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Technical Information: (202) 691-6170 USDL 01-71

Media information: (202) 691-5902 For release: 10:00 A.M. EST

Internet address: http://stats.bls.gov/oshhome.htm Wednesday, March 28, 2001

LOST-WORKTIME INJURIES AND ILLNESSES: CHARACTERISTICS

AND RESULTING TIME AWAY FROM WORK, 1999

A total of 1.7 million injuries and illnesses that required recuperation away from

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

1999, according to a survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U. S. Department of Labor.

The total number of these cases was about the same as in 1998, following steady declines

from the levels prevailing early in the decade. The number of injuries and illnesses

reported with only restricted work activity rather than days away recuperating remained

at over 1,000,000 cases in 1999, after increasing by nearly 70 percent during the previous

seven year period. (Table A presents the number of injuries and illnesses requiring

recuperation away from work in the past 7 years for the 10 occupations that accounted for

nearly one-third of such cases in 1999.) Since 1993, truck drivers have experienced the

largest number of injuries and illnesses with time away from work.

Table A. Number of occupational injuries and illnesses (in 1,000s) involving time away from work for

selected occupations, 1993-1999

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

Total cases 2,252.6 2,236.6 2,040.9 1,880.5 1,833.4 1,730.5 1,702.5

Truck drivers 154.7 163.8 151.3 152.8 145.5 131.8 141.1

Laborers, nonconstruction 146.3 147.3 115.5 108.5 106.9 97.2 89.1

Nursing aides, orderlies 103.9 101.8 100.6 93.6 91.3 84.1 75.7

Construction laborers 54.6 55.7 43.5 43.7 45.8 44.1 46.5

Janitors and cleaners 62.1 60.6 52.6 46.9 45.8 44.2 43.4

Assemblers 46.8 53.0 55.5 44.0 44.3 43.3 40.0

Carpenters 34.8 37.4 35.0 33.5 37.1 33.0 35.0

Cooks 42.5 36.3 35.4 30.7 31.5 28.5 28.0

Stock handlers and baggers 39.5 37.2 34.7 31.9 29.2 26.3 27.3

Registered nurses 31.4 29.6 27.8 28.9 27.3 25.0 25.7
As in the preceding six years, more than 4 out of 10 injuries and illnesses

resulting in time away from work in 1999 were sprains or strains, most often involving

the back. The number of sprains or strains cases declined by nearly 23 percent from 1993

to 1999, slightly less than the overall decline for all cases. In contrast, the number of lost

worktime cases due to bruises and contusions increased from 1998 by nearly 2 percent

and cases of carpal tunnel syndrome increased 6 percent.

Table B. Number of occupational injuries and illness (in 1,000s) involving time away from work by

selected nature of injury and illness, 1993-1999

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

Total cases 2,252.6 2,236.6 2,040.9 1,880.5 1,833.4 1,730.5 1,702.5

Sprains, strains, tears 959.2 963.5 876.8 819.7 799.0 760.0 739.7

Bruises, contusions 211.2 212.0 192.1 174.9 165.8 153.1 156.0

Cuts, lacerations 169.9 164.6 153.2 133.2 133.6 137.6 132.4

Fractures 136.5 138.5 124.6 120.5 119.5 115.4 113.7

Heat burns, scalds 37.7 37.3 36.1 29.0 30.0 28.4 27.1

Carpal tunnel syndrome 41.0 38.3 31.5 29.9 29.2 26.3 27.9

Tendonitis 25.0 25.2 22.1 17.4 18.0 16.9 16.6

Chemical burns 15.7 16.5 13.9 11.6 12.2 11.7 11.6

Amputations 11.3 12.2 11.3 10.2 10.9 10.2 10.0

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 the worker, occupational

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

origin (tables 1, 2, and 7). Following are highlights of the 1999 findings for these worker

traits:

• Men accounted for two out of three of the 1.7 million cases, a proportion

somewhat higher than their share (59 percent) of the hours worked by all

private wage and salary workers.

• Workers aged 24 and under accounted for 15 percent of the cases and 14

percent of the total hours worked by all private wage and salary workers.

Workers aged 25 to 44 accounted for 55 percent of the cases and 54 percent of

the hours worked. Workers aged 45 and older accounted for 28 percent of the

cases and 31 percent of the hours worked.

• Operators, fabricators, and laborers led all other occupational groups,

accounting for 42 percent of the case total. This group includes 5 of the

10 individual jobs from table A – truck drivers; laborers, nonconstruction;

construction laborers; assemblers; and stock handlers and baggers. Together,

these five occupations accounted for 344,100 injuries and illnesses with time

away from work (table 3).
• Almost 6 out of 10 workers had at least a year of service with their employer

when they sustained their injury or illness. Indeed, almost a fourth had over 5

years of service, suggesting that many experienced workers incur lost

worktime injuries.

Case characteristics help identify the disabling condition leading to the lost

worktime and how the event or exposure occurred. The survey contains four

characteristics to describe each disabling injury or illness (tables 4 through 6 and 9). 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 1999 findings

for these characteristics:

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

major industry division, ranging from 33 percent in agriculture, forestry, and

fishing to nearly 50 percent in services.

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

work incidents in every major industry division, except for agriculture,

forestry, and fishing. Most other injuries and illnesses were to upper or lower

extremities.

• Overexertion while maneuvering objects and contact with objects and

equipment led all other disabling events or exposures, each cited in about 16

to 40 percent of the cases in every major industry division except finance,

insurance, and real estate.

• No one source of injury or illness stood out, although the following three had

roughly 14 to 16 percent each of the case total: floors and other surfaces,

worker motion or position, and containers.

The U. S. Department of Labor defines a musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) as an

injury or disorder of the muscles, nerves, tendons, joints, cartilage, and spinal discs.

MSDs do not include disorders caused by slips, trips, falls, motor vehicle accidents, or

similar accidents. Table C presents the number of such disorders by major industry

division, and table D presents the occupations with the most musculoskeletal disorders in

1999.

• Over 582,000 musculoskeletal disorders were reported, accounting for more

than one out of three of the injuries and illnesses involving recuperation away

from work. Although both total injuries and illnesses with days away from

work and MSDs have decreased since 1992, MSDs continue to account for

more than one in three of the total lost worktime cases (table E).
• Manufacturing and services industries each account for around 26 percent of

musculoskeletal disorders, followed by retail trade with nearly 16 percent.

• Three occupations -- nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants; truck drivers;

and laborers, non-construction -- together account for one out of five

musculoskeletal disorders.

Injury and illness severity

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

of injuries and illnesses resulting in the longest 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 6 days in 1999, with a fourth of the cases

resulting in 21 days or more away from work. The survey also found the following

patterns:

• Among major disabling injuries and illnesses, median days away from work

were highest for carpal tunnel syndrome (27 days), fractures (20 days), and

amputations (18 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.

• Public transportation attendants and heating, air conditioning, and

refrigeration mechanics had the highest median days away from work (each

with 10 days), followed by truck drivers and industrial machinery repairers

(each with 8 days).

• Injuries to the wrist resulted in the longest absences from work – a median of

12 days. Injuries to the knee and shoulder had the next longest absences from

work – a median of 10 days each.
Table C. Number (in 1,000s) of work-related musculoskeletal disorders involving time

away from work and median days away from work by major industry division, 1999

 Number Median

 days away from work

Total musculoskeletal disorders 582.3 7

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing 7.1 7

Mining 3.3 32

Construction 48.8 10

Manufacturing 149.8 8

Transportation and public utilities 66.6 10

Wholesale trade 50.7 7

Retail trade 90.9 6

Finance, insurance, and real estate 12.4 6

Services 152.8 5

Table D. Number (in 1,000s) of work-related musculoskeletal disorders involving time

away from work and median days away from work by occupation, 1999

 Number Median

 days away from work

Total musculoskeletal disorders 582.3 7

Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants 44.3 5

Truck drivers 41.7 8

Laborers, nonconstruction 32.8 7

Assemblers 17.9 9

Janitors and cleaners 14.1 7

Registered nurses 13.1 4

Stock handlers and baggers 12.4 6

Construction laborers 11.0 7

Cashiers 9.7 7

Supervisors and proprietors, sales 9.3 7

Table E. Number (in 1,000s) of total and work-related musculoskeletal disorders involving time

away from work and percentage of total cases that are MSD cases, 1992-1999

Year Total MSDs Pct.

1992 2,331.1 784.1 33.6

1993 2,252.6 762.7 33.9

1994 2,236.6 755.6 33.8

1995 2,040.9 695.8 34.1

1996 1,880.5 647.4 34.4

1997 1,833.4 626.4 34.2

1998 1,730.5 592.5 34.2

1999 1,702.5 582.3 34.2
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 1999 national survey marks the eighth 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 number of hours worked used for industry and case characteristics incidence

rates are collected in the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses. Because this

survey does not collect hours worked for demographic characteristics, the hours used for

these data come from the Current Population Survey, which is conducted by the Bureau

of the Census for the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses continues to measure the

number of new work-related illness cases that are recognized, diagnosed, and reported

each year. In 1999, 81,600 of the 1.7 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 that are easier to directly relate to workplace activity (e.g., contact

dermatitis or carpal tunnel syndrome).

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) include cases where the nature of

injury or illness is sprains, strains, tears; back pain, hurt back; soreness, pain, hurt, except

the back; carpal tunnel syndrome; hernia; or musculoskeletal system and connective

tissue diseases and disorders and when the event or exposure leading to the injury or

illness is bodily reaction/bending, climbing, crawling, reaching, twisting; overexertion; or

repetition. Cases of Raynaud’s phenomenon, tarsal tunnel syndrome, and herniated

spinal discs are not included. Although these cases may be considered MSDs, the survey

classifies these cases in categories that also include non-MSD cases.

This is a Federal/State program (50/50 funded) in which employer reports are

collected from about 174,000 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 are provided by the
U. S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration and the U. S.

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

employers 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 number 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 1999 incidence rate for all occupational injuries and illnesses of 6.3 per

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

0.6 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 2001.

The data also are 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. 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 work1 by selected worker characteristics

and industry division,1999

(In thousands)

Characteristic Private

industry2

Goods producing Service producing

Agriculture,

forestry,

and

fishing2

Mining3 Construction

Manufacturing

Transportation and

public

utilities3

Wholesale

trade

Retail

trade

Finance,

insurance,

and real

estate

Services

Total cases ...................................... 1,702.5 34.9 11.3 193.8 403.6 196.7 136.1 291.6 39.5 394.9

Sex:

Male ............................................ 1,129.2 28.6 11.0 188.6 301.6 149.8 116.0 161.1 18.1 154.3

Female ........................................ 558.1 6.2 .3 4.6 100.4 39.6 19.3 128.8 21.3 237.7

Age:4

14 - 15 ......................................... .9 – – – 5 ( ) – – .3 – .5

16 - 19 ......................................... 58.2 1.3 .2 5.0 8.0 3.4 2.8 26.1 .6 10.9

20 - 24 ......................................... 197.8 5.4 .8 27.0 42.0 16.4 15.5 47.4 3.5 39.8

25 - 34 ......................................... 457.6 10.5 2.5 58.2 109.1 54.4 39.4 73.9 8.9 100.6

35 - 44 ......................................... 483.5 9.7 3.4 59.2 118.4 61.8 41.7 67.4 10.8 111.0

45 - 54 ......................................... 310.5 4.7 3.3 28.3 81.9 39.8 23.1 42.0 8.7 78.6

55 - 64 ......................................... 138.4 2.1 .8 10.6 36.4 15.2 9.3 21.6 4.4 38.1

65 and over ................................. 22.5 .4 5 ( ) .8 3.2 1.9 1.3 6.3 1.0 7.6

Occupation:

Managerial and professional

specialty .................................... 94.7 .5 .3 2.1 5.6 3.2 4.9 10.8 5.5 61.8

Technical, sales, and

administrative support ............... 249.4 1.5 .1 2.5 22.8 27.6 20.6 91.6 16.0 66.7

Service ........................................ 289.5 .5 5 ( ) .5 7.2 12.3 1.4 79.6 7.5 180.4

Farming, forestry, and fishing ...... 42.9 27.4 – .4 2.8 .3 1.7 1.0 2.9 6.5

Precision production, craft, and

repair ......................................... 298.0 1.3 5.3 114.6 72.3 26.5 16.3 30.7 5.0 25.8

Operators, fabricators, and

laborers ..................................... 719.7 3.5 5.2 72.6 290.9 126.5 90.2 76.8 2.1 51.8

Length of service with employer:

Less than 3 months ..................... 230.0 7.4 1.5 41.2 45.5 16.2 17.1 47.1 3.7 50.4

3 - 11 months .............................. 308.3 8.0 1.6 43.2 65.3 23.7 24.5 62.9 6.6 72.5

1 - 5 years ................................... 549.7 11.3 3.8 63.0 126.0 53.4 50.5 94.1 15.0 132.6

More than 5 years ....................... 413.8 6.4 3.8 33.1 130.6 50.0 35.0 50.5 10.1 94.3

Not reported ................................ 200.7 1.9 .6 13.3 36.2 53.5 9.0 37.0 4.1 45.1

Race or ethnic origin:

White, non-Hispanic .................... 859.6 14.0 2.2 121.5 219.3 68.8 78.0 149.4 19.2 187.1

Black, non-Hispanic .................... 155.1 1.3 .1 9.6 35.4 15.6 11.6 22.2 3.9 55.5

Hispanic ...................................... 182.9 14.6 1.1 28.8 46.4 8.9 16.4 26.9 3.8 36.0

Asian or Pacific Islander .............. 25.3 .2 5 ( ) 1.3 6.1 1.6 1.9 6.0 1.1 7.2

American Indian or Alaskan

Native ........................................ 6.8 .1 – 1.1 1.5 .4 .8 .7 .3 1.8

Not reported ................................ 472.7 4.6 7.8 31.6 94.9 101.4 27.4 86.6 11.2 107.3

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 for employers 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 Information is not shown separately for injured workers under age 14;

they accounted for fewer than 50 cases. 5 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 work1 by selected worker

characteristics and industry division,1999

Characteristic Private

industry 2

Goods producing Service producing

Agriculture,

forestry,

and

fishing2

Mining3 Construction

Manufacturing

Transportation and

public

utilities3

Wholesale

trade

Retail

trade

Finance,

insurance,

and real

estate

Services

Total [1,702,470 cases] ................... 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Sex:

Male ............................................ 66.3 82.0 97.2 97.3 74.7 76.1 85.2 55.3 45.9 39.1

Female ........................................ 32.8 17.6 2.6 2.4 24.9 20.1 14.2 44.2 53.9 60.2

Age:4

14 - 15 ......................................... .1 – – – 5 ( ) – – .1 – .1

16 - 19 ......................................... 3.4 3.8 1.6 2.6 2.0 1.7 2.1 9.0 1.4 2.8

20 - 24 ......................................... 11.6 15.5 6.9 13.9 10.4 8.3 11.4 16.3 9.0 10.1

25 - 34 ......................................... 26.9 30.0 22.4 30.0 27.0 27.7 28.9 25.3 22.7 25.5

35 - 44 ......................................... 28.4 27.7 30.3 30.6 29.3 31.4 30.7 23.1 27.4 28.1

45 - 54 ......................................... 18.2 13.6 29.2 14.6 20.3 20.2 17.0 14.4 22.2 19.9

55 - 64 ......................................... 8.1 5.9 7.4 5.4 9.0 7.7 6.8 7.4 11.1 9.7

65 and over ................................. 1.3 1.3 .3 .4 .8 .9 1.0 2.1 2.4 1.9

Occupation:

Managerial and professional

specialty .................................... 5.6 1.5 2.5 1.1 1.4 1.6 3.6 3.7 14.0 15.6

Technical, sales, and

administrative support ............... 14.7 4.2 1.1 1.3 5.7 14.0 15.1 31.4 40.5 16.9

Service ........................................ 17.0 1.5 .3 .2 1.8 6.3 1.0 27.3 19.1 45.7

Farming, forestry, and fishing ...... 2.5 78.4 – .2 .7 .1 1.2 .3 7.4 1.7

Precision production, craft, and

repair ......................................... 17.5 3.8 47.2 59.2 17.9 13.5 12.0 10.5 12.7 6.5

Operators, fabricators, and

laborers ..................................... 42.3 10.0 46.2 37.5 72.1 64.3 66.3 26.3 5.3 13.1

Length of service with employer:

Less than 3 months ..................... 13.5 21.1 13.2 21.3 11.3 8.2 12.6 16.2 9.3 12.8

3 - 11 months .............................. 18.1 23.0 13.8 22.3 16.2 12.0 18.0 21.6 16.8 18.4

1 - 5 years ................................... 32.3 32.4 33.8 32.5 31.2 27.2 37.1 32.3 38.0 33.6

More than 5 years ....................... 24.3 18.2 33.9 17.1 32.4 25.4 25.8 17.3 25.5 23.9

Not reported ................................ 11.8 5.4 5.3 6.9 9.0 27.2 6.6 12.7 10.3 11.4

Race or ethnic origin:

White, non-Hispanic .................... 50.5 40.1 19.8 62.7 54.3 35.0 57.3 51.2 48.7 47.4

Black, non-Hispanic .................... 9.1 3.8 1.2 4.9 8.8 7.9 8.5 7.6 9.8 14.1

Hispanic ...................................... 10.7 41.9 9.6 14.8 11.5 4.5 12.1 9.2 9.7 9.1

Asian or Pacific Islander .............. 1.5 .6 .2 .6 1.5 .8 1.4 2.0 2.7 1.8

American Indian or Alaskan

Native ........................................ .4 .3 – .6 .4 .2 .6 .3 .9 .5

Not reported ................................ 27.8 13.2 69.2 16.3 23.5 51.5 20.1 29.7 28.3 27.2

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 for employers 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 Information is not shown separately for injured workers under age 14;

they accounted for fewer than 50 cases. 5 Less than 0.1 percent.

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 work1 by selected occupation and

industry division,1999

(In thousands)

Occupation Private

industry2

Goods producing Service producing

Agriculture,

forestry,

and

fishing2

Mining3 Construction

Manufacturing

Transportation and

public

utilities3

Wholesale

trade

Retail

trade

Finance,

insurance,

and real

estate

Services

Total cases ...................................... 1,702.5 34.9 11.3 193.8 403.6 196.7 136.1 291.6 39.5 394.9

Truckdrivers .................................... 141.1 1.1 .8 7.3 12.1 61.9 26.2 14.6 .5 16.5

Laborers, nonconstruction ............... 89.1 .5 1.3 – 29.0 7.1 25.7 14.2 .8 10.5

Nursing aides, orderlies .................. 75.7 – – – – – – – .4 75.3

Construction laborers ...................... 46.5 – – 45.5 .4 .3 – .1 .1 .1

Janitors and cleaners ...................... 43.4 .4 4 ( ) .3 6.1 1.2 1.0 5.3 4.6 24.4

Assemblers ..................................... 40.0 .1 – .6 34.9 .7 1.8 1.1 – .8

Carpenters ...................................... 35.0 – 4 ( ) 27.3 3.2 .3 .5 1.8 .4 1.4

Cooks .............................................. 28.0 – – – .3 .2 .1 19.2 .2 8.0

Stock handlers and baggers ........... 27.3 4 ( ) 4 ( ) .1 1.6 .3 2.4 22.7 – .2

Registered nurses ........................... 25.7 – – – 4 ( ) .1 – – .2 25.3

Supervisors and proprietors ............ 25.4 – – .1 .5 .1 3.2 19.5 .5 1.6

Miscellaneous food preparation ...... 24.9 – – – .1 – .1 18.6 .1 5.9

Welders and cutters ........................ 24.7 4 ( ) .2 1.8 18.9 .7 2.3 – 4 ( ) .7

Cashiers .......................................... 22.8 .1 – – 4 ( ) .1 .4 20.8 4 ( ) 1.4

Sales workers, other commodities .. 21.9 .1 – .1 .3 .2 2.0 17.5 .1 1.6

Maids and housemen ...................... 21.4 – 4 ( ) – .1 4 ( ) – – .7 20.5

Groundskeepers and gardeners,

except farm ................................... 18.9 9.0 – .3 .2 .2 .1 .5 2.8 5.6

Electricians ...................................... 17.9 – .3 13.6 2.2 .3 .2 .2 .1 1.1

Shipping and receiving clerks ......... 16.6 – – .1 5.2 3.9 3.0 3.8 4 ( ) .6

Mechanics, automobile ................... 16.5 .1 – – .2 .3 1.1 10.8 – 4.1

Driver-sales workers ....................... 14.5 – – – 3.6 .7 6.3 2.7 – 1.2

Kitchen workers ............................... 14.1 – – – .1 – – 11.4 – 2.6

Industrial truck operators ................. 13.9 .3 .5 .6 6.1 1.8 3.3 .9 – .3

Waiters and waitresses ................... 13.2 – – – 4 ( ) 4 ( ) – 9.4 .1 3.6

Plumbers and pipefitters ................. 12.4 – – 9.7 1.1 .4 .3 – 4 ( ) .8

Repairers, industrial machinery ....... 11.9 – 1.1 .1 8.9 .5 .6 .2 – .5

Licensed practical nurses ................ 11.7 – – – – – – – 4 ( ) 11.6

Mechanics, bus, truck, stationary

engine ........................................... 11.6 .1 4 ( ) .3 .7 4.8 2.3 1.3 – 2.1

Farm workers .................................. 11.5 10.5 – – .4 – .4 – – .2

Packaging, filling machine

operators ....................................... 11.5 – – – 10.3 – .8 – – .3

Stock and inventory clerks .............. 11.4 4 ( ) – .2 2.2 .6 1.2 4.8 .1 2.3

Supervisors, production workers ..... 10.7 – .1 – 8.2 .4 .6 .5 .2 .8

Health aides, except nursing ........... 10.1 – – – – .1 – – – 9.9

Hand packers and packagers ......... 9.8 .3 – – 4.7 .4 2.2 1.6 – .5

Butchers and meat cutters .............. 9.8 .1 – – 2.6 – .4 6.5 – 4 ( )

Guards and police, except public .... 9.1 – 4 ( ) – .3 .5 .1 .8 .4 7.0

Attendants, public transportation ..... 9.0 – – – – 9.0 – – – –

Heating, air conditioning, and

refrigeration mechanics ................. 8.9 – – 5.8 .2 .4 .7 .5 .2 1.1

Machinists ....................................... 8.7 – 4 ( ) .1 7.8 4 ( ) .3 – – .5

Helpers, construction trades ........... 8.7 – – 8.3 .1 – .1 .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 for employers 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 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 4. Number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work1 by selected injury or illness

characteristics and industry division,1999

(In thousands)

Characteristic Private

industry2

Goods producing Service producing

Agriculture,

forestry,

and

fishing2

Mining3 Construction

Manufacturing

Transportation and

public

utilities3

Wholesale

trade

Retail

trade

Finance,

insurance,

and real

estate

Services

Total cases ...................................... 1,702.5 34.9 11.3 193.8 403.6 196.7 136.1 291.6 39.5 394.9

Nature of injury or illness:

Sprains, strains ........................... 739.7 11.6 4.4 72.4 157.4 95.7 65.3 122.3 15.2 195.6

Bruises, contusions ..................... 156.0 3.2 1.1 13.9 34.8 20.4 11.7 29.2 2.4 39.2

Cuts, lacerations ......................... 132.4 3.4 .6 19.7 35.9 8.5 8.4 34.7 2.8 18.5

Fractures ..................................... 113.7 3.7 1.8 19.1 27.9 11.6 9.3 17.4 3.0 20.0

Heat burns ................................... 27.1 .3 .1 2.4 6.7 .9 .8 9.4 .2 6.3

Carpal tunnel syndrome .............. 27.9 .2 .1 1.2 12.1 2.0 1.3 3.4 2.2 5.5

Tendonitis .................................... 16.6 .2 – .8 7.1 1.0 .8 2.2 .6 3.9

Chemical burns ........................... 11.6 .2 .1 1.9 3.8 .6 .9 1.6 .1 2.5

Amputations ................................ 10.0 .3 .1 1.4 5.3 .6 .5 .9 .2 .8

Multiple traumatic injuries ............ 59.3 1.2 .7 8.5 12.3 6.8 4.9 10.0 1.6 13.3

Part of body affected by the

injury or illness:

Head ............................................ 107.7 2.9 .6 15.9 29.5 12.0 7.7 15.5 1.9 21.6

Eye ............................................ 53.1 1.7 .3 9.9 18.7 3.7 3.6 6.5 .6 8.1

Neck ............................................ 30.9 .5 .2 2.5 5.7 4.6 2.9 4.6 .6 9.2

Trunk ........................................... 631.2 10.6 4.0 62.6 141.0 79.6 57.3 104.0 12.0 160.2

Shoulder .................................... 93.8 1.6 .5 8.4 23.2 14.4 8.2 15.1 1.3 21.1

Back .......................................... 424.3 6.6 2.6 41.0 89.3 51.7 37.8 71.4 8.3 115.5

Upper extremities ........................ 397.1 9.8 2.4 45.9 125.1 32.3 24.2 76.3 8.9 72.2

Wrist .......................................... 84.4 1.2 .4 6.9 27.5 7.2 4.6 13.8 3.3 19.5

Hand, except finger ................... 70.8 2.3 .5 8.2 20.6 5.0 4.4 15.9 1.2 12.8

Finger ........................................ 149.5 3.8 1.0 20.4 51.7 9.5 9.2 30.4 2.6 20.9

Lower extremities ........................ 350.2 8.0 2.7 47.1 70.8 44.9 29.7 60.0 8.1 79.0

Knee .......................................... 128.0 2.1 1.0 16.8 25.6 16.7 9.8 22.4 2.4 31.1

Foot, except toe ........................ 59.8 1.4 .5 8.7 13.5 7.4 5.7 10.7 1.3 10.7

Toe ............................................ 17.9 .4 .1 2.2 4.1 2.3 1.4 3.9 .3 3.2

Body systems .............................. 21.9 .4 .2 1.6 4.7 2.9 1.3 2.8 1.2 6.8

Multiple parts ............................... 148.2 2.1 1.1 16.2 23.5 19.4 12.0 25.2 5.8 43.0

See footnotes at end of table.
TABLE 4. Number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work1 by selected injury or illness

characteristics and industry division,1999 — Continued

(In thousands)

Characteristic Private

industry2

Goods producing Service producing

Agriculture,

forestry,

and

fishing2

Mining3 Construction

Manufacturing

Transportation and

public

utilities3

Wholesale

trade

Retail

trade

Finance,

insurance,

and real

estate

Services

Source of injury or illness:

Chemicals and chemical

products .................................... 28.8 0.4 0.9 2.7 9.5 2.5 1.7 3.4 0.5 7.2

Containers ................................... 244.6 2.7 .7 9.2 54.1 40.5 32.3 63.2 4.3 37.5

Furniture and fixtures .................. 58.5 .3 .1 3.3 10.6 3.6 3.2 15.4 2.4 19.8

Machinery .................................... 114.2 2.6 1.5 11.0 47.0 5.0 9.1 21.3 2.4 14.4

Parts and materials ..................... 192.0 2.5 1.9 48.2 71.7 16.1 15.2 17.4 1.2 17.8

Worker motion or position ........... 267.1 5.0 .4 26.0 79.3 30.7 20.0 38.2 8.5 59.0

Floors, walkways, ground

surfaces ..................................... 272.0 5.2 2.1 34.9 42.1 30.5 19.8 57.0 8.8 71.7

Tools, instruments, and

equipment ................................. 105.4 3.0 .7 20.1 26.4 7.2 4.8 20.9 2.4 19.9

Vehicles ....................................... 137.7 2.6 .6 9.9 19.0 36.3 17.4 19.2 3.1 29.5

Health care patient ...................... 72.4 – – – 4 ( ) 1.8 – – .3 70.2

Event or exposure leading to

injury or illness:

Contact with objects and

equipment ................................. 459.6 11.5 4.6 67.6 134.9 42.1 35.3 83.4 7.5 72.6

Struck by object ......................... 229.2 5.1 2.5 34.8 56.9 21.5 18.1 47.1 4.3 38.8

Struck against object ................. 116.5 2.8 .9 15.4 31.3 11.8 8.7 22.4 2.1 21.2

Caught in equipment or object .. 76.4 2.2 1.1 9.0 34.6 5.8 6.3 8.9 .6 7.9

Fall to lower level ........................ 93.9 2.6 1.1 22.4 13.2 13.5 8.5 12.5 2.6 17.5

Fall on same level ....................... 190.7 2.9 .9 13.8 32.1 18.5 12.2 47.3 6.6 56.4

Slip, trip, loss of

balance—without fall ................. 54.8 1.0 .1 6.1 10.3 7.2 4.3 10.8 1.1 13.8

Overexertion ................................ 459.4 5.6 3.2 40.2 102.0 55.9 42.0 74.6 7.8 128.1

Overexertion in lifting ................ 264.8 3.4 1.2 23.6 55.5 29.8 26.0 50.7 4.9 69.7

Repetitive motion ........................ 73.2 .8 .1 3.5 34.1 5.6 4.3 7.4 3.9 13.5

Exposure to harmful

substances ................................ 76.2 1.9 .5 7.2 20.9 6.8 3.9 14.3 1.4 19.3

Transportation accidents ............. 73.2 1.5 .2 6.5 8.4 18.2 9.0 9.1 2.5 17.9

Fires and explosions ................... 3.5 – 4 ( ) .8 .8 .3 .2 .8 4 ( ) .5

Assaults and violent acts by

person ....................................... 16.6 4 ( ) – .3 .5 .7 .1 2.8 .3 11.9

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 for employers 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 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 5. Percent distribution of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work1 by selected injury or

illness characteristics and industry division,1999

Characteristic Private

industry 2

Goods producing Service producing

Agriculture,

forestry,

and

fishing2

Mining3 Construction

Manufacturing

Transportation and

public

utilities3

Wholesale

trade

Retail

trade

Finance,

insurance,

and real

estate

Services

Total [1,702,470 cases] ................... 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Nature of injury or illness:

Sprains, strains ........................... 43.5 33.1 38.9 37.3 39.0 48.6 48.0 41.9 38.6 49.5

Bruises, contusions ..................... 9.2 9.3 10.1 7.2 8.6 10.4 8.6 10.0 6.2 9.9

Cuts, lacerations ......................... 7.8 9.6 5.7 10.2 8.9 4.3 6.1 11.9 7.0 4.7

Fractures ..................................... 6.7 10.5 15.6 9.8 6.9 5.9 6.9 6.0 7.5 5.1

Heat burns ................................... 1.6 .8 1.2 1.2 1.6 .4 .6 3.2 .6 1.6

Carpal tunnel syndrome .............. 1.6 .6 .6 .6 3.0 1.0 .9 1.2 5.5 1.4

Tendonitis .................................... 1.0 .7 – .4 1.8 .5 .6 .7 1.5 1.0

Chemical burns ........................... .7 .6 .5 1.0 .9 .3 .7 .5 .3 .6

Amputations ................................ .6 .8 .8 .7 1.3 .3 .4 .3 .4 .2

Multiple traumatic injuries ............ 3.5 3.3 6.2 4.4 3.0 3.5 3.6 3.4 4.2 3.4

Part of body affected by the

injury or illness:

Head ............................................ 6.3 8.3 5.7 8.2 7.3 6.1 5.7 5.3 4.9 5.5

Eye ............................................ 3.1 4.9 2.4 5.1 4.6 1.9 2.6 2.2 1.5 2.1

Neck ............................................ 1.8 1.4 2.2 1.3 1.4 2.3 2.1 1.6 1.5 2.3

Trunk ........................................... 37.1 30.3 35.3 32.3 34.9 40.5 42.1 35.7 30.4 40.6

Shoulder .................................... 5.5 4.6 4.2 4.3 5.8 7.3 6.0 5.2 3.4 5.3

Back .......................................... 24.9 18.9 22.8 21.2 22.1 26.3 27.8 24.5 21.1 29.3

Upper extremities ........................ 23.3 28.1 21.5 23.7 31.0 16.4 17.8 26.2 22.5 18.3

Wrist .......................................... 5.0 3.5 3.5 3.6 6.8 3.6 3.4 4.7 8.4 4.9

Hand, except finger ................... 4.2 6.6 4.2 4.3 5.1 2.5 3.2 5.4 3.0 3.2

Finger ........................................ 8.8 10.9 9.2 10.5 12.8 4.8 6.8 10.4 6.5 5.3

Lower extremities ........................ 20.6 22.8 23.9 24.3 17.5 22.8 21.8 20.6 20.4 20.0

Knee .......................................... 7.5 5.9 9.0 8.7 6.4 8.5 7.2 7.7 6.0 7.9

Foot, except toe ........................ 3.5 4.0 4.2 4.5 3.3 3.7 4.2 3.7 3.2 2.7

Toe ............................................ 1.0 1.0 .8 1.1 1.0 1.2 1.0 1.4 .7 .8

Body systems .............................. 1.3 1.1 1.5 .8 1.2 1.5 1.0 1.0 3.1 1.7

Multiple parts ............................... 8.7 5.9 9.8 8.3 5.8 9.9 8.8 8.6 14.8 10.9

See footnotes at end of table.
TABLE 5. Percent distribution of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work1 by selected injury or

illness characteristics and industry division,1999 — Continued

Characteristic Private

industry 2

Goods producing Service producing

Agriculture,

forestry,

and

fishing2

Mining3 Construction

Manufacturing

Transportation and

public

utilities3

Wholesale

trade

Retail

trade

Finance,

insurance,

and real

estate

Services

Source of injury or illness:

Chemicals and chemical

products .................................... 1.7 1.2 7.7 1.4 2.4 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.8

Containers ................................... 14.4 7.8 6.2 4.8 13.4 20.6 23.7 21.7 10.9 9.5

Furniture and fixtures .................. 3.4 .9 .5 1.7 2.6 1.8 2.3 5.3 6.1 5.0

Machinery .................................... 6.7 7.5 13.0 5.7 11.6 2.5 6.7 7.3 6.1 3.6

Parts and materials ..................... 11.3 7.0 16.9 24.9 17.8 8.2 11.2 6.0 3.1 4.5

Worker motion or position ........... 15.7 14.2 3.8 13.4 19.6 15.6 14.7 13.1 21.5 14.9

Floors, walkways, ground

surfaces ..................................... 16.0 14.8 18.4 18.0 10.4 15.5 14.5 19.5 22.3 18.2

Tools, instruments, and

equipment ................................. 6.2 8.6 5.9 10.4 6.5 3.7 3.5 7.2 6.1 5.1

Vehicles ....................................... 8.1 7.3 5.7 5.1 4.7 18.5 12.8 6.6 7.9 7.5

Health care patient ...................... 4.3 – – – 4 ( ) .9 – – .7 17.8

Event or exposure leading to

injury or illness:

Contact with objects and

equipment ................................. 27.0 32.8 40.4 34.9 33.4 21.4 26.0 28.6 19.1 18.4

Struck by object ......................... 13.5 14.6 22.3 18.0 14.1 10.9 13.3 16.1 10.8 9.8

Struck against object ................. 6.8 7.9 8.4 7.9 7.8 6.0 6.4 7.7 5.4 5.4

Caught in equipment or object .. 4.5 6.3 9.4 4.6 8.6 3.0 4.6 3.0 1.6 2.0

Fall to lower level ........................ 5.5 7.6 9.6 11.6 3.3 6.8 6.3 4.3 6.6 4.4

Fall on same level ....................... 11.2 8.3 7.9 7.1 8.0 9.4 8.9 16.2 16.7 14.3

Slip, trip, loss of

balance—without fall ................. 3.2 2.9 .9 3.1 2.6 3.7 3.1 3.7 2.9 3.5

Overexertion ................................ 27.0 16.1 28.7 20.7 25.3 28.4 30.9 25.6 19.6 32.4

Overexertion in lifting ................ 15.6 9.7 10.5 12.2 13.7 15.2 19.1 17.4 12.5 17.6

Repetitive motion ........................ 4.3 2.3 1.3 1.8 8.4 2.8 3.2 2.5 9.9 3.4

Exposure to harmful

substances ................................ 4.5 5.4 4.3 3.7 5.2 3.4 2.9 4.9 3.6 4.9

Transportation accidents ............. 4.3 4.3 1.5 3.4 2.1 9.2 6.6 3.1 6.4 4.5

Fires and explosions ................... .2 – .3 .4 .2 .1 .2 .3 .1 .1

Assaults and violent acts by

person ....................................... 1.0 .1 – .2 .1 .3 .1 1.0 .8 3.0

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 for employers 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 Less than 0.1 percent.

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 6. Incidence rates1 for nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work2 per 10,000 full-time workers

for selected characteristics and industry division,1999

Characteristic Private

industry3

Goods producing Service producing

Agriculture,

forestry,

and

fishing3

Mining4 Construction

Manufacturing

Transportation and

public

utilities4

Wholesale

trade

Retail

trade

Finance,

insurance,

and real

estate

Services

Total [1,702,470 cases] ................... 188.3 243.6 201.8 331.3 217.7 306.5 204.5 170.3 58.6 145.8

Nature of injury or illness:

Sprains, strains ........................... 81.8 80.6 78.6 123.8 84.9 149.0 98.1 71.4 22.6 72.2

Bruises, contusions ..................... 17.3 22.6 20.4 23.7 18.8 31.8 17.6 17.1 3.6 14.5

Cuts, lacerations ......................... 14.6 23.5 11.5 33.7 19.4 13.2 12.6 20.2 4.1 6.8

Fractures ..................................... 12.6 25.5 31.6 32.6 15.0 18.1 14.0 10.2 4.4 7.4

Heat burns ................................... 3.0 2.0 2.5 4.1 3.6 1.4 1.2 5.5 5 ( ) 2.3

Carpal tunnel syndrome .............. 3.1 1.5 1.3 2.0 6.6 3.1 1.9 2.0 3.2 2.0

Tendonitis .................................... 1.8 1.6 – 1.3 3.8 1.6 1.2 1.3 5 ( ) 1.5

Chemical burns ........................... 1.3 1.4 1.0 3.2 2.1 5 ( ) 1.4 5 ( ) 5 ( ) 5 ( )

Amputations ................................ 1.1 1.8 1.6 2.3 2.9 5 ( ) 5 ( ) 5 ( ) 5 ( ) 5 ( )

Multiple traumatic injuries ............ 6.6 8.0 12.5 14.6 6.6 10.7 7.4 5.8 2.4 4.9

Part of body affected by the

injury or illness:

Head ............................................ 11.9 20.1 11.4 27.2 15.9 18.7 11.6 9.1 2.9 8.0

Eye ............................................ 5.9 11.9 4.8 17.0 10.1 5.7 5.4 3.8 5 ( ) 3.0

Neck ............................................ 3.4 3.5 4.4 4.4 3.1 7.2 4.4 2.7 5 ( ) 3.4

Trunk ........................................... 69.8 73.8 71.2 107.0 76.1 124.0 86.0 60.8 17.8 59.1

Shoulder .................................... 10.4 11.3 8.5 14.4 12.5 22.4 12.3 8.8 2.0 7.8

Back .......................................... 46.9 46.0 46.1 70.1 48.2 80.5 56.8 41.7 12.4 42.7

Upper extremities ........................ 43.9 68.5 43.4 78.4 67.5 50.3 36.4 44.6 13.2 26.7

Wrist .......................................... 9.3 8.4 7.1 11.9 14.8 11.2 6.9 8.1 4.9 7.2

Hand, except finger ................... 7.8 16.1 8.5 14.1 11.1 7.8 6.6 9.3 1.7 4.7

Finger ........................................ 16.5 26.5 18.6 34.8 27.9 14.8 13.9 17.8 3.8 7.7

Lower extremities ........................ 38.7 55.5 48.2 80.5 38.2 70.0 44.7 35.1 12.0 29.2

Knee .......................................... 14.2 14.3 18.2 28.7 13.8 26.0 14.8 13.1 3.5 11.5

Foot, except toe ........................ 6.6 9.7 8.4 15.0 7.3 11.5 8.5 6.3 1.9 3.9

Toe ............................................ 2.0 2.5 1.6 3.8 2.2 3.6 2.1 2.3 5 ( ) 1.2

Body systems .............................. 2.4 2.7 3.1 2.8 2.5 4.6 2.0 1.6 1.8 2.5

Multiple parts ............................... 16.4 14.3 19.8 27.6 12.7 30.2 18.1 14.7 8.7 15.9

See footnotes at end of table.
TABLE 6. Incidence rates1 for nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work2 per 10,000 full-time workers

for selected characteristics and industry division,1999 — Continued

Characteristic Private

industry3

Goods producing Service producing

Agriculture,

forestry,

and

fishing3

Mining4 Construction

Manufacturing

Transportation and

public

utilities4

Wholesale

trade

Retail

trade

Finance,

insurance,

and real

estate

Services

Source of injury or illness:

Chemicals and chemical

products .................................... 3.2 2.9 15.6 4.6 5.2 4.0 2.5 2.0 5 ( ) 2.6

Containers ................................... 27.1 18.9 12.5 15.8 29.2 63.1 48.5 36.9 6.4 13.9

Furniture and fixtures .................. 6.5 2.1 1.0 5.6 5.7 5.6 4.8 9.0 3.6 7.3

Machinery .................................... 12.6 18.2 26.2 18.8 25.3 7.8 13.7 12.4 3.6 5.3

Parts and materials ..................... 21.2 17.1 34.1 82.4 38.7 25.0 22.9 10.1 1.8 6.6

Worker motion or position ........... 29.5 34.7 7.6 44.5 42.8 47.8 30.1 22.3 12.6 21.8

Floors, walkways, ground

surfaces ..................................... 30.1 36.1 37.2 59.6 22.7 47.5 29.7 33.3 13.1 26.5

Tools, instruments, and

equipment ................................. 11.7 20.9 11.9 34.3 14.3 11.2 7.3 12.2 3.6 7.4

Vehicles ....................................... 15.2 17.9 11.6 16.9 10.3 56.6 26.2 11.2 4.6 10.9

Health care patient ...................... 8.0 – – – 5 ( ) 2.8 – – 5 ( ) 25.9

Event or exposure leading to

injury or illness:

Contact with objects and

equipment ................................. 50.8 79.9 81.5 115.6 72.8 65.7 53.1 48.7 11.2 26.8

Struck by object ......................... 25.4 35.6 44.9 59.6 30.7 33.4 27.2 27.5 6.3 14.3

Struck against object ................. 12.9 19.3 16.9 26.3 16.9 18.3 13.0 13.1 3.1 7.8

Caught in equipment or object .. 8.5 15.4 19.0 15.4 18.7 9.0 9.5 5.2 1.0 2.9

Fall to lower level ........................ 10.4 18.5 19.3 38.3 7.1 21.0 12.8 7.3 3.9 6.5

Fall on same level ....................... 21.1 20.1 16.0 23.6 17.3 28.9 18.3 27.7 9.8 20.8

Slip, trip, loss of

balance—without fall ................. 6.1 7.0 1.8 10.4 5.6 11.3 6.4 6.3 1.7 5.1

Overexertion ................................ 50.8 39.2 57.9 68.7 55.0 87.1 63.1 43.6 11.5 47.3

Overexertion in lifting ................ 29.3 23.6 21.3 40.3 29.9 46.5 39.1 29.6 7.3 25.7

Repetitive motion ........................ 8.1 5.6 2.5 6.0 18.4 8.7 6.5 4.3 5.8 5.0

Exposure to harmful

substances ................................ 8.4 13.1 8.7 12.4 11.3 10.6 5.9 8.3 2.1 7.1

Transportation accidents ............. 8.1 10.5 3.0 11.1 4.5 28.3 13.5 5.3 3.7 6.6

Fires and explosions ................... 5 () – 5 ( ) 1.4 5 ( ) 5 ( ) 5 ( ) 5 ( ) 5 ( ) 5 ( )

Assaults and violent acts by

person ....................................... 1.8 5 () – 5 ( ) 5 ( ) 1.1 5 ( ) 1.6 5 ( ) 4.4

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 for employers 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 Less than 1.0 case per 10,000 full-time workers.

NOTE: Dashes indicate data that are not available. 

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor 
TABLE 7. Percent distribution of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work1 by selected worker

characteristics and number of days away from work,1999

Characteristic Total

cases

Percent of days-away-from-work cases involving — Median

days

away

from work 1 day 2 days 3 - 5 days 6 - 10

days

11 - 20

days

21 - 30

days

31 days

or more

Total [1,702,470 cases] .................. 100.0 16.0 12.9 20.5 13.3 11.4 6.3 19.6 6

Sex:

Male ............................................ 100.0 16.1 12.6 20.2 13.5 11.5 6.5 19.6 6

Female ........................................ 100.0 16.0 13.4 21.2 12.9 11.0 6.0 19.6 5

Age:2

14 - 15 ......................................... 100.0 51.4 4.6 14.8 6.8 6.6 1.3 14.5 1

16 - 19 ......................................... 100.0 23.5 16.7 23.2 14.5 10.3 4.5 7.2 3

20 - 24 ......................................... 100.0 21.2 15.2 24.8 13.3 10.4 4.8 10.3 4

25 - 34 ......................................... 100.0 17.4 14.3 21.9 13.3 11.0 5.7 16.5 5

35 - 44 ......................................... 100.0 15.2 12.1 19.8 13.6 11.5 6.6 21.3 6

45 - 54 ......................................... 100.0 13.1 10.9 18.6 13.3 11.9 7.1 25.0 8

55 - 64 ......................................... 100.0 11.7 10.0 16.4 12.6 12.9 7.5 28.9 10

65 and over ................................. 100.0 11.1 10.5 15.6 11.8 14.8 9.2 26.9 11

Occupation:

Managerial and professional

specialty .................................... 100.0 16.7 15.9 22.3 13.3 11.5 4.7 15.5 5

Technical, sales, and

administrative support ............... 100.0 16.4 13.4 21.6 12.1 11.4 6.2 18.8 5

Service ........................................ 100.0 16.0 13.9 23.2 14.1 10.7 5.1 17.0 5

Farming, forestry, and fishing ...... 100.0 13.5 12.9 21.1 13.5 10.3 7.9 20.8 6

Precision production, craft, and

repair ......................................... 100.0 15.9 11.7 18.7 13.2 11.4 6.9 22.2 7

Operators, fabricators, and

laborers ..................................... 100.0 16.0 12.4 19.5 13.4 11.6 6.7 20.4 6

Length of service with employer:

Less than 3 months ..................... 100.0 17.9 14.5 22.0 13.0 10.8 5.4 16.5 5

3 - 11 months .............................. 100.0 17.0 14.0 22.5 13.7 10.5 5.2 17.0 5

1 - 5 years ................................... 100.0 16.6 13.1 20.6 13.2 10.8 6.2 19.3 5

More than 5 years ....................... 100.0 14.1 11.3 18.4 13.0 12.7 7.6 22.9 8

Race or ethnic origin:

White, non-Hispanic .................... 100.0 16.7 13.3 20.5 13.2 11.2 6.2 18.8 5

Black, non-Hispanic .................... 100.0 15.4 12.7 21.5 13.5 11.1 6.0 19.8 6

Hispanic ...................................... 100.0 14.1 11.8 20.2 13.0 12.0 7.0 21.8 7

Asian or Pacific Islander .............. 100.0 13.0 12.9 23.1 13.8 11.7 6.6 19.0 6

American Indian or Alaskan

Native ........................................ 100.0 15.4 10.5 28.7 15.5 10.3 4.1 15.4 5

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 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 8. Percent distribution of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work1 by selected

occupation and number of days away from work,1999

Occupation Total

cases

Percent of days-away-from-work cases involving — Median

days

away

from work 1 day 2 days 3 - 5

days

6 - 10

days

11 - 20

days

21 - 30

days

31 days

or more

Total [1,702,470 cases] ................... 100.0 16.0 12.9 20.5 13.3 11.4 6.3 19.6 6

Truckdrivers .................................... 100.0 11.0 11.1 18.9 14.1 13.4 6.8 24.7 8

Laborers, nonconstruction ............... 100.0 17.7 12.4 20.2 14.7 11.2 6.1 17.6 5

Nursing aides, orderlies .................. 100.0 16.5 14.6 24.2 13.4 10.4 4.3 16.6 5

Construction laborers ...................... 100.0 15.5 12.5 20.2 13.7 9.4 7.2 21.6 6

Janitors and cleaners ...................... 100.0 16.8 12.2 21.6 15.4 11.0 5.7 17.3 5

Assemblers ..................................... 100.0 17.0 11.9 16.9 14.0 11.0 7.1 22.1 7

Carpenters ...................................... 100.0 14.3 13.2 17.9 12.8 10.1 7.2 24.5 7

Cooks .............................................. 100.0 16.2 15.5 26.4 14.8 8.0 5.7 13.4 4

Stock handlers and baggers ........... 100.0 14.2 16.3 25.3 14.5 10.5 5.7 13.5 5

Registered nurses ........................... 100.0 17.5 15.5 23.2 14.8 9.8 4.6 14.7 4

Supervisors and proprietors ............ 100.0 13.5 13.8 22.5 11.2 11.2 7.9 20.0 6

Miscellaneous food preparation ...... 100.0 19.2 14.7 21.9 14.2 13.0 3.1 13.8 4

Welders and cutters ........................ 100.0 23.7 12.7 17.5 12.2 10.2 6.8 16.9 5

Cashiers .......................................... 100.0 15.0 14.2 23.2 12.9 11.5 6.1 17.0 5

Sales workers, other commodities .. 100.0 16.6 12.3 23.8 9.8 13.0 5.9 18.6 5

Maids and housemen ...................... 100.0 14.7 13.9 22.5 15.6 9.3 4.7 19.3 5

Groundskeepers and gardeners,

except farm ................................... 100.0 14.4 13.6 19.9 12.8 11.3 6.1 21.9 6

Electricians ...................................... 100.0 17.5 10.3 19.2 12.5 14.2 5.3 21.0 7

Shipping and receiving clerks ......... 100.0 19.7 13.2 20.2 12.4 10.2 7.7 16.5 5

Mechanics, automobile ................... 100.0 18.3 11.9 23.8 11.9 9.2 6.6 18.3 5

Driver-sales workers ....................... 100.0 11.2 12.4 23.1 14.1 11.0 7.3 20.9 6

Kitchen workers ............................... 100.0 17.6 15.5 25.5 13.1 9.5 5.2 13.6 4

Industrial truck operators ................. 100.0 18.4 11.6 18.5 10.8 12.9 6.6 21.1 6

Waiters and waitresses ................... 100.0 15.3 16.0 21.9 13.7 11.2 5.0 16.8 5

Plumbers and pipefitters ................. 100.0 13.7 13.1 19.5 14.4 10.7 7.0 21.6 6

Repairers, industrial machinery ....... 100.0 16.6 11.5 16.4 11.5 13.4 8.3 22.3 8

Licensed practical nurses ................ 100.0 15.3 12.3 24.5 15.5 7.4 4.9 19.9 5

Mechanics, bus, truck, stationary

engine ........................................... 100.0 17.7 11.9 17.2 11.8 8.6 8.5 24.3 7

Farm workers .................................. 100.0 10.9 13.0 22.1 14.8 11.6 6.3 21.3 6

Packaging, filling machine

operators ....................................... 100.0 16.1 14.7 18.6 13.8 9.9 6.8 20.1 6

Stock and inventory clerks .............. 100.0 14.7 16.7 20.2 10.4 11.9 7.1 19.0 5

Supervisors, production workers ..... 100.0 18.0 16.1 18.3 12.5 12.3 5.8 17.1 5

Health aides, except nursing ........... 100.0 15.8 15.9 28.5 11.7 9.0 6.0 13.1 5

Hand packers and packagers ......... 100.0 21.2 12.7 20.4 11.3 11.6 4.8 18.0 5

Butchers and meat cutters .............. 100.0 19.4 14.7 18.6 16.0 10.8 4.6 15.9 5

Guards and police, except public .... 100.0 14.1 12.5 19.1 10.6 12.3 5.5 26.0 7

Attendants, public transportation ..... 100.0 4.9 9.7 20.5 16.1 15.9 7.8 25.1 10

Heating, air conditioning, and

refrigeration mechanics ................. 100.0 15.9 10.4 17.8 11.4 10.5 10.4 23.5 10

Machinists ....................................... 100.0 20.1 10.8 18.4 12.7 10.8 7.2 20.0 6

Helpers, construction trades ........... 100.0 22.6 11.2 21.0 10.6 13.4 5.4 15.7 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 and nonclassifiable responses,

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 work1 by selected injury

or illness characteristics and number of days away from work,1999

Characteristic Total

cases

Percent of days-away-from-work cases involving — Median

days

away

from work 1 day 2 days 3 - 5

days

6 - 10

days

11 - 20

days

21 - 30

days

31 days

or more

Total [1,702,470 cases] ................... 100.0 16.0 12.9 20.5 13.3 11.4 6.3 19.6 6

Nature of injury or illness:

Sprains, strains ........................... 100.0 13.6 13.0 22.4 14.1 11.7 6.0 19.1 6

Bruises, contusions ..................... 100.0 23.3 16.8 23.6 12.6 9.6 4.1 10.0 3

Cuts, lacerations ......................... 100.0 25.1 16.1 22.1 13.7 10.3 3.8 8.9 3

Fractures ..................................... 100.0 7.4 7.1 12.3 10.7 13.0 11.0 38.5 20

Heat burns ................................... 100.0 17.5 18.8 21.3 16.5 14.3 5.0 6.7 4

Carpal tunnel syndrome .............. 100.0 4.0 4.0 8.4 10.7 15.5 11.7 45.6 27

Tendonitis .................................... 100.0 9.6 10.1 19.8 15.7 12.3 7.6 24.8 9

Chemical burns ........................... 100.0 31.1 17.9 25.2 11.9 6.9 2.6 4.5 3

Amputations ................................ 100.0 5.4 4.6 10.5 13.6 19.7 12.2 34.0 18

Multiple traumatic injuries ............ 100.0 15.4 10.8 18.5 13.9 11.1 7.3 23.0 7

Part of body affected by the

injury or illness:

Head ............................................ 100.0 37.8 19.6 20.4 9.4 4.8 1.9 6.1 2

Eye ............................................ 100.0 48.1 21.2 18.8 5.5 2.9 1.3 2.1 2

Neck ............................................ 100.0 14.4 13.5 21.1 11.2 10.4 4.5 25.0 6

Trunk ........................................... 100.0 13.1 12.0 21.4 14.1 11.9 6.6 20.9 7

Shoulder .................................... 100.0 11.9 10.1 17.3 12.2 12.5 7.7 28.3 10

Back .......................................... 100.0 13.4 13.1 23.3 14.9 10.9 5.3 19.1 6

Upper extremities ........................ 100.0 17.3 12.6 19.3 13.9 11.5 6.6 18.7 6

Wrist .......................................... 100.0 11.0 8.9 15.3 12.8 12.6 8.7 30.7 12

Hand, except finger ................... 100.0 19.5 15.6 21.1 14.1 9.7 4.6 15.3 5

Finger ........................................ 100.0 21.6 13.9 20.6 14.1 11.2 6.3 12.3 4

Lower extremities ........................ 100.0 13.8 12.6 20.5 13.3 11.9 7.1 20.7 7

Knee .......................................... 100.0 10.7 10.6 18.5 12.5 12.3 8.4 27.1 10

Foot, except toe ........................ 100.0 17.4 13.1 20.6 14.8 10.4 6.1 17.5 5

Toe ............................................ 100.0 17.9 16.3 23.3 12.7 13.0 7.3 9.6 5

Body systems .............................. 100.0 23.5 14.7 23.2 9.9 6.6 4.9 17.2 3

Multiple parts ............................... 100.0 13.5 12.3 19.0 12.3 12.8 6.3 23.7 8

See footnotes at end of table.
TABLE 9. Percent distribution of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work1 by selected injury

or illness characteristics and number of days away from work,1999 — Continued

Characteristic Total

cases

Percent of days-away-from-work cases involving — Median

days

away

from work 1 day 2 days 3 - 5

days

6 - 10

days

11 - 20

days

21 - 30

days

31 days

or more

Source of injury or illness:

Chemicals and chemical

products .................................... 100.0 29.0 17.8 24.6 12.3 5.7 3.4 7.1 3

Containers ................................... 100.0 14.4 13.2 22.2 14.1 11.5 6.4 18.2 6

Furniture and fixtures .................. 100.0 17.8 13.8 21.8 14.0 10.6 5.9 16.1 5

Machinery .................................... 100.0 16.9 12.4 19.2 13.8 12.8 7.1 17.7 6

Parts and materials ..................... 100.0 16.6 12.4 20.2 14.8 11.9 6.4 17.6 6

Worker motion or position ........... 100.0 11.1 10.7 19.2 13.4 13.2 7.6 24.9 9

Floors, walkways, ground

surfaces ..................................... 100.0 13.0 11.4 19.9 12.3 11.5 6.7 25.3 7

Tools, instruments, and

equipment ................................. 100.0 23.3 15.1 21.2 11.8 10.5 5.5 12.7 4

Vehicles ....................................... 100.0 13.5 11.7 18.7 14.3 12.2 6.1 23.4 7

Health care patient ...................... 100.0 17.5 14.7 24.3 13.4 10.5 4.1 15.5 5

Event or exposure leading to

injury or illness:

Contact with objects and

equipment ................................. 100.0 22.6 15.2 20.8 12.7 10.2 5.3 13.3 4

Struck by object ......................... 100.0 22.4 15.5 21.8 12.2 9.7 5.2 13.2 4

Struck against object ................. 100.0 21.5 15.0 21.8 13.6 10.6 4.9 12.5 4

Caught in equipment or object .. 100.0 16.3 12.1 18.2 14.9 13.3 7.0 18.2 6

Fall to lower level ........................ 100.0 10.9 10.5 17.0 11.9 11.5 7.8 30.2 10

Fall on same level ....................... 100.0 14.3 11.5 21.1 12.5 11.3 6.2 23.2 6

Slip, trip, loss of

balance—without fall ................. 100.0 13.1 13.5 20.8 13.1 13.2 6.5 19.8 6

Overexertion ................................ 100.0 12.9 12.3 21.5 14.5 12.2 6.8 19.9 6

Overexertion in lifting ................ 100.0 12.7 12.8 22.3 14.2 12.0 7.0 19.1 6

Repetitive motion ........................ 100.0 8.1 6.3 12.4 13.1 14.6 9.4 36.0 17

Exposure to harmful

substances ................................ 100.0 26.4 18.1 23.2 12.9 8.6 3.7 7.1 3

Transportation accidents ............. 100.0 11.2 10.9 17.3 14.2 12.6 6.5 27.3 9

Fires and explosions ................... 100.0 14.1 10.9 20.6 18.8 11.2 8.3 16.2 7

Assaults and violent acts by

person ....................................... 100.0 21.9 12.8 20.1 14.9 7.9 4.5 17.9 4

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 and nonclassifiable responses,

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 work1 by industry

division and number of days away from work,1999

Industry Total

cases

Percent of days-away-from-work cases involving — Median

days

away

from work 1 day 2 days 3 - 5

days

6 - 10

days

11 - 20

days

21 - 30

days

31 days

or more

Private industry2 [1,702,470 cases] ...... 100.0 16.0 12.9 20.5 13.3 11.4 6.3 19.6 6

Goods producing:

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing2 ....... 100.0 12.8 12.6 21.9 14.4 10.2 8.2 19.9 6

Mining3 ............................................... 100.0 7.8 7.1 12.2 9.6 10.1 6.9 46.3 25

Construction ....................................... 100.0 14.8 11.4 19.0 13.7 11.3 6.9 22.8 7

Manufacturing .................................... 100.0 18.6 12.7 18.3 12.7 11.7 6.7 19.3 6

Durable goods .................................. 100.0 18.9 12.5 18.0 12.6 11.9 6.9 19.2 6

Nondurable goods ............................ 100.0 18.0 13.0 19.1 12.8 11.4 6.3 19.4 5

Service producing:

Transportation and public utilities3 ..... 100.0 12.1 10.6 19.3 13.9 12.4 7.5 24.2 8

Wholesale trade ................................. 100.0 16.0 13.3 20.5 12.9 12.1 6.6 18.6 6

Retail trade ......................................... 100.0 16.3 14.0 22.9 13.1 10.7 5.7 17.4 5

Finance, insurance, and real estate ... 100.0 19.0 14.5 17.9 11.7 12.1 4.7 20.0 5

Services ............................................. 100.0 15.9 14.0 22.6 13.9 10.8 5.4 17.4 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 and for employers 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.

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