured 

or ill worker

Parts and materials

Cart, dolly, hand truck

Floors, walkways, ground 

surface

Machinery

Containers

Vehicles

Worker motion or position

Person, injured or ill 

worker

Trucks

Ladder

Rate per 10,000 full-time workers

0 4 8 12 16 20

24

18

13

13

11

10

10

10

10

8

8

7

7

5

3 1

12

5

5

8

18

11

17

6

18

2

5

3

1

10

Median days away from work and incidence rate due to injuries 

and illnesses by source, all ownerships, 2013

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, January 2015 Chart 15

Median days away from work

(All ownerships median days = 8)

Days-away-from-work rate 

(All ownership rate = 109)

Workers who sustained injuries and illnesses involving ladders required three times the 

recuperation time than for all workers at 24 median days away from work. 
Distribution of injuries and illnesses by event or exposure, 

all ownerships, 2013

Overexertion and bodily 

reaction, 34.4%

Falls, slips, trips,

25.5%

Contact with object, equipment,

23.1%

Violence and other injuries by

persons or animals, 6.5%

Transportation incidents, 5.1 %

Exposure to harmful substances

or environments, 4.3%

Fires and explosions, 0.2%

All other events, 0.9%

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

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

from work. The number cases resulting from falls, slips, trips increased by 2.3 percent from 2012.
Median days away from work Rate per 10,000 full-time workers

25 20 15 10 5 0

Exposure to harmful substances or 

environments

Contact with object, equipment

Struck against object or equipment

Struck by object or equipment

Intentional injury by other person

Fires and explosions

Overexertion in lifting or lowering

Caught in or compressed by 

objects or equipment

Fall on same level

Overexertion and bodily reaction

Falls, slips, trips

Slips, trips without fall

Transportation incidents

Fall to lower level

Repetitive motion involving 

microtasks

0 7 14 21 28 35 42

21

20

11

11

11

11

10

10

10

8

7

5

5

5

4

3

6

Less than 1

4

17

5

28

5

14

6

4

25

3

12

38

Median days away from work and incidence rate due to injuries 

and illnesses by event or exposure, all ownerships, 2013

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, January 2015 Chart 17

Median days away from work

(All ownerships median days = 8)

Days-away-from-work rate 

(All ownership rate = 109)

Cases of repetitive motion involving microtasks had a high median of 21 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 11 days, three more 

than the median for all events or exposures.
Ice, sleet, snow, 

13.4%

Liquids-nonchemical,

10.2%

Containers, furniture, 

and fixtures, 7.3%

Tools, instruments, 

and equipment, 1.5%

Vehicles, 1.0%

Machinery, 0.6%

All other secondary 

sources, 13.5%

Secondary source

not reported, 52.5%

Falls on same level by distribution of source and 

secondary source, all ownerships, 2013

Source Secondary

Source

Floors, walkways, 

ground surfaces, 85.4%

Furniture, fixtures,

4.1%

Vehicles,

1.6%

Containers,

1.6%

Parts and materials,

1.4%

All other sources,

5.9%

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, January 2015 Chart 18

In 2013, the predominant source of non-fatal injuries and illnesses was floors, walkways, ground surfaces. Ice, sleet, snow and non-chemical 

liquids were the contributing secondary source to falls on the same level in nearly one-quarter of the cases. All other secondary sources include 

cases where no secondary source was specified. More information on source and secondary source criteria can be found in the OIICS manual.
Local government

State government

Private industry

Rate per 10,000 full-time workers

0 13 26 39 52 65

34

45

53

Rate of musculoskeletal disorders with days away from work, 

by ownership, 2013

Number of musculoskeletal disorders with days away from work, 

by ownership, 2013

Local government

State government

Private industry

Number of cases

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

307,640

18,410

54,560

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, January 2015 Chart 19

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) accounted for 33 percent of all cases in 2013. The incidence rate for MSDs in 

2013 decreased from 2012 in private industry. Local government and state government workers had higher incidence rates of 

MSDs than private industry workers.
Rate per 10,000 full-time workers

320 240 160 80

Plumbers, pipefitters, and 

steamfitters

Heavy and tractor-trailer truck 

drivers

Heating, a/c and refrigeration 

mechanics and installers

Maids and housekeeping cleaners

Laborers and freight, stock, and 

material movers

Light truck or delivery services 

drivers

Transit and intercity bus drivers

Telecommunications line 

installers

Nursing assistants

Firefighters

Number of cases

10,000 20,000 30,000

232

208

179

162

131

119

112

106

105

103

7,380

22,000

2,000

1,780

9,580

21,080

7,510

2,350

15,730

3,280

Incidence rate and number of injuries and illnesses due to 

musculoskeletal disorders by selected occupations, all ownerships, 2013

0 0

Number of MSD cases

(Total=380,600)

MSD rate 

(All ownership rate = 36)

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, January 2015 Chart 20

These twelve occupations had at least 0.1 percent of total employment. Firefighters had the highest rate of MSDs 

among these occupations with 232 cases per 10,000 full-time workers. Nursing assistants and laborers and freight, stock, 

and material movers had the highest number of MSD cases in 2013.