Page 1

Occupations with the Most Injuries and Illnesseswith Days Away from Work, 2003

Injuries and Illnesses(1,315,920 injuries and illnesses that resulted in days away from work)

Laborers and material movers suffered the most injuries and illnesses with days away from work, followed byheavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers and nursing aides, orderlies and attendants.

SOURCE:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

20,650

26,520

29,480

33,280

35,420

35,660

41,620

56,820

71,900

89,510

0 20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000 100,000

Registered nurses

Stock clerks and order fillers

Carpenters

Light or delivery service truck drivers

Retail salespersons

Janitors and cleaners

Construction laborers

Nursing aides, orderlies, attendants

Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

Laborers and material movers

Page 2

Shares of Employment and Nonfatal Injuries and Illnessesfor Occupations with the Most Injuries and Illnesses, 2003 

Drivers/sales workers and truck drivers; laborers and material movers; nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides; construction laborers, janitors and cleaners; carpenters; and stock clerks and order filers experienced a higher 

percentage of injuries and illnesses than their employment share. Retail salespersons and registered nurses experienced a lower percentage of injuries and illnesses than their employment share.  

SOURCE:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

Driver

s/sale

s wor

kers

and 

truck

 driv

ers

Labo

rers

 and

mat

erial

 mov

ers

Nursin

g, p

sych

iatric

,

hom

e he

alth 

aides

Constr

uctio

n

labor

ers

Janit

ors a

nd

clean

ers Ret

ail

sales

pers

ons

Carpe

nter

sSto

ck cl

erks

and 

orde

r file

rs

Regist

ered

nurs

es

0%

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

6%

7%

8%

9%

10%

Percentage of injuries and illnessesPercentage of employment

NOTE: CPS employment data was not available for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers; light or delivery service truck drivers; and nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants.  These occupations were included in higher level detail on this chart.

Page 3

Transportation and material movers; production workers; installation, maintenance, and repair workers;  construction and extraction workers, and service workers had a much higher share of injuries and illnesses 

than their employment share would suggest.

SOURCE:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

Total injuries and illnesses = 1,315,920 Employment - Current Population Survey, Private Wage and Salary Workers)

Employment and Nonfatal Injuries and Illnessesby Occupation Group, 2003

0.3%

19.8%

14.3%

8.3%

11.5%

1.2%

8.1%

6.6%

21.3%

6.6%

2.0%

7.0%

8.8%

4.0%

5.8%

0.9%

15.0%

12.9%

16.0%

16.6%

13.0%

0.0% 5.0% 10.0% 15.0% 20.0% 25.0%

Not reported

Transportation and Material Moving

Production

Installation, Maintenance, and Repair

Construction and Extraction

Farming, Fishing, and Forestry

Office and Administrative Support

Sales and Related

Service

Professional and Related

Management, Business, and Financial

Percentage employment

Percentage injuries/illnesses

Page 4

Occupations with the Highest Median Days Away from Work, 2003

Of the occupations with at least 1/2% of the total days away from work cases, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers had a median of 14 days.  Industrial machinery mechanics had a median of 12 days.  Industrial truck and tractor 

operators and light or delivery services truck drivers each had a median of 11 days.  This compared to a median of 8 days for all occupations.

SOURCE:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

Median days away from work

8

9

9

10

10

10

10

10

11

11

12

14

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

All occupations

Construction laborers

Home health aides

Assemblers and fabricators, all other

Electricians

Driver/sales workers

First-line supervisors/managers of construction

Packers and packagers, hand

Light or delivery services truck drivers

Industrial truck and tractor operators

Industrial machinery mechanics

Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

Page 5

Injuries and Illnesses with days away from work

(Total = 1,315,920 injuries and illnesses)

Serviceproducingindustries

Goodsproducingindustries

Employment(BLS- Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages) 

Good-producing industries make up about 21 percent of private industry employment but account for 31 percent of the injuries and illnesses with days away from work while service producing industries make up about 79 percent of the 

employment and 69 percent of the injuries and illnesses.

SOURCE:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

Employment and Nonfatal Injuries and Illnessesby Major Industry, 2003

Serviceproducingindustries

Goodsproducingindustries

21.5%

78.5%

31.0%

69.0%

Page 6

Hours Worked and Nonfatal Injuries and Illnessesby Gender of Worker, 2003

Almost two-thirds of the injured or ill workers were men, well above their 59 percent share of the nation’s hours worked.

Men

Women

Injuries and Illnesses with days away from work

(Total = 1,315,920 injuries and illnesses) 

Chart excludes unreported data.

Women

Men

Hours worked

(Current Population Survey, 

Private Wage and Salary Workers)

SOURCE:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

58.6%

41.4%

65.0%

35.0%

Page 7

16 - 1920 - 24 25 - 3435 - 44 45 - 5455 - 64 65+

Hours Worked and Nonfatal Injuries and Illnessesby Age of Worker, 2003

Injuries and Illnesses with days away from work

(Total = 1,315,920 injuries and illnesses)Chart excludes unreported data.

Hours worked(Current Population Survey, 

Private Wage and Salary Workers) 

A majority of injured or ill workers were 20 to 44 years old.  Workers 20 to 44 had a slightly higher share of injuries and illnesses, while workers 45 and older had a somewhat lower share, than each of their hours worked shares suggest.

SOURCE:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

3.3%

11.1%

24.2%

27.5%

21.9%

10.2%

1.9%3.2%

10.3%

24.3%

26.6%

22.6%

10.7%

2.3%

Page 8

Age ofworker

Median Days Away from Work Due to Nonfatal OccupationalInjury and Illness by Age of Worker, 2003

Median days away from work

The median days away from work due to nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses increased as the age of the worker increased.

SOURCE:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

3

4

5

6

9

11

12

18

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20

14 to 15

16 to 19

20 to 24

25 to 34

35 to 44

45 to 54

55 to 64

65 and over

All agesmedian

Page 9

Nonfatal Occupational Injuries and Illnessesby Length of Service, 2003

Workers who were with their employers for more than 5 years became injured or ill less often thantheir employment share suggests.

SOURCE:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

Injuries and Illnesses Employment

(Total =1,315,920 injuries and illnesses) (Current Population Survey, Private Wage and Salary Workers

January 2004) 

Not reported0.7%

32.1%

36.6%

30.6%

More than 5 years Less than 1 year

1 to 5 years

Less than 1 year23.0%

1 year to 5 years

31.2%

More than 5 years

45.8%

Page 10

sprains

Nurse

her back

lifting patient

while

her

Nature ofdisablingcondition

Eventor

exposure

Part of bodyaffected

Sourcedirectly

producingdisability

Injury and Illness Topology

Each injury or illness is described from four viewpoints.

SOURCE:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

Page 11

In goods producing industries, contact with objects and equipment and overexertion were the leading causes of injuries and illnesses.  In service providing industries, these same two events along with falls to the 

same level were the leading causes.SOURCE:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

Incidence rates of occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work due to contact with objects/equipment, falls to same level, and overexertion, 2003

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Other services

Leisure and hospitality

Education and health services

Professional and business services

Financial activities

Information

Trade, transportation, and utilities

Service providing

Manufacturing

Construction

Natural resources and mining

Goods producing

Private industry

Contact with objects/equipment

Fall to same level

Overexertion

Incidence rates represent the number of injuries and illnesses involving days away from work per 10,000 full-time workers

Page 12

The Nature of the Disabling Condition,Occupational Injuries and Illnesses with Days Away from Work, 2003

Nature of Injury or Illness(1,315,920 injuries and illnesses that resulted in days away from work)

Sprains and strains accounted for 563,910 cases or 43 percentof all nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses.

SOURCE:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

Sprains, strains42.9%

Fractures7.2%

Cuts, lacerations, punctures8.4%

All other16.0%

Back pain2.8%

Soreness, pain, except back5.0%

Amputations0.6%

Chemical burns0.6%

Bruises, contusions9.0%

Heat burns1.5%

Carpal tunnel syndrome1.7%

Tendonitis0.6%

Multiple injuries3.6%

Page 13

The Part of Body Affected,Occupational Injuries and Illnesses with Days Away from Work, 2003

Back Upperextrem-

ities

Lowerextrem-

ities

Trunk,exceptback

Multiplebodyparts

Head,except

eye

Eye Neck Bodysystems

Other

Percent

The back and the upper extremities were involved in almost one-half of all occupational injuries and illnesses.

SOURCE:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

23.1% 22.7%21.2%

12.8%

9.9%

3.6%2.8%

1.6% 1.4% 0.8%0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

Page 14

Nonfatal Occupational Injuries and Illnessesby Source of Injury or Illness, 2003

Source of Injury or Illness(1,315,920 injuries and illnesses that resulted in days away from work)

Four sources accounted for over half of all nonfatal injuries and illnesses that resulted indays away from work: floor, ground surfaces 18.8%; worker motion or position 15.4%; containers 13.1%;

and parts and materials 9.6%.

SOURCE:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

Chemicals, chemical products1.5%

Containers13.1%

Furniture, fixtures3.6%

Machinery6.2%

Parts and materials9.6%

Worker motion or position15.4%

Floor, ground surfaces18.8%

Handtools4.4%

Vehicles8.3%

Health care patient4.8%

All other14.5%

Page 15

Bodilyreaction

andexertion

Assaultsand

violentacts

The Manner in Which the Disabling Condition Occurred,Occupational Injuries and Illnesses with Days Away from Work, 2003

Bodily reaction and exertion, contact with objects and equipment, and falls accounted for almost 90% of nonfatal injuries and illnesses that resulted in days away from work.

SOURCE:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

Contact withobjects andequipment

Falls Transportationaccidents

Exposureto harmful

substances

Firesand

explosions

Other0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%42.1%

26.0%

20.2%

4.4% 4.2%

1.7%0.2%

1.2%

Page 16

Median Days Away from Work Due to Nonfatal OccupationalInjuries or Illnesses by Nature, 2003

Carpal tunnel syndrome had a median of 32 days away from work, followed byamputations and fractures with 30 days each.

SOURCE:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

Median days away from work

2

4

4

5

8

9

11

30

30

32

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

Chemical burns

Cuts, lacerations

Bruises, contusions

Heat burns

Sprains, strains, tears

Multiple injuries

Tendonitis

Fractures

Amputations

Carpal tunnel syndrome

All natures8 days

Page 17

Median Days Away from Work Due to Nonfatal OccupationalInjuries or Illnesses by Part of Body, 2003

Median days away from work

Injuries and illnesses to the shoulder (18 days), wrist (17 days), and to the knee (14 days) took the longest median time from which to recover.

SOURCE:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

2

2

4

5

5

6

7

7

7

8

9

9

10

14

17

18

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20

Head

Eye

Body systems

Hand, except finger

Finger

Toe

Back

Upper extremities

Foot, except toe

Neck

Trunk

Lower extremities

Multiple parts

Knee

Wrist

Shoulder

All parts of body8 days

Page 18

Median Days Away from Work Due to Nonfatal OccupationalInjuries or Illnesses by Event or Exposure, 2003

Repetitive motion, with a median of 22 days, resulted in the longest absences from work among the leadingevents and exposures.  Falls to a lower level with 15 days and transportation accidents with 14 days had the next longest 

median days away from work.

SOURCE:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

Median days away from work

3

5

5

5

8

8

9

9

10

10

14

15

22

0 5 10 15 20 25

Exposure to harmful substances

Struck by object

Struck against object

Assaults and violent acts by person

Caught in equipment

Slips, trips, loss of balance - without fall

Fall to same level

Overexertion in lifting

Overexertion

Fires and explosions

Transportation accidents

Fall to lower level

Repetitive motion

All events8 days

Page 19

Median Days Away from Work Due to Nonfatal OccupationalInjuries or Illnesses by Source, 2003

Median days away from work

Of the source of the injury or illness, worker motion or position; vehicles; floors, walkways, ground surfaces; and containers had medians higher than the national median days away from work.

SOURCE:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

3

5

5

6

7

7

9

10

11

12

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14

Chemicals and chemical products

Furniture and fixtures

Tools, instruments, and equipment

Health care patient

Machinery

Parts and materials

Containers

Floors, walkways, ground surfaces

Vehicles

Worker motion or position

All sources8 days

Page 20

Musculoskeletal Disorders with Days Away from Workby Nature of Injury or Illness, 2003

Sprains, strains, and tears accounted for over three-fourths of the musculoskeletal disorders that resultedin days away from work in 2003.

SOURCE:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

Nature of Injury or Illness(435,180 MSD cases that resulted in days away from work)

Sprains, strains, tears 76.1%

Back pain, hurt back 5.4%

Soreness, pain, hurt, except the back 5.0%

Carpal tunnel syndrome 5.1%

Hernia 4.8%

MSD system and connectivetissue diseases and disorders, except  tendonitis 2.0%

Tendonitis 1.5%