2015 Nonfatal Occupational 

Injuries and Illnesses: Cases 

with days away from work

Case and Demographics

November 2016
Rate of injuries and illnesses with days away from work,

by ownership, 2015

The incidence rate of nonfatal injuries and illnesses for all ownerships has decreased each year since 2011. 

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, November 2016 Chart 1

Local government

State government

Private industry

All ownerships

(Per 10,000 full-time workers)

0 40 80 120 160 200

Local government

State government

Private industry

All ownerships

(Number of cases)

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

104

94

149

178

1,153,490

902,160

59,590

191,750

Number of injuries and illnesses with days away from work,

by ownership, 2015

Chart1_data
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, November 2016 Chart 2

Number of injuries and illnesses with days away from work,

private industry, 2011-15

691,210 692,890 687,560 691,260 675,840

226,930 225,830 229,530 225,180 226,320

0

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Goods-producing

Service-providing

Total cases with days 

away from work

2011: 918,140

2012: 918,720

2013: 917,090

2014: 916,440

2015: 902,160

The total number of occupational injuries and illnesses in private industry has 

remained essentially unchanged for the period 2011 through 2015.

Chart2_data
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, November 2016 Chart 3

Eleven occupations had nearly 20,000 or more cases across all ownerships. Laborers and freight, stock, & material movers accounted 

for 5 percent of total cases. Police and sheriff’s patrol officers had the highest rate of injury and illness among these occupations. 

Incidence rate and number of injuries and illnesses for selected occupations 

with 20,000 cases or more, all ownerships, 2015

Number of cases

Construction laborers

Stock clerks and order fillers

Light truck or delivery services

Registered nurses

Retail salespersons

Police and sheriff's patrol officers

General maintenance and repair 

workers

Nursing assistants

Janitors and cleaners, except 

maids

Heavy and tractor-trailer truck 

drivers

Laborers and freight, stock, and 

material movers

Rate per 10,000 full-time workers

70,000 35,000 0

59,010

49,260

42,740

37,370

30,020

29,670

27,840

25,340

24,780

21,420

19,960

0 175 350 525 700

119

349

498

277

84

154

265

262

308

314

298

Number of cases 

(Total=1,153,490)

Days away from 

work rate = 104

Chart3_data
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, November 2016 Chart 4

These occupations are among the ones that had at least 0.1 percent of full-time equivalent employment throughout

the United States in 2015. 

Incidence rate and number of injuries and illnesses for selected occupations 

with high incidence rates, all ownerships, 2015

37,370

Rate per 10,000 full-time workers

600 400 200 0

Janitors and cleaners, except 

maids

Nonfarm animal caretakers

Sheet Metal Workers

Food preparation workers

Laborers and freight, stock, and 

material movers

Heavy and tractor-trailer truck 

drivers

Emergency medical technicians 

and paramedics

Light truck or delivery services 

drivers

Heating, a/c & refrigeration 

mechanics and installers

Nursing assistants

Firefighters

Correctional officers and jailers

Police and sheriff's patrol officers

Number of cases

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

498

420

398

349

320

314

314

308

298

291

290

278

277

29,670

16,080

13,280

7,880

24,780

6,670

49,260

59,010

15,860

3,360

3,320

42,740

Number of cases 

(Total=1,153,490)

Days away from 

work rate = 104

Chart4_data
Rates of injuries and illnesses for selected healthcare and protective 

service occupations, by ownership, 2015

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, November 2016 Chart 5

These occupations are frequently employed in both the private and public sectors. Within the state government, the incidence rate of 

psychiatric aides in 2015 was three times greater than the incidence rate of police and sheriff’s patrol officers. 

Private industry

Local government

State government

Registered nurses

Psychiatric technicians

Psychiatric aides

Police and sheriff's patrol

officers

Nursing assistants

Licensed practical and licensed

vocational nurses

Firefighters

Emergency medical technicians

and paramedics

(per 10,000 full-time workers)

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

Chart5_data
101 85

0

100

200

Incidence Rate

Male

62%

Female

38%

Private Industry 

Injuries and Illnesses

Male

53%

Female

47%

State Government 

Injuries and Illnesses

238

129

0

100

200

300

Incidence Rate

Male

60%

Female

40%

Local Government 

Injuries and Illnesses

Distribution and incidence rates of injuries and illnesses with days away 

from work, by gender and ownership, 2015

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, November 2016 Chart 6

Male workers in local government had an incidence rate two-times greater than that of male workers in 

all ownerships (114 per 10,000 full-time workers).

188

121

0

100

200

Incidence Rate

Chart6_data
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, November 2016 Chart 7

Median days away from work is a key measure of severity of injuries and illnesses. Half of the cases involved more days and half

involved fewer days than a specified median. Workers 65 and older required more recuperation time than workers in other age groups 

in 2015, however, their incidence rate was lower than the rates for all workers.

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

illnesses by age of worker, all ownerships, 2015

Median days away from work

20 15 10 5 0

20 to 24 years

16 to 19 years

25 to 34 years

35 to 44 years

45 to 54 years

55 to 64 years

65 years and older

Rate per 10,000 full-time workers

0 50 100 150

14

13

12

9

6

4

4 111

98

93

103

113

116

89

Median days away from work

(All ownerships median days = 8)

Days-away-from-work rate

(All ownerships rate = 104)

Chart7_data
Injury and illness topology

Nature of 

disabling 

condition Nature of 

disabling 

condition

A nursing aide

strains her back

from 

overexertion

while lifting a 

patient.

Source of 

injury or 

illness

Part of 

body 

affected

Event or 

exposure

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, November 2016 Chart 8

Each injury or illness is described from four viewpoints.

The Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) version 2.01 was utilized to code narrative. 

Chart8_data
Distribution of injuries and illnesses by the 

nature of injury or illness, all ownerships, 2015

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, November 2016 Chart 9

Sprains, strains, or tears, accounted for over one-third of all injuries and illnesses in 2015. 

The number of sprains, strains, or tears cases in 2015 remained essentially unchanged from 2014 at 421,610 cases. 

Sprains, strains, tears,

36.6%

Soreness, pain,

16.0%

Cuts, lacerations,

punctures, 9.2%

Bruises, contusions,

8.7%

Fractures,

8.5%

All other natures,

21.0%

Chart9_data
Median days away from work and incidence rate due to injuries 

and illnesses by nature of injury or illness, all ownerships, 2015

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, November 2016 Chart 10

In 2015, fractures and multiple natures with fractures were the most severe types of injuries resulting in a median of 31 days away 

from work. Approximately one-third occurred to hands (13 median days away) and feet (32 median days away). 

Median days away from work

40 30 20 10 0

Punctures (except gunshots)

Chemical burns and corrosions

Cuts, lacerations, punctures

Cuts, lacerations

Heat (thermal) burns

Bruises, contusions

Soreness, pain

Multiple natures with sprains

Multiple traumatic injuries

Sprains, strains, tears

Tendonitis

Amputations

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Multiple natures with fractures

Fractures

Rate per 10,000 full-time workers

0 9 18 27 36 45

31

31

28

22

14

10

10

9

8

5

5

4

4

3

3

9

38

1

9

Less than 1

2

17

8

2

10

1

Less than 1

1

Less than 1

3

Median days away from work

(All ownerships median days = 8)

Days-away-from-work rate

(All ownerships rate = 104)

Chart10_data
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, November 2016 Chart 11

Of the 358,890 cases with injuries or illnesses to upper extremities, 143,900 involved the hands and 92,850 involved the shoulder. 

There were 266,470 cases involving lower extremities of which 100,880 were to the knee(s).

Distribution of injuries and illnesses by part of body, 

all ownerships, 2015

Upper extremities,

31.1%

Lower extremities,

23.1%

Back, 16.6%

Multiple parts,

11.0%

Head, 8.2%

All other parts of body,

10.0%

Chart11_data
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, November 2016 Chart 12

Workers who injured their shoulder required the most time away from work to recuperate with a median of 23 days. 

Workers who injured their knee required a median of 16 days to recuperate before returning to work.

Median days away from work and incidence rate due to injuries 

and illnesses by part of body, all ownerships, 2015

Lower extremities

Median days away from work

Eye(s)

Head

Hand(s), except finger(s)

Finger(s), fingernail(s)

Hand(s)

Toe(s), toenail(s)

Back

Trunk

Neck

Ankle(s)

Foot (feet)

Upper extremities

Arm(s)

Wrist(s)

Knee(s)

Shoulder(s)

Rate per 10,000 full-time workers

32 24 16 8 0

23

16

14

12

10

10

10

9

8

8

7

7

5

5

4

3

2

0 8 16 24 32 40

2

9

1

17

23

8

5

4

13

Less than 1

8

32

9

5

5

1

24

Median days away from work

(All ownerships median days = 8)

Days-away-from-work rate

(All ownerships rate = 104)

Chart12_data
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, November 2016 Chart 13

In 2015 there were 324,420 occupational injury or illness cases where a person, plant, animal or mineral was the source of injury. Of 

these cases, 34 percent (110,520) involved patients (in hospitals or nursing care facilities for example). 

Distribution of injuries and illnesses by source, 

all ownerships, 2015

Persons, plants, animals 

and minerals, 28.1%

Structures and surfaces,

Containers, furniture, 21.0%

and fixtures, 14.5%

Vehicles, 10.1%

Tools, instruments and

equipment, 8.6%

Parts and materials,

7.1%

All other sources,

10.5%

Chart13_data
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, November 2016 Chart 14

Workers who sustained injuries and illnesses involving ladders required 21 days of

recuperation time. This was 13 days more than the total median days required for all workers. 

Median days away from work and incidence rate due to injuries 

and illnesses by source, all ownerships, 2015

Median days away from work

25 20 15 10 5 0

Chemical, chemical products

Handtools

Patient

Person, other than injured 

or ill worker

Machinery

Furniture, fixtures

Cart, dolly, hand truck

Parts and materials

Containers

Vehicles

Floors, walkways, ground 

surface

Worker motion or position

Person, injured or ill worker

Trucks

Ladder

Rate per 10,000 full-time workers

0 8 16 24

21

14

12

12

11

10

9

9

9

7

7

7

7

5

3 1

11

4

5

7

16

10

15

5

18

2

5

3

1

11

Median days away from work

(All ownerships median days = 8)

Days-away-from-work rate

(All ownerships rate = 104)

Chart14_data
Source: U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, November 2016 Chart 15

The number cases resulting from falls, slips, trips decreased by 2.4 percent from 2014.

Distribution of injuries and illnesses by event or exposure, 

all ownerships, 2015

Overexertion and bodily 

reaction, 32.6%

Falls, slips, trips, 

26.8%

Contact with object,

equipment, 23.4%

Violence and other 

injuries by persons or 

animals, 6.6%

Transportation incidents,

5.5%

All other events,

5.1%

Chart15_data
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, November 2016 Chart 16

Overexertion and bodily reaction had the highest rate and a median days away from work of 12 days, four more than the median for all 

events or exposures.

Median days away from work and incidence rate due to injuries 

and illnesses by event or exposure, all ownerships, 2015

Median days away from work

25 20 15 10 5 0

Exposure to harmful 

substances or environment

Contact with object, equipment

Struck against object or 

equipment

Struck by object or equipment

Intentional injury by other 

person

Fires and explosions

Caught in or compressed by 

objects or equipment

Fall on same level

Transportation incidents

Overexertion in lifting or 

lowering

Slips, trips without fall

Overexertion and bodily 

reaction

Falls, slips, trips

Fall to lower level

Repetitive motion involving 

microtasks

Rate per 10,000 full-time workers

0 7 14 21 28 35 42

22

18

12

12

11

11

10

10

10

9

7

5

5

5

4

3

6

Less than 1

4

18

6

28

5

14

5

3

24

2

10

34

Median days away from work

(All ownerships median days = 8)

Days-away-from-work rate

(All ownerships rate = 104)

Chart16_data
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, November 2016 Chart 17

The selected secondary sources identify the object, substances, equipment, and other factors that precipitated the event or 

exposure. In cases where secondary source was reported, ice, sleet, snow, and non-chemical liquids, such as water, contributed to 24 

percent of total falls on the same level. A contributing factor (secondary source) was not specified in approximately half of the total falls 

on the same level cases.

Falls on same level by distribution of selected secondary 

source, all ownerships, 2015

Total number of falls on the same level = 197,260

Secondary source not specified = 100,620

360

1,340

1,690

2,160

2,560

3,370

3,610

7,250

17,310

30,050

0 7,000 14,000 21,000 28,000 35,000

 Ladders

Machinery

Plant and industrial vehicles, nonpowered

Animal & plant byproducts

Power cords, electrical cords or extension cords

Floors, walkways, ground surfaces

Person other than injured or ill worker

Furniture and fixtures

Liquids, nonchemical

Ice, sleet, snow

Chart17_data
Rate of musculoskeletal disorders with days away from work, 

by ownership, 2015

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, November 2016 Chart 18

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) accounted for 31 percent of cases in 2015 across all ownerships and occurred at a rate of 32.2 cases per 

10,000 full-time workers. The incidence rate for MSDs in 2015 decreased from 2014 across all ownerships by 4.7 percent.

Number of musculoskeletal disorders with days away from work, 

by ownership, 2015

Local government

State government

Private industry

(Number of cases)

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

286,350

16,380

54,190

Local government

State government

Private industry

(Per 10,000 full-time workers)

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

30

41

50

Chart18_data
Incidence rate and number of injuries and illnesses due to 

musculoskeletal disorders by selected occupations, all ownerships, 2015

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, November 2016 Chart 19

These ten occupations had at least 0.1 percent of total employment. Emergency medical technicians and paramedics had the highest 

rate of MSDs among these occupations with 187 cases per 10,000 full-time workers while laborers and freight, stock, and material 

movers had the highest number of MSD cases in 2015. 

Rate per 10,000 full-time workers

250 200 150 100 50

Bus and truck mechanics and 

drivers

Heavy and tractor-trailer 

truck drivers

Maids and housekeeping 

cleaners

Janitors and cleaners, except 

maids

Laborers and freight, stock, 

and material movers

Nonfarm animal caretakers

Light truck or delivery 

services drivers

Firefighters

Nursing assistants

Emergency medical 

technicians and paramedics

Number of cases

16,000 32,000

187

181

169

136

116

111

103

98

96

91 2,160

3,980

5,630

15,320

15,810

21,990

10,730

6,680

1,390

19,360

0 0

Number of MSD cases

(Total = 356,910)

MSD rate

(All ownerships rate = 32)

Chart19_data