News United States

Department

of Labor

Bureau of Labor Statistics W ashington, D.C. 20212

Technical information: (202) 606-6170 USDL 98-157

Media information: (202) 606-5902 For release: 10 A.M.EDT

Internet address: http://stats.bls.gov/oshhome.htm Thursday, April 23, 1998

LOST-WORKTIME INJURIES AND ILLNESSES: CHARACTERISTICS

AND RESULTING TIME AWAY FROM WORK, 1996

A total of 1.9 million injuries and illnesses requiring recuperation away from

work beyond the day of the incident were reported in private industry workplaces during

1996 according to a survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U. S. Department of Labor.

The following tabulation of the number of injuries and illnesses (in 1,000’s) resulting in

time away from work shows the decline in such incidents since 1992:

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996

Private industry 2,331.1 2,252.6 2,236.6 2,040.9 1,880.5

 Goods producing 903.3 854.5 864.8 780.0 697.9

 Service producing 1427.9 1398.1 1371.7 1261.0 1182.5

Table A presents the number of injuries and illnesses requiring recuperation away

from work for 1992 through 1996 for the 10 occupations that accounted for nearly onethird of such incidents. Truck drivers experienced the largest number of injuries and

illnesses with time away from work in all five years. Although the number of these

injuries and illnesses declined for all occupations by about 20 percent from 1992 to 1996,

injuries and illnesses for truck drivers increased by nearly 5 percent.

Table A. Number of occupational injuries and illnesses (in 1,000’s)

involving time away from work for selected occupations, 1992 - 1996

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996

Truck drivers 145.9 154.7 163.8 151.3 152.8

Laborers, nonconstruction 152.1 146.3 147.3 115.5 108.5

Nursing aides, orderlies 111.1 103.9 101.8 100.6 93.6

Janitors and cleaners 59.6 62.1 60.6 52.6 46.9

Assemblers 47.7 46.8 53.0 55.5 44.0

Construction laborers 57.1 54.6 55.7 43.5 43.7

Carpenters 34.3 34.8 37.4 35.0 33.5

Stock handlers and baggers 44.4 39.5 37.2 34.7 31.9

Cashiers 41.7 35.4 35.6 30.2 30.9

Cooks 36.1 42.5 36.3 35.4 30.7
Four out of ten injuries and illnesses resulting in time away from work in 1996

were sprains or strains, most often involving the back. This also held true for each of the

preceding four years. Although the number of incidents for all types of injuries and

illnesses involving recuperation away from work declined by about 20 percent from 1992

to 1996, the decrease was less for amputations, carpal tunnel syndrome, and fractures.

Table B. Number of occupational injuries and illnesses (in 1,000’s)

involving time away from work for selected natures of injury and

illness, 1992 – 1996

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996

Sprains, strains 1,022.7 959.2 963.5 876.8 819.7

Bruises, contusions 222.7 211.2 212.0 192.1 174.9

Cuts, lacerations 173.6 169.9 164.6 153.2 133.2

Fractures 143.6 136.5 138.5 124.6 120.5

Carpal tunnel syndrome 33.0 41.0 38.3 31.5 29.9

Heat burns 41.0 37.7 37.3 36.1 29.0

Tendonitis 25.4 25.0 25.2 22.1 17.4

Chemical burns 15.7 15.7 16.5 13.9 11.6

Amputations 12.4 11.3 12.2 11.3 10.2

Worker and case characteristics

Worker characteristics detail the demographics of the injured or ill worker by

providing not only the occupation but also the gender and age of worker, occupational

group, length of service with employer at the time of the incident, and race or ethnic

origin (tables 1 and 2). Following are highlights of the 1996 findings for these worker

traits:

*Men accounted for two out of three of the 1.9 million cases, a proportion

somewhat higher than their share (55 percent) of private wage and salary workers.

*Workers aged 25 to 44 accounted for 57 percent of the cases and 54 percent of

the workers; workers aged 45 and over accounted for 24 percent of the cases and

29 percent of the workers.

*Operators, fabricators, and laborers led all other occupational groups, accounting

for 42 percent of the case total. This group includes three of the five individual

jobs with the largest number of lost worktime cases—truck drivers; laborers,

nonconstruction; and assemblers (table 3).

*Most workers had at least a year of service with their employer when they

sustained their injury or illness. Indeed, over a fourth had over five years of

service, suggesting that many experienced workers incur lost worktime injuries.

Case characteristics help identify the disabling condition resulting from the lost

worktime incident and how the incident happened. The survey contains four
characteristics to describe each disabling injury or illness (tables 4 through 6). To

illustrate, consider an injury to a nursing aide who sprains her back while lifting a patient.

The nature, or physical effect, is a sprain or strain; the part of body affected, her back; the

event, overexertion while lifting; and the source, the health care patient. Of the four

characteristics, only the source changes when coding a similar incident for a truck driver

who sprains his back trying to lift a box. Following are highlights of the 1996 findings

for these case characteristics:

*Sprain and strain was, by far, the leading nature of injury and illness in every

major industry division, ranging from slightly more than a third in Agriculture,

forestry, and fishing to 53 percent in Transportation and public utilities.

*The trunk, including the back, was the body part most affected by disabling

work incidents in every major industry division. Most other injuries and illnesses

were to upper or lower extremities.

*No one source of injury or illness stood out, although each of the following three

had nearly 15 percent of the case total: floors and other surfaces, worker motion

or position, and containers.

*Overexertion while maneuvering objects led all other disabling events or

exposures, cited in a fifth to a third of the cases in every major industry division.

Injury and illness severity

Besides identifying high risk situations, the survey also helps researchers focus on

those kinds of injuries and illnesses resulting in the lengthiest absences from work (tables

7 through 10). Median days away from work—the key survey measure of severity—

designates the point at which half the cases involved more days and half involved fewer

days. The median number of lost workdays for all cases was 5 days in 1996, with about a

fourth of the cases resulting in 21 days or more away from work. The survey also found

the following patterns:

*Among major disabling conditions, median days away from work were highest

for carpal tunnel syndrome (25 days), amputations (20 days), and fractures (17

days).

*Repetitive motion, such as grasping tools, scanning groceries, and typing,

resulted in the longest absences from work among the leading events and

exposures—a median of 17 days.

*Truck drivers had the highest median days away from work (10 days), followed

by construction laborers, sales supervisors and proprietors, and waiters and

waitresses (each with 8 days).
Technical note

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported annually on the number of daysaway-from-work injuries and illnesses in private industry and the rate of such incidents

since the early 1970s. The 1996 national survey marks the fifth year that BLS has

collected additional detailed information on such cases in the form of worker and case

characteristics data, including workdays lost, summarized in this release.

The number and frequency (incidence rates) of these cases are based on logs and

other records kept by private industry employers throughout the year. These records

reflect not only the year’s injury and illness experience but also the employer’s

understanding of which cases are work related under current recordkeeping guidelines of

the U.S. Department of Labor. The number of injuries and illnesses reported in a given

year also can be influenced by changes in the level of economic activity, working

conditions and work practices, worker experience and training, and the number of hours

worked.

The survey continues to measure the number of new work-related illness cases

which are recognized, diagnosed, and reported each year. In 1996, 94,700 of the 1.9

million cases with days away from work were classified as illnesses. Some conditions,

e.g., long-term latent illnesses caused by exposure to carcinogens, often are difficult to

relate to the workplace and are not adequately recognized and reported. These long-term

latent illnesses are believed to be understated in the survey. In contrast, the

overwhelming majority of the reported new illnesses are those which are easier to

directly relate to workplace activity (e.g., contact dermatitis or carpal tunnel syndrome).

The Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses is a Federal/State program

(50/50 funded) in which employer reports are collected from about 165,000 private

industry establishments and processed by state agencies cooperating with the Bureau of

Labor Statistics. Occupational injury and illness data for coal, metal, and nonmetal

mining and for railroad activities were provided by the Department of Labor’s Mine

Safety and Health Administration and the Department of Transportation’s Federal

Railroad Administration. The survey excludes all fatalities at work and work-related

nonfatal injuries and illnesses to the self employed; workers on farms with fewer than 11

employees; private household workers; and employees in federal, state, and local

government agencies.

The survey estimates of the characteristics of cases with days away from work are

based on a scientifically selected probability sample, rather than a census of the entire

population. Two levels of sampling were used. First, establishments were selected to

represent themselves and, in many instances, other establishments of like industry and

workforce size that were not selected that survey year. Then, sampled establishments

projected to have large numbers of days away from work cases were instructed before the

survey began on how to sample those cases to minimize the burden of their response.

Because the data are based on a sample survey, the injury and illness estimates

probably differ from the figures that would be obtained from all units covered by the

survey. To determine the precision of each estimate, a standard error is calculated. The
standard error defines a range (confidence interval) around the estimate. The

approximate 95-percent confidence interval is the estimate plus or minus twice the

standard error. The standard error also can be expressed as a percent of the estimate, or

the relative standard error. For example, the 95-percent confidence interval for an

incidence rate of 6.5 per 100 full-time workers with a relative standard error of 1.0

percent would be 6.5 plus or minus 2 percent (2 times 1.0 percent) or 6.37 to 6.63. One

can be 95 percent confident that the “true” incidence rate falls within the confidence

interval. The 1996 incidence rate for all occupational injuries and illnesses of 7.4 per

100 full-time workers in private industry has an estimated relative standard error of about

0.7 percent. A relative standard error was calculated for each estimate from the survey

and will be published in a BLS bulletin that is scheduled to be available later in 1998.

The data are also subject to nonsampling error. The inability to obtain detailed

information about all cases in the sample, mistakes in recording or coding the data, and

definitional difficulties are general examples of nonsampling error in the survey.

Although not measured, nonsampling errors will always occur when statistics are

gathered. However, BLS has implemented quality assurance procedures to reduce

nonsampling error in the survey, including a rigorous training program for State coders

and a continuing effort to encourage survey participants to respond fully and accurately

to all survey elements.

Establishments are classified in industry categories based on the 1987 Standard

Industrial Classification (SIC) Manual, as defined by the Office of Management and

Budget. In the trucking and warehousing and transportation by air industries, SIC coding

changes that were introduced with the 1996 BLS Covered Employment and Wages

program were incorporated into the estimates for the 1996 survey. Because of these

changes, estimates for 1996 for the following industries are not comparable to estimates

for prior years: trucking and warehousing (SIC 42); trucking and courier services,

excluding air (SIC 421); public warehousing and storage (SIC 422); trucking terminal

facilities (SIC 423); transportation by air (SIC 45); air transportation, scheduled (SIC

451); air transportation, nonscheduled (SIC 452); transportation services (SIC 47); freight

transportation arrangement (SIC 473); and miscellaneous transportation services (SIC

478). In addition, the 1996 estimates for transportation and public utilities may have

more variability than those for prior years.

The four case characteristics used to describe lost worktime injury and illness are

based on definitions and rules of selection stipulated in the 1992 BLS Occupational

Injury and Illness Classification System. The occupation of the injured or ill worker is

based on the 1990 Occupational Classification System developed by the Bureau of the

Census.
Table 1. Number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work 1 by selected worker characteristics and industry division, 1996

(Numbers in thousands)

Characteristic Private industry 2

Goods-producing Service-producing

Agriculture,

forestry,

and

fishing 2

Mining 3 Construction Manufactur- ing

Transportation and

public

utilities 3,4

Wholesale

trade Retail trade

Finance,

insurance,

and real

estate

Services

Total .............................................................. 1,880.5 38.3 15.1 182.3 462.2 224.0 144.7 322.0 42.8 449.0

Sex:

Men ..................................................................... 1,240.0 31.5 14.7 177.2 343.5 178.1 126.8 176.3 20.9 171.1Women ............................................................... 620.5 6.6 .3 4.4 115.7 39.5 17.4 140.2 21.6 274.9

Age: 5

14 to 15 years ..................................................... 1.5 .1 – – – – .1 .8 – .516 to 19 years ..................................................... 73.8 2.1 .2 5.1 11.9 5.0 4.5 28.1 .8 16.020 to 24 years ..................................................... 231.3 6.3 1.6 24.5 53.6 19.6 18.8 51.7 4.0 51.225 to 34 years ..................................................... 559.9 12.7 3.5 63.1 133.8 64.0 47.6 91.9 12.5 130.835 to 44 years ..................................................... 511.7 9.0 5.2 51.6 133.4 65.4 40.1 72.0 11.8 123.145 to 54 years ..................................................... 304.4 4.7 3.0 21.9 83.9 46.1 21.6 41.0 7.9 74.355 to 64 years ..................................................... 126.5 2.0 1.2 9.3 33.7 14.4 7.2 19.0 4.0 35.765 years and over ............................................... 17.7 .3 – .7 3.3 1.3 1.0 4.1 .7 6.2

Occupation:

Managerial and professional specialty ............... 106.8 .4 .3 1.9 7.1 3.1 5.1 10.8 6.4 71.5Technical, sales, and administrative support ...... 274.0 1.2 .2 2.7 26.4 29.4 20.0 105.0 16.4 72.7Service ................................................................ 332.5 .6 – .7 8.6 13.1 1.8 81.2 10.5 215.8Farming, forestry, and fishing ............................. 45.1 28.8 .2 .2 2.7 1.3 1.6 1.4 2.0 6.9Precision production, craft, and repair ................ 309.0 1.5 6.9 107.0 79.7 28.2 18.4 34.5 4.2 28.7Operators, fabricators, and laborers ................... 797.6 5.6 7.2 68.5 332.1 147.6 96.8 86.1 3.1 50.6

Length of service with employer:

Less than 3 months ............................................ 235.4 8.8 1.8 35.9 49.4 17.7 19.9 48.2 3.9 49.93 to 11 months .................................................... 342.9 7.2 2.7 40.7 69.1 31.0 26.9 66.9 7.0 91.31 to 5 years ......................................................... 587.8 13.1 4.2 58.0 142.1 53.8 49.4 104.9 14.0 148.2More than 5 years ............................................... 506.3 6.7 5.3 34.1 158.8 77.5 38.5 63.5 12.9 109.1Not reported ........................................................ 208.1 2.4 1.1 13.6 43.0 44.0 9.9 38.6 5.0 50.6

Race or ethnic origin:

White, non-Hispanic ........................................... 1,001.4 15.0 3.7 120.7 262.0 91.1 83.8 176.2 21.1 227.8Black, non-Hispanic ............................................ 165.7 1.5 .1 8.9 39.0 19.8 12.7 19.7 3.9 60.2Hispanic .............................................................. 169.3 16.5 1.0 19.7 45.1 12.4 12.8 21.7 4.5 35.8Asian or Pacific Islander ..................................... 27.0 .1 – 1.2 7.2 1.9 2.5 4.3 .9 8.9American Indian or Alaskan Native .................... 7.3 .1 .1 1.1 1.7 .6 .4 .8 .2 2.4Not reported ........................................................ 509.8 5.1 10.2 30.7 107.4 98.2 32.5 99.5 12.2 114.0

1 Days-away-from-work cases include those which result in days away from work with or without

restricted work activity. 2 Excludes farms with fewer than 11 employees. 3 Data conforming to OSHA definitions for mining operators in coal, metal, and nonmetal mining and foremployers in railroad transportation are provided to BLS by the Mine Safety and Health Administration, U.S.Department of Labor; and by the Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. Independent mining contractors are excluded from the coal, metal, and nonmetal industries. 4 In 1996, air courier operations previously classified in Industry Groups 421, 422, 423, 452, 473, and478 were reclassified to Industry Group 451. As a result, the 1996 estimates for these SIC’s and Major

Industry Groups 42, 45, and 47 are not comparable to those for prior years. In addition, the 1996 estimatesfor transportation and public utilities may have more variability than those for prior years. 5 Information is not shown separately in this release for injured workers under age 14; they accounted

for fewer than 50 cases.

NOTE: Dashes indicate data that are not available. Because of rounding and nonclassifiable responses,

data may not sum to the totals.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor
Table 2. Percent distribution of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work 1 by selected worker characteristics and industry division, 1996

Characteristic Private industry 2

Goods-producing Service-producing

Agriculture,

forestry,

and

fishing 2

Mining 3 Construction Manufactur- ing

Transportation and

public

utilities 3,4

Wholesale

trade Retail trade

Finance,

insurance,

and real

estate

Services

Total [1,880,500 cases] ............................... 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Sex:

Men ..................................................................... 65.9 82.3 97.6 97.2 74.3 79.5 87.6 54.8 48.8 38.1Women ............................................................... 33.0 17.2 2.1 2.4 25.0 17.6 12.0 43.5 50.4 61.2

Age: 5

14 to 15 years ..................................................... .1 .2 – – – – .1 .2 – .116 to 19 years ..................................................... 3.9 5.6 1.3 2.8 2.6 2.2 3.1 8.7 2.0 3.620 to 24 years ..................................................... 12.3 16.6 10.4 13.4 11.6 8.8 13.0 16.0 9.3 11.425 to 34 years ..................................................... 29.8 33.3 23.2 34.6 28.9 28.6 32.9 28.5 29.1 29.135 to 44 years ..................................................... 27.2 23.6 34.8 28.3 28.9 29.2 27.7 22.3 27.7 27.445 to 54 years ..................................................... 16.2 12.2 20.2 12.0 18.2 20.6 14.9 12.7 18.5 16.555 to 64 years ..................................................... 6.7 5.3 7.6 5.1 7.3 6.4 5.0 5.9 9.3 7.965 years and over ............................................... .9 .7 – .4 .7 .6 .7 1.3 1.7 1.4

Occupation:

Managerial and professional specialty ............... 5.7 1.1 1.8 1.0 1.5 1.4 3.5 3.4 15.0 15.9Technical, sales, and administrative support ...... 14.6 3.2 1.5 1.5 5.7 13.1 13.8 32.6 38.2 16.2Service ................................................................ 17.7 1.5 – .4 1.9 5.9 1.3 25.2 24.6 48.1Farming, forestry, and fishing ............................. 2.4 75.2 1.3 .1 .6 .6 1.1 .4 4.7 1.5Precision production, craft, and repair ................ 16.4 4.0 45.7 58.7 17.2 12.6 12.7 10.7 9.7 6.4Operators, fabricators, and laborers ................... 42.4 14.6 47.7 37.5 71.8 65.9 66.9 26.7 7.2 11.3

Length of service with employer:

Less than 3 months ............................................ 12.5 22.9 11.7 19.7 10.7 7.9 13.7 15.0 9.1 11.13 to 11 months .................................................... 18.2 18.9 18.1 22.3 14.9 13.9 18.6 20.8 16.5 20.31 to 5 years ......................................................... 31.3 34.3 27.7 31.8 30.7 24.0 34.2 32.6 32.7 33.0More than 5 years ............................................... 26.9 17.5 35.4 18.7 34.3 34.6 26.6 19.7 30.1 24.3Not reported ........................................................ 11.1 6.3 7.0 7.4 9.3 19.6 6.9 12.0 11.7 11.3

Race or ethnic origin:

White, non-Hispanic ........................................... 53.3 39.1 24.6 66.2 56.7 40.7 57.9 54.7 49.3 50.7Black, non-Hispanic ............................................ 8.8 3.9 .7 4.9 8.4 8.8 8.8 6.1 9.1 13.4Hispanic .............................................................. 9.0 43.1 6.4 10.8 9.7 5.5 8.9 6.7 10.4 8.0Asian or Pacific Islander ..................................... 1.4 .4 – .7 1.5 .9 1.7 1.3 2.2 2.0American Indian or Alaskan Native .................... .4 .2 .7 .6 .4 .3 .3 .2 .4 .5Not reported ........................................................ 27.1 13.3 67.5 16.8 23.2 43.8 22.5 30.9 28.6 25.4

1 Days-away-from-work cases include those which result in days away from work with or without

restricted work activity. 2 Excludes farms with fewer than 11 employees. 3 Data conforming to OSHA definitions for mining operators in coal, metal, and nonmetal mining and foremployers in railroad transportation are provided to BLS by the Mine Safety and Health Administration, U.S.Department of Labor; and by the Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. Independent mining contractors are excluded from the coal, metal, and nonmetal industries. 4 In 1996, air courier operations previously classified in Industry Groups 421, 422, 423, 452, 473, and478 were reclassified to Industry Group 451. As a result, the 1996 estimates for these SIC’s and Major

Industry Groups 42, 45, and 47 are not comparable to those for prior years. In addition, the 1996 estimatesfor transportation and public utilities may have more variability than those for prior years. 5 Information is not shown separately in this release for injured workers under age 14; they accounted

for fewer than 50 cases.

NOTE: Dashes indicate data that are not available. Because of rounding and nonclassifiable responses,

percentages may not add to 100. 

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor
Table 3. Number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work 1 by selected occupations and industry division, 1996

(Numbers in thousands)

Occupation Private industry 2

Goods-producing Service-producing

Agriculture,

forestry,

and

fishing 2

Mining 3 Construction Manufactur- ing

Transportation and

public

utilities 3,4

Wholesale

trade Retail trade

Finance,

insurance,

and real

estate

Services

Total .............................................................. 1,880.5 38.3 15.1 182.3 462.2 224.0 144.7 322.0 42.8 449.0

Truck drivers ........................................................... 152.8 1.3 1.0 5.0 13.1 80.8 26.8 14.5 .2 10.0Laborers, nonconstruction ...................................... 108.5 1.2 1.6 – 37.7 6.9 29.1 16.7 1.9 13.5Nursing aides, orderlies .......................................... 93.6 – – – – – – – .5 93.1

Janitors and cleaners ............................................. 46.9 .5 – .3 7.3 1.2 1.2 6.7 6.5 23.3Assemblers ............................................................. 44.0 .1 – .6 39.2 .1 1.5 .7 – 1.7Construction laborers ............................................. 43.7 – – 42.9 .2 .3 – – .1 .2Carpenters .............................................................. 33.5 – – 25.9 3.1 .1 .6 1.9 .4 1.5Stock handlers and baggers ................................... 31.9 .1 – – 2.0 .3 3.2 25.7 – .6Cashiers ................................................................. 30.9 – – – .1 .1 .4 27.7 .2 2.4Cooks ..................................................................... 30.7 – – .3 .2 .1 .1 19.6 .2 10.1Miscellaneous food preparation .............................. 28.9 – – – .2 – – 20.6 .2 7.8Registered nurses .................................................. 28.9 –––––––– 28.7

Maids and housemen ............................................. 27.2 – – – .1 .1 – .1 1.1 25.8Supervisors and proprietors, sales ......................... 26.9 – – .2 .4 .1 2.6 21.9 .5 1.4Welders and cutters ................................................ 26.1 .1 .3 3.0 18.2 .9 2.3 – – 1.4Sales workers, miscellaneous commodities ........... 25.2 – – – .2 .1 2.0 20.7 .3 1.8Automobile mechanics ........................................... 21.0 – – .1 .4 .6 1.4 11.7 – 6.8Shipping and receiving clerks ................................. 19.8 .1 – .1 6.5 5.8 2.2 4.2 – .9Groundskeepers and gardeners, except farm ........ 18.5 8.6 – .2 .2 .4 .2 1.0 1.9 5.9Driver-sales workers ............................................... 17.5 – – .1 4.1 .6 8.6 2.9 – 1.3Farm workers .......................................................... 16.0 14.0 .2 – .3 .8 .6 – – –Electricians ............................................................. 15.2 – .4 10.4 2.5 .6 .1 – – 1.0Health aides, except nursing .................................. 14.8 – – – – – – – .1 14.6

Plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters .......................... 13.4 .1 – 9.4 1.9 .4 .8 .2 .1 .5Industrial truck, tractor equipment operators .......... 13.2 .3 .4 .3 6.7 1.7 2.3 1.2 – .3Guards and police, except public ........................... 13.1 – – – .5 1.5 .2 1.5 .7 8.7Packaging machine operators ................................ 12.9 .1 – – 11.4 – 1.1 .1 – .1Waiters and waitresses .......................................... 12.5 – – – – .1 – 8.6 .1 3.7Stock and inventory clerks ...................................... 12.4 – – .1 2.5 .8 1.5 5.3 .1 2.1Supervisors, production .......................................... 12.2 .1 .1 – 8.7 .5 1.4 .6 .1 .6Industrial machinery repairers ................................ 11.9 – 1.4 .1 9.1 .3 .5 .1 – .4Licensed practical nurses ....................................... 11.8 – – – – – – – .1 11.7

Bus, truck, stationary engine mechanics ................ 11.4 – – .3 .7 5.0 2.6 1.4 – 1.5Kitchen workers, food preparation .......................... 11.2 – – – .1 – – 10.2 – .9

1 Days-away-from-work cases include those which result in days away from work with or without

restricted work activity. 2 Excludes farms with fewer than 11 employees. 3 Data conforming to OSHA definitions for mining operators in coal, metal, and nonmetal mining and foremployers in railroad transportation are provided to BLS by the Mine Safety and Health Administration, U.S.Department of Labor; and by the Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. Independent mining contractors are excluded from the coal, metal, and nonmetal industries. 4 In 1996, air courier operations previously classified in Industry Groups 421, 422, 423, 452, 473, and478 were reclassified to Industry Group 451. As a result, the 1996 estimates for these SIC’s and Major

Industry Groups 42, 45, and 47 are not comparable to those for prior years. In addition, the 1996 estimatesfor transportation and public utilities may have more variability than those for prior years.

NOTE: Dashes indicate data that are not available. Because of rounding and occupations not shown,

data may not sum to the totals.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor
Table 4. Number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work 1 by selected injury or illness characteristics and industry division, 1996

(Numbers in thousands)

Characteristic Private industry 2

Goods-producing Service-producing

Agriculture,

forestry,

and

fishing 2

Mining 3 Construction Manufactur- ing

Transportation and

public

utilities 3,4

Wholesale

trade Retail trade

Finance,

insurance,

and real

estate

Services

Total .............................................................. 1,880.5 38.3 15.1 182.3 462.2 224.0 144.7 322.0 42.8 449.0

Nature of injury, illness:

Sprains, strains ................................................... 819.7 13.1 5.8 68.6 176.7 117.7 64.3 135.0 17.2 221.2Bruises, contusions ............................................ 174.9 3.6 1.6 12.9 41.3 22.4 14.3 36.5 3.0 39.1Cuts, lacerations ................................................. 133.2 3.8 1.4 18.7 38.3 7.6 8.4 31.9 2.6 20.6Fractures ............................................................ 120.5 2.9 2.1 18.1 31.2 12.3 10.2 18.9 2.8 21.9Carpal tunnel syndrome ..................................... 29.9 .2 – 1.3 12.4 1.6 1.4 4.6 1.6 6.7Heat burns .......................................................... 29.0 .3 .2 2.2 8.4 1.0 1.0 8.8 .4 6.7Tendonitis ........................................................... 17.4 .2 – .5 8.9 1.0 .8 2.3 .5 3.3Chemical burns ................................................... 11.6 .1 .1 .8 4.3 .8 1.0 2.0 .2 2.2Amputations ........................................................ 10.2 .3 .1 1.2 5.5 .4 .9 1.1 .1 .6Multiple injuries ................................................... 60.3 1.3 .9 5.4 12.9 6.4 5.6 10.2 1.7 15.7

Part of body affected:

Head ................................................................... 124.0 3.7 1.2 15.5 34.7 13.0 9.3 20.4 2.9 23.3

Eye ................................................................. 66.0 1.8 .5 10.6 23.3 5.5 5.2 8.3 1.3 9.4

Neck ................................................................... 34.5 .5 .4 2.5 6.9 5.9 2.8 5.6 .8 9.2Trunk .................................................................. 715.6 14.5 5.3 63.8 161.5 95.6 59.2 117.3 12.8 185.5

Shoulder ......................................................... 96.5 1.9 .6 7.7 24.9 14.9 7.3 13.7 1.7 23.7Back ................................................................ 490.6 9.3 3.5 43.9 104.4 63.6 41.0 81.7 9.0 134.1

Upper extremities ............................................... 425.6 7.8 3.1 41.7 141.4 34.0 27.4 80.1 10.5 79.6

Wrist ............................................................... 95.0 1.2 .4 7.1 31.1 7.8 5.0 16.1 3.7 22.6Hand, except finger ........................................ 75.6 2.2 .3 9.0 22.2 5.4 5.3 16.4 1.3 13.5Finger ............................................................. 152.6 2.8 1.7 16.4 57.3 9.1 10.7 29.9 2.7 22.2

Lower extremities ............................................... 375.5 7.7 3.6 40.8 80.8 49.2 31.0 66.6 8.4 87.4

Knee ............................................................... 127.6 2.2 1.4 14.2 26.4 17.4 9.1 23.2 3.0 30.8Foot, except toe .............................................. 68.4 1.5 .5 6.9 17.0 8.4 6.9 13.5 1.1 12.5Toe ................................................................. 23.4 .5 .2 2.6 5.7 2.2 2.9 4.8 .2 4.2

Body systems ..................................................... 26.8 .6 .1 1.9 5.5 2.6 .9 3.3 1.5 10.4Multiple parts ...................................................... 161.0 2.9 1.2 14.3 27.2 22.0 12.7 25.9 5.5 49.3

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 4. Number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work 1 by selected injury or illness characteristics and industry division, 1996 —

Continued(Numbers in thousands)

Characteristic Private industry 2

Goods-producing Service-producing

Agriculture,

forestry,

and

fishing 2

Mining 3 Construction Manufactur- ing

Transportation and

public

utilities 3,4

Wholesale

trade Retail trade

Finance,

insurance,

and real

estate

Services

Source of injury, illness:

Chemicals and chemical products ...................... 34.9 0.6 1.0 2.0 10.9 2.3 1.9 5.3 0.8 10.0

Containers .......................................................... 272.9 3.3 .9 9.4 64.7 48.5 31.8 72.3 4.2 37.6Furniture and fixtures .......................................... 68.6 .2 .1 3.9 12.8 3.5 3.7 18.0 2.2 24.1Machinery ........................................................... 123.2 2.6 2.2 11.3 51.7 6.9 9.5 21.0 2.3 15.8Parts and materials ............................................. 208.9 2.7 2.5 44.2 82.3 19.9 19.4 19.3 1.8 16.8Worker motion or position ................................... 273.0 4.6 .4 21.8 84.9 32.7 16.8 40.2 8.0 63.6Floors, walkways, ground surfaces .................... 304.5 6.4 2.2 32.9 48.7 40.0 19.4 60.5 11.4 83.0Tools, instruments, and equipment .................... 114.3 3.9 1.2 19.2 29.3 8.3 6.0 20.7 1.9 23.7Vehicles .............................................................. 151.0 3.6 1.5 10.4 22.1 37.3 19.9 23.2 2.5 30.4Health care patient ............................................. 86.7 – – – – 1.4 .1 – .4 84.7

Event or exposure:

Contact with objects and equipment .................. 492.9 12.1 6.5 60.0 152.9 44.9 42.3 88.5 8.1 77.6

Struck by object .............................................. 238.9 5.6 3.2 32.6 65.1 21.7 21.7 48.1 3.7 37.1Struck against object ...................................... 127.5 3.6 1.3 13.7 35.0 12.0 9.9 24.3 2.7 24.9Caught in equipment or object ........................ 79.5 1.5 1.7 5.9 37.7 5.9 7.2 9.8 .7 9.0

Fall to lower level ................................................ 98.5 2.9 1.5 21.4 14.6 17.1 7.9 11.7 3.6 17.9Fall to same level ................................................ 219.4 3.6 1.1 14.6 37.6 24.1 11.6 52.2 8.1 66.7Slips, trips, loss of balance–without fall .............. 59.3 1.0 .1 5.4 12.2 8.2 3.7 10.8 1.3 16.5Overexertion ....................................................... 526.6 7.3 3.9 42.0 120.0 68.2 45.2 84.1 8.1 147.7

Overexertion in lifting ...................................... 311.9 4.2 1.5 24.1 66.4 38.6 29.2 59.5 5.3 83.1

Repetitive motion ................................................ 73.8 .5 .1 2.9 36.6 4.1 3.3 9.7 3.6 13.1Exposure to harmful substances ........................ 87.2 2.0 .6 7.1 24.9 6.7 4.4 15.8 2.0 23.8Transportation accidents .................................... 77.6 2.0 .4 7.3 8.7 18.3 10.5 10.8 1.9 17.7Fires and explosions ........................................... 4.1 .1 .1 .9 1.1 .5 .3 .5 .1 .6Assaults and violent acts by person ................... 18.5 .1 – .2 .5 .7 .2 3.3 .5 13.1

1 Days-away-from-work cases include those which result in days away from work with or without

restricted work activity. 2 Excludes farms with fewer than 11 employees. 3 Data conforming to OSHA definitions for mining operators in coal, metal, and nonmetal mining and foremployers in railroad transportation are provided to BLS by the Mine Safety and Health Administration, U.S.Department of Labor; and by the Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. Independent mining contractors are excluded from the coal, metal, and nonmetal industries. 4 In 1996, air courier operations previously classified in Industry Groups 421, 422, 423, 452, 473, and478 were reclassified to Industry Group 451. As a result, the 1996 estimates for these SIC’s and Major

Industry Groups 42, 45, and 47 are not comparable to those for prior years. In addition, the 1996 estimatesfor transportation and public utilities may have more variability than those for prior years.

NOTE: Dashes indicate data that are not available. Because of rounding and classifications not shown,

data may not sum to the totals. 

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor
Table 5. Percent distribution of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work 1 by selected injury or illness characteristics and industry division, 1996

Characteristic Private industry 2

Goods-producing Service-producing

Agriculture,

forestry,

and

fishing 2

Mining 3 Construction Manufactur- ing

Transportation and

public

utilities 3,4

Wholesale

trade Retail trade

Finance,

insurance,

and real

estate

Services

Total [1,880,500 cases] ............................... 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Nature of injury, illness:

Sprains, strains ................................................... 43.6 34.2 38.8 37.6 38.2 52.6 44.4 41.9 40.1 49.3Bruises, contusions ............................................ 9.3 9.5 10.4 7.1 8.9 10.0 9.9 11.3 7.1 8.7Cuts, lacerations ................................................. 7.1 9.9 9.0 10.3 8.3 3.4 5.8 9.9 6.2 4.6Fractures ............................................................ 6.4 7.7 14.0 9.9 6.8 5.5 7.0 5.9 6.4 4.9Carpal tunnel syndrome ..................................... 1.6 .5 – .7 2.7 .7 1.0 1.4 3.8 1.5Heat burns .......................................................... 1.5 .7 1.4 1.2 1.8 .5 .7 2.7 .9 1.5Tendonitis ........................................................... .9 .4 – .3 1.9 .4 .5 .7 1.3 .7Chemical burns ................................................... .6 .3 .7 .4 .9 .4 .7 .6 .6 .5Amputations ........................................................ .5 .7 .7 .7 1.2 .2 .6 .3 .2 .1Multiple injuries ................................................... 3.2 3.5 6.2 3.0 2.8 2.9 3.9 3.2 3.9 3.5

Part of body affected:

Head ................................................................... 6.6 9.7 7.8 8.5 7.5 5.8 6.4 6.3 6.7 5.2

Eye ................................................................. 3.5 4.8 3.1 5.8 5.0 2.5 3.6 2.6 3.1 2.1

Neck ................................................................... 1.8 1.3 2.4 1.4 1.5 2.6 1.9 1.7 1.9 2.1Trunk .................................................................. 38.1 37.9 35.3 35.0 34.9 42.7 40.9 36.4 29.9 41.3

Shoulder ......................................................... 5.1 5.0 4.2 4.2 5.4 6.6 5.1 4.3 4.0 5.3Back ................................................................ 26.1 24.3 23.0 24.1 22.6 28.4 28.3 25.4 21.1 29.9

Upper extremities ............................................... 22.6 20.4 20.7 22.9 30.6 15.2 19.0 24.9 24.4 17.7

Wrist ............................................................... 5.0 3.1 2.6 3.9 6.7 3.5 3.5 5.0 8.6 5.0Hand, except finger ........................................ 4.0 5.8 2.3 4.9 4.8 2.4 3.6 5.1 3.0 3.0Finger ............................................................. 8.1 7.3 11.1 9.0 12.4 4.0 7.4 9.3 6.3 4.9

Lower extremities ............................................... 20.0 20.2 24.1 22.4 17.5 21.9 21.4 20.7 19.6 19.5

Knee ............................................................... 6.8 5.8 9.0 7.8 5.7 7.8 6.3 7.2 7.0 6.9Foot, except toe .............................................. 3.6 4.0 3.5 3.8 3.7 3.7 4.8 4.2 2.6 2.8Toe ................................................................. 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.2 1.0 2.0 1.5 .5 .9

Body systems ..................................................... 1.4 1.5 .9 1.1 1.2 1.2 .6 1.0 3.5 2.3Multiple parts ...................................................... 8.6 7.7 8.2 7.9 5.9 9.8 8.8 8.0 12.8 11.0

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 5. Percent distribution of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work 1 by selected injury or illness characteristics and industry division, 1996

— Continued

Characteristic Private industry 2

Goods-producing Service-producing

Agriculture,

forestry,

and

fishing 2

Mining 3 Construction Manufactur- ing

Transportation and

public

utilities 3,4

Wholesale

trade Retail trade

Finance,

insurance,

and real

estate

Services

Source of injury, illness:

Chemicals and chemical products ...................... 1.9 1.7 6.8 1.1 2.4 1.0 1.3 1.6 1.8 2.2

Containers .......................................................... 14.5 8.7 6.2 5.2 14.0 21.6 22.0 22.5 9.7 8.4Furniture and fixtures .......................................... 3.6 .6 .5 2.1 2.8 1.6 2.6 5.6 5.2 5.4Machinery ........................................................... 6.6 6.7 14.3 6.2 11.2 3.1 6.6 6.5 5.4 3.5Parts and materials ............................................. 11.1 7.1 16.7 24.2 17.8 8.9 13.4 6.0 4.1 3.7Worker motion or position ................................... 14.5 12.0 2.8 11.9 18.4 14.6 11.6 12.5 18.7 14.2Floors, walkways, ground surfaces .................... 16.2 16.7 14.7 18.0 10.5 17.8 13.4 18.8 26.7 18.5Tools, instruments, and equipment .................... 6.1 10.2 8.0 10.5 6.3 3.7 4.1 6.4 4.5 5.3Vehicles .............................................................. 8.0 9.5 10.0 5.7 4.8 16.7 13.7 7.2 5.9 6.8Health care patient ............................................. 4.6 – – – – .6 – – 1.0 18.9

Event or exposure:

Contact with objects and equipment .................. 26.2 31.7 43.2 32.9 33.1 20.1 29.2 27.5 18.8 17.3

Struck by object .............................................. 12.7 14.6 21.5 17.9 14.1 9.7 15.0 14.9 8.7 8.3Struck against object ...................................... 6.8 9.3 8.9 7.5 7.6 5.4 6.9 7.5 6.2 5.5Caught in equipment or object ........................ 4.2 4.0 11.2 3.3 8.2 2.6 5.0 3.0 1.7 2.0

Fall to lower level ................................................ 5.2 7.6 10.0 11.7 3.2 7.6 5.4 3.6 8.5 4.0Fall to same level ................................................ 11.7 9.3 7.6 8.0 8.1 10.7 8.0 16.2 18.9 14.8Slips, trips, loss of balance–without fall .............. 3.2 2.7 .9 2.9 2.6 3.7 2.6 3.4 3.0 3.7Overexertion ....................................................... 28.0 19.1 26.0 23.0 26.0 30.4 31.3 26.1 19.0 32.9

Overexertion in lifting ...................................... 16.6 10.9 10.1 13.2 14.4 17.2 20.2 18.5 12.4 18.5

Repetitive motion ................................................ 3.9 1.3 .5 1.6 7.9 1.8 2.3 3.0 8.4 2.9Exposure to harmful substances ........................ 4.6 5.3 3.7 3.9 5.4 3.0 3.0 4.9 4.6 5.3Transportation accidents .................................... 4.1 5.1 2.9 4.0 1.9 8.2 7.2 3.4 4.4 4.0Fires and explosions ........................................... .2 .3 .8 .5 .2 .2 .2 .2 .3 .1Assaults and violent acts by person ................... 1.0 .2 – .1 .1 .3 .1 1.0 1.3 2.9

1 Days-away-from-work cases include those which result in days away from work with or without

restricted work activity. 2 Excludes farms with fewer than 11 employees. 3 Data conforming to OSHA definitions for mining operators in coal, metal, and nonmetal mining and foremployers in railroad transportation are provided to BLS by the Mine Safety and Health Administration, U.S.Department of Labor; and by the Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. Independent mining contractors are excluded from the coal, metal, and nonmetal industries. 4 In 1996, air courier operations previously classified in Industry Groups 421, 422, 423, 452, 473, and478 were reclassified to Industry Group 451. As a result, the 1996 estimates for these SIC’s and Major

Industry Groups 42, 45, and 47 are not comparable to those for prior years. In addition, the 1996 estimatesfor transportation and public utilities may have more variability than those for prior years.

NOTE: Dashes indicate data that are not available. Because of rounding and classifications not shown,

percentages may not add to 100.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor
Table 6. Incidence rates 1 for nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work 2 per 10,000 full-time workers for selected characteristics and industry

division, 1996

Characteristic Private industry 3

Goods-producing Service-producing

Agriculture,

forestry,

and

fishing 3

Mining 4 Construction Manufactur- ing

Transportation and

public

utilities 4,5

Wholesale

trade Retail trade

Finance,

insurance,

and real

estate

Services

Total [1,880,500 cases] ............................... 223.8 295.5 245.2 372.2 251.2 380.7 232.2 198.5 69.9 184.3

Nature of injury, illness:

Sprains, strains ................................................... 97.6 101.0 95.0 140.2 96.0 200.1 103.2 83.2 28.0 90.8Bruises, contusions ............................................ 20.8 28.0 25.6 26.3 22.5 38.1 23.0 22.5 5.0 16.1Cuts, lacerations ................................................. 15.8 29.3 22.2 38.2 20.8 12.8 13.4 19.6 4.3 8.5Fractures ............................................................ 14.3 22.7 34.4 37.0 17.0 20.9 16.4 11.7 4.5 9.0Carpal tunnel syndrome ..................................... 3.6 1.4 – 2.7 6.7 2.8 2.2 2.9 2.7 2.8Heat burns .......................................................... 3.5 2.0 3.5 4.6 4.6 1.7 1.6 5.4 – 2.8Tendonitis ........................................................... 2.1 1.2 – 1.1 4.8 1.7 1.2 1.4 – 1.3Chemical burns ................................................... 1.4 – 1.6 1.6 2.3 1.4 1.6 1.2 – –Amputations ........................................................ 1.2 2.1 1.6 2.5 3.0 – 1.5 – – –Multiple injuries ................................................... 7.2 10.4 15.3 11.0 7.0 10.9 9.1 6.3 2.7 6.4

Part of body affected:

Head ................................................................... 14.8 28.6 19.0 31.7 18.8 22.0 15.0 12.6 4.7 9.6

Eye ................................................................. 7.9 14.2 7.6 21.6 12.7 9.3 8.3 5.1 2.2 3.9

Neck ................................................................... 4.1 3.8 5.9 5.0 3.7 10.1 4.5 3.4 1.4 3.8Trunk .................................................................. 85.2 112.1 86.7 130.3 87.8 162.6 95.0 72.3 20.9 76.1

Shoulder ......................................................... 11.5 14.8 10.3 15.7 13.6 25.3 11.7 8.4 2.8 9.7Back ................................................................ 58.4 71.9 56.5 89.7 56.8 108.2 65.8 50.3 14.8 55.1

Upper extremities ............................................... 50.7 60.4 50.8 85.1 76.8 57.8 44.0 49.4 17.1 32.7

Wrist ............................................................... 11.3 9.2 6.4 14.5 16.9 13.3 8.0 9.9 6.0 9.3Hand, except finger ........................................ 9.0 17.2 5.6 18.3 12.1 9.2 8.4 10.1 2.1 5.5Finger ............................................................. 18.2 21.6 27.3 33.4 31.1 15.4 17.1 18.4 4.4 9.1

Lower extremities ............................................... 44.7 59.7 59.1 83.3 43.9 83.6 49.8 41.0 13.7 35.9

Knee ............................................................... 15.2 17.2 22.0 29.0 14.3 29.6 14.7 14.3 4.9 12.6Foot, except toe .............................................. 8.1 11.7 8.5 14.2 9.2 14.3 11.1 8.3 1.8 5.1Toe ................................................................. 2.8 3.7 3.2 5.3 3.1 3.8 4.6 3.0 – 1.7

Body systems ..................................................... 3.2 4.6 2.2 3.9 3.0 4.4 1.4 2.0 2.4 4.3Multiple parts ...................................................... 19.2 22.8 20.0 29.2 14.8 37.4 20.4 16.0 9.0 20.2

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 6. Incidence rates 1 for nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work 2 per 10,000 full-time workers for selected characteristics and industry

division, 1996 — Continued

Characteristic Private industry 3

Goods-producing Service-producing

Agriculture,

forestry,

and

fishing 3

Mining 4 Construction Manufactur- ing

Transportation and

public

utilities 4,5

Wholesale

trade Retail trade

Finance,

insurance,

and real

estate

Services

Source of injury, illness:

Chemicals and chemical products ...................... 4.2 5.0 16.6 4.2 5.9 4.0 3.0 3.3 1.2 4.1

Containers .......................................................... 32.5 25.7 15.2 19.3 35.2 82.4 51.0 44.6 6.8 15.4Furniture and fixtures .......................................... 8.2 1.7 1.2 7.9 7.0 6.0 5.9 11.1 3.6 9.9Machinery ........................................................... 14.7 19.8 35.2 23.1 28.1 11.7 15.2 12.9 3.8 6.5Parts and materials ............................................. 24.9 21.1 41.0 90.3 44.7 33.8 31.2 11.9 2.9 6.9Worker motion or position ................................... 32.5 35.4 6.8 44.4 46.1 55.6 27.0 24.8 13.0 26.1Floors, walkways, ground surfaces .................... 36.2 49.5 36.1 67.1 26.5 68.0 31.1 37.3 18.7 34.1Tools, instruments, and equipment .................... 13.6 30.3 19.6 39.3 15.9 14.1 9.6 12.8 3.1 9.7Vehicles .............................................................. 18.0 28.0 24.4 21.3 12.0 63.5 31.9 14.3 4.1 12.5Health care patient ............................................. 10.3 – – – – 2.4 – – – 34.8

Event or exposure:

Contact with objects and equipment .................. 58.7 93.8 105.8 122.5 83.1 76.4 67.9 54.5 13.2 31.9

Struck by object .............................................. 28.4 43.2 52.7 66.6 35.4 36.9 34.8 29.7 6.0 15.2Struck against object ...................................... 15.2 27.6 21.8 28.0 19.0 20.5 16.0 15.0 4.4 10.2Caught in equipment or object ........................ 9.5 11.7 27.6 12.1 20.5 10.0 11.6 6.0 1.2 3.7

Fall to lower level ................................................ 11.7 22.3 24.5 43.6 7.9 29.0 12.6 7.2 5.9 7.3Fall to same level ................................................ 26.1 27.5 18.6 29.7 20.4 40.9 18.6 32.1 13.2 27.4Slips, trips, loss of balance–without fall .............. 7.1 8.1 2.1 11.0 6.6 14.0 6.0 6.6 2.1 6.8Overexertion ....................................................... 62.7 56.5 63.7 85.7 65.2 115.8 72.6 51.8 13.3 60.6

Overexertion in lifting ...................................... 37.1 32.3 24.8 49.2 36.1 65.5 46.9 36.7 8.6 34.1

Repetitive motion ................................................ 8.8 3.8 1.2 5.9 19.9 7.0 5.3 6.0 5.9 5.4Exposure to harmful substances ........................ 10.4 15.6 9.1 14.4 13.6 11.3 7.0 9.8 3.2 9.8Transportation accidents .................................... 9.2 15.2 7.2 14.8 4.7 31.2 16.8 6.6 3.1 7.3Fires and explosions ........................................... – – 2.0 1.8 ––––––Assaults and violent acts by person ................... 2.2 – – – – 1.2 – 2.0 – 5.4

1 Incidence rates represent the number of injuries and illnesses per 10,000 full-time workers and were

calculated as: (N/EH) x 20,000,000 where 

N = number of injuries and illnesses EH = total hours worked by all employees during the calendar year 20,000,000 = base for 10,000 equivalent full-time workers (working 40 hours per week,

50 weeks per year).

2 Days-away-from-work cases include those which result in days away from work with or without

restricted work activity. 3 Excludes farms with fewer than 11 employees. 4 Data conforming to OSHA definitions for mining operators in coal, metal, and nonmetal mining and foremployers in railroad transportation are provided to BLS by the Mine Safety and Health Administration, U.S.

Department of Labor; and by the Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. Independent mining contractors are excluded from the coal, metal, and nonmetal industries. 5 In 1996, air courier operations previously classified in Industry Groups 421, 422, 423, 452, 473, and

478 were reclassified to Industry Group 451. As a result, the 1996 estimates for these SIC’s and MajorIndustry Groups 42, 45, and 47 are not comparable to those for prior years. In addition, the 1996 estimatesfor transportation and public utilities may have more variability than those for prior years.

NOTE: Dashes indicate data that are not available or incidence rates less than 1.0 per 10,000 full-time

workers. 

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor
Table 7. Percent distribution of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work 1 by selected worker characteristics and number of days away

from work, 1996

Characteristic Total

cases

Percent of cases involving Median

days away

from work 1 day 2 days 3 to 5 days 6 to 10 days 11 to 20 days 21 to 30 days 31 days or more

Total [1,880,500 cases] ............................... 100.0 16.7 13.1 20.6 13.2 11.7 6.2 18.5 5

Sex:

Men ..................................................................... 100.0 16.6 12.8 20.0 13.1 11.8 6.4 19.1 6Women ............................................................... 100.0 16.8 13.5 21.8 13.4 11.5 5.9 17.1 5

Age: 2

14 to 15 years ..................................................... 100.0 22.4 36.6 15.0 6.3 3.6 11.2 4.9 216 to 19 years ..................................................... 100.0 21.5 16.8 23.0 15.0 8.9 4.2 10.7 420 to 24 years ..................................................... 100.0 20.9 14.4 24.3 12.9 10.7 5.0 11.7 425 to 34 years ..................................................... 100.0 18.5 14.0 21.1 13.0 11.3 6.1 15.9 535 to 44 years ..................................................... 100.0 16.0 12.5 20.1 13.4 11.9 6.3 20.0 645 to 54 years ..................................................... 100.0 12.7 10.8 18.9 13.2 12.6 7.4 24.5 855 to 64 years ..................................................... 100.0 11.8 10.9 16.9 13.4 14.1 7.4 25.5 965 years and over ............................................... 100.0 9.6 11.1 17.2 13.2 11.9 7.1 29.9 10

Occupation:

Managerial and professional specialty ............... 100.0 20.1 16.3 23.5 12.6 9.4 4.6 13.4 4Technical, sales, and administrative support ...... 100.0 17.8 13.5 20.9 13.1 11.4 6.2 17.0 5Service ................................................................ 100.0 15.8 13.8 24.1 13.8 11.9 5.8 14.8 5Farming, forestry, and fishing ............................. 100.0 17.4 13.7 21.4 15.7 10.0 7.2 14.7 5Precision production, craft, and repair ................ 100.0 16.4 12.3 18.9 13.0 11.6 6.7 21.1 6Operators, fabricators, and laborers ................... 100.0 16.2 12.4 19.3 13.0 12.1 6.5 20.5 6

Length of service with employer:

Less than 3 months ............................................ 100.0 17.5 13.8 23.1 13.2 10.5 5.7 16.3 53 to 11 months .................................................... 100.0 18.7 14.5 21.6 12.7 10.8 5.1 16.7 51 to 5 years ......................................................... 100.0 17.5 13.3 20.9 13.5 11.2 6.2 17.3 5More than 5 years ............................................... 100.0 14.0 11.7 18.7 13.3 13.1 7.2 22.0 7

Race or ethnic origin:

White, non-Hispanic ........................................... 100.0 17.0 13.5 20.3 13.1 11.6 6.3 18.2 5Black, non-Hispanic ............................................ 100.0 16.7 13.2 22.2 12.3 11.7 5.6 18.3 5Hispanic .............................................................. 100.0 15.4 11.7 20.6 14.6 11.4 6.6 19.7 6Asian or Pacific Islander ..................................... 100.0 19.2 13.6 20.0 13.3 10.5 6.4 17.0 5American Indian or Alaskan Native .................... 100.0 20.0 13.5 23.3 11.7 11.1 5.8 14.5 4

1 Days-away-from-work cases include those which result in days away from work with or without

restricted work activity. 2 Information is not shown separately in this release for injured workers under age 14; theyaccounted for fewer than 50 cases.

NOTE: Because of rounding, percentages may not add to 100.SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor
Table 8. Percent distribution of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work 1 by selected occupations and number of days away

from work, 1996

Occupation Total cases

Percent of cases involving Median

days away

from work 1 day 2 days 3 to 5 days 6 to 10 days 11 to 20 days 21 to 30 days 31 days or more

Total [1,880,500 cases] ............................... 100.0 16.7 13.1 20.6 13.2 11.7 6.2 18.5 5

Truck drivers ........................................................... 100.0 10.2 9.7 19.4 13.7 13.8 7.2 26.1 10Laborers, nonconstruction ...................................... 100.0 19.4 13.3 20.1 12.8 11.3 5.5 17.6 5Nursing aides, orderlies .......................................... 100.0 15.4 15.2 23.7 14.4 11.0 5.5 14.8 5Janitors and cleaners ............................................. 100.0 16.6 13.6 24.0 11.1 12.0 5.4 17.4 5Assemblers ............................................................. 100.0 17.3 12.2 16.8 13.9 11.6 6.8 21.5 7Construction laborers ............................................. 100.0 12.7 11.4 19.8 13.0 11.8 8.5 22.9 8Carpenters .............................................................. 100.0 14.4 14.3 17.2 13.6 10.7 6.5 23.3 7Stock handlers and baggers ................................... 100.0 17.2 17.0 23.3 12.7 11.1 5.5 13.2 4Cashiers ................................................................. 100.0 17.5 12.8 22.0 15.6 11.5 6.6 13.9 5Cooks ..................................................................... 100.0 20.6 10.3 26.9 15.9 11.1 6.3 8.9 5Miscellaneous food preparation .............................. 100.0 15.6 15.7 17.3 13.6 15.4 9.1 13.3 6Registered nurses .................................................. 100.0 17.8 16.8 24.5 14.7 9.5 5.7 11.0 4Maids and housemen ............................................. 100.0 15.3 14.9 27.2 10.6 10.9 3.2 17.9 4Supervisors and proprietors, sales ......................... 100.0 12.7 10.3 19.4 14.7 14.0 10.5 18.6 8Welders and cutters ................................................ 100.0 25.9 15.7 16.7 9.3 10.7 6.1 15.6 4Sales workers, miscellaneous commodities ........... 100.0 16.8 14.6 24.2 11.8 8.5 5.8 18.2 5Automobile mechanics ........................................... 100.0 16.9 11.4 19.3 11.2 7.6 5.7 28.0 7Shipping and receiving clerks ................................. 100.0 18.4 12.9 20.5 14.1 11.4 6.5 16.2 5Groundskeepers and gardeners, except farm ........ 100.0 21.0 13.8 22.1 12.6 8.6 6.1 15.8 5Driver-sales workers ............................................... 100.0 13.2 10.7 21.6 11.1 17.7 6.0 19.5 7Farm workers .......................................................... 100.0 14.2 12.7 22.9 17.8 10.7 7.9 13.8 6Electricians ............................................................. 100.0 20.8 9.9 17.8 13.1 9.8 8.3 20.2 6Health aides, except nursing .................................. 100.0 16.9 9.0 32.7 15.3 7.7 8.1 10.3 5Plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters .......................... 100.0 16.3 10.8 19.0 12.8 10.6 7.0 23.5 7Industrial truck, tractor equipment operators .......... 100.0 18.1 14.0 17.3 13.9 10.2 6.2 20.4 6Guards and police, except public ........................... 100.0 17.1 13.8 24.0 10.3 10.6 3.6 20.5 5Packaging machine operators ................................ 100.0 15.7 12.2 20.1 13.8 11.1 5.8 21.4 6Waiters and waitresses .......................................... 100.0 9.9 7.6 23.1 18.1 14.4 10.8 15.9 8Stock and inventory clerks ...................................... 100.0 18.9 11.0 19.4 15.1 12.3 7.8 15.6 6Supervisors, production .......................................... 100.0 17.8 15.1 18.7 13.4 11.3 6.1 17.6 5Industrial machinery repairers ................................ 100.0 16.7 11.5 18.0 11.8 13.9 6.1 22.1 7Licensed practical nurses ....................................... 100.0 19.6 16.0 22.3 13.0 14.2 3.2 11.8 5Bus, truck, stationary engine mechanics ................ 100.0 16.7 14.2 20.6 10.4 9.9 7.7 20.4 5Kitchen workers, food preparation .......................... 100.0 18.2 13.3 22.2 14.5 10.6 3.1 18.1 5

1 Days-away-from-work cases include those which result in days away from work with or without

restricted work activity. 

NOTE: Because of rounding, percentages may not add to 100.SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor
Table 9. Percent distribution of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work 1 by selected injury or illness characteristics and number of days

away from work, 1996

Characteristic Total

cases

Percent of cases involving Median

days away

from work 1 day 2 days 3 to 5 days 6 to 10 days 11 to 20 days 21 to 30 days 31 days or more

Total [1,880,500 cases] ............................... 100.0 16.7 13.1 20.6 13.2 11.7 6.2 18.5 5

Nature of injury, illness:

Sprains, strains ................................................... 100.0 13.8 12.8 23.0 14.6 12.0 6.1 17.7 6Bruises, contusions ............................................ 100.0 23.1 17.6 23.5 13.8 8.8 3.7 9.5 3Cuts, lacerations ................................................. 100.0 26.0 15.9 20.4 14.1 11.8 3.7 8.1 3Fractures ............................................................ 100.0 9.2 6.3 13.8 11.8 12.9 9.8 36.2 17Carpal tunnel syndrome ..................................... 100.0 3.8 4.1 8.3 9.7 16.4 15.3 42.3 25Heat burns .......................................................... 100.0 22.0 14.5 27.1 12.7 11.4 4.1 8.2 4Tendonitis ........................................................... 100.0 10.6 11.6 17.7 14.6 12.4 7.5 25.7 9Chemical burns ................................................... 100.0 37.4 17.4 22.0 9.1 7.0 3.4 3.7 2Amputations ........................................................ 100.0 4.3 4.8 17.1 11.6 12.9 17.1 32.2 20Multiple injuries ................................................... 100.0 13.5 11.9 17.2 12.9 12.2 5.7 26.6 8

Part of body affected:

Head ................................................................... 100.0 37.8 22.1 20.5 7.6 4.7 1.7 5.5 2

Eyes ................................................................ 100.0 47.2 24.2 18.1 5.1 2.5 .8 2.1 2

Neck ................................................................... 100.0 16.6 14.8 22.8 11.9 9.0 4.8 20.0 5Trunk .................................................................. 100.0 12.9 11.8 22.1 14.5 12.5 6.6 19.5 6

Shoulder ......................................................... 100.0 13.3 10.3 19.1 13.0 11.5 6.3 26.5 8Back ................................................................ 100.0 12.9 12.4 23.9 14.8 12.0 5.9 18.1 6

Upper extremities ............................................... 100.0 18.0 13.1 18.6 13.5 12.1 7.1 17.4 6

Wrist ............................................................... 100.0 11.0 9.6 14.9 12.7 14.0 9.6 28.2 12Hand, except finger ........................................ 100.0 21.1 15.8 21.7 14.2 10.0 5.7 11.5 4Finger ............................................................. 100.0 21.9 14.2 19.9 13.4 12.3 6.5 11.7 4

Lower extremities ............................................... 100.0 15.8 12.9 20.3 13.0 12.3 6.0 19.8 6

Knee ............................................................... 100.0 12.2 10.9 18.8 12.0 13.9 6.9 25.3 9Foot, except toe .............................................. 100.0 17.9 14.5 20.0 12.7 11.8 6.3 16.8 5Toe ................................................................. 100.0 23.1 14.0 23.0 16.0 10.6 4.2 9.1 4

Body systems ..................................................... 100.0 28.3 14.7 17.2 13.3 9.0 2.9 14.5 3Multiple parts ...................................................... 100.0 13.6 10.8 20.4 11.9 11.8 7.4 24.0 7

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 9. Percent distribution of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work 1 by selected injury or illness characteristics and number of days

away from work, 1996 — Continued

Characteristic Total

cases

Percent of cases involving Median

days away

from work 1 day 2 days 3 to 5 days 6 to 10 days 11 to 20 days 21 to 30 days 31 days or more

Source of injury, illness:

Chemicals and chemical products ...................... 100.0 32.7 18.1 22.1 10.3 6.8 2.5 7.4 2

Containers .......................................................... 100.0 14.7 12.7 22.2 13.8 13.4 6.1 17.1 6Furniture and fixtures .......................................... 100.0 18.8 14.4 22.9 13.6 9.8 5.8 14.8 5Machinery ........................................................... 100.0 17.4 12.6 20.0 13.7 11.9 6.7 17.7 6Parts and materials ............................................. 100.0 17.8 13.7 20.3 14.0 11.1 6.3 16.9 5Worker motion or position ................................... 100.0 11.3 11.2 19.6 13.5 12.6 7.8 23.9 8Floors, walkways, ground surfaces .................... 100.0 13.6 11.9 18.9 12.3 12.4 6.8 24.0 7Tools, instruments, and equipment .................... 100.0 22.4 15.1 21.0 14.1 10.3 5.1 12.1 4Vehicles .............................................................. 100.0 14.4 10.5 19.7 13.3 12.6 7.6 22.0 7Health care patient ............................................. 100.0 15.6 15.1 24.6 15.2 11.0 5.4 13.1 5

Event or exposure:

Contact with objects and equipment .................. 100.0 23.4 15.9 20.5 12.5 10.0 5.0 12.7 4

Struck by object .............................................. 100.0 23.7 16.1 20.7 12.5 9.8 4.5 12.7 4Struck against object ...................................... 100.0 21.5 16.7 22.6 11.8 10.6 5.5 11.3 4Caught in equipment or object ........................ 100.0 15.5 12.0 18.7 16.2 11.8 7.3 18.5 7

Fall to lower level ................................................ 100.0 11.7 11.5 16.9 12.2 12.8 7.0 28.0 10Fall to same level ................................................ 100.0 15.0 12.1 19.6 13.4 12.1 6.9 21.1 7Slips, trips, loss of balance–without fall .............. 100.0 12.3 11.4 23.8 13.0 10.6 6.3 22.5 6Overexertion ....................................................... 100.0 13.3 12.0 22.4 14.4 12.7 6.7 18.5 6

Overexertion in lifting ...................................... 100.0 13.1 12.5 22.4 14.6 12.9 6.7 17.8 6

Repetitive motion ................................................ 100.0 7.5 7.9 12.9 11.6 14.9 11.4 33.8 17Exposure to harmful substances ........................ 100.0 30.2 17.7 23.0 11.1 8.1 2.9 7.1 3Transportation accidents .................................... 100.0 13.7 9.3 18.1 11.6 13.1 8.8 25.4 9Fires and explosions ........................................... 100.0 19.9 8.6 14.3 17.3 10.7 4.7 24.4 8Assaults and violent acts by person ................... 100.0 17.0 17.2 24.2 9.7 13.2 4.8 13.8 5

1 Days-away-from-work cases include those which result in days away from work with or without

restricted work activity. 

NOTE: Because of rounding, percentages may not add to 100.SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor
Table 10. Percent distribution of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work 1 by industry division and number of days away from work, 1996

Characteristic Total

cases

Percent of cases involving Median

days away

from work 1 day 2 days 3 to 5 days 6 to 10 days 11 to 20 days 21 to 30 days 31 days or more

Private industry 2 [1,880,500 cases] ..................... 100.0 16.7 13.1 20.6 13.2 11.7 6.2 18.5 5Goods-producing:

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing 2 .................. 100.0 16.5 12.2 22.0 16.1 11.8 6.9 14.5 5Mining 3 .......................................................... 100.0 8.0 7.8 13.5 12.4 11.4 6.1 40.7 17

Construction ................................................... 100.0 15.0 12.1 19.0 13.0 12.0 6.9 22.1 7Manufacturing ................................................. 100.0 19.0 13.2 18.5 12.5 11.7 6.7 18.6 5

Durable goods ............................................ 100.0 19.8 13.1 17.9 12.3 11.5 6.9 18.5 5Nondurable goods ...................................... 100.0 17.7 13.3 19.5 12.7 12.0 6.2 18.6 5

Service-producing:

Transportation and public utilities 3,4 .............. 100.0 11.3 10.5 20.2 14.8 14.0 6.8 22.4 8

Wholesale trade .............................................. 100.0 17.8 13.6 20.7 12.6 10.5 6.0 18.8 5Retail trade ..................................................... 100.0 16.4 12.9 22.0 14.1 12.2 6.8 15.7 5Finance, insurance, and real estate ............... 100.0 18.1 13.5 21.7 11.5 10.4 5.6 19.2 5Services .......................................................... 100.0 17.7 14.7 22.8 12.8 10.6 5.0 16.3 5

1 Days-away-from-work cases include those which result in days away from work with or without

restricted work activity. 2 Excludes farms with fewer than 11 employees. 3 Data conforming to OSHA definitions for mining operators in coal, metal, and nonmetal mining andfor employers in railroad transportation are provided to BLS by the Mine Safety and HealthAdministration, U.S. Department of Labor; and by the Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. Departmentof Transportation. Independent mining contractors are excluded from the coal, metal, and nonmetalindustries.

4 In 1996, air courier operations previously classified in Industry Groups 421, 422, 423, 452, 473,

and 478 were reclassified to Industry Group 451. As a result, the 1996 estimates for these SIC’s andMajor Industry Groups 42, 45, and 47 are not comparable to those for prior years. In addition, the 1996estimates for transportation and public utilities may have more variability than those for prior years.

NOTE: Because of rounding, percentages may not add to 100.SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor