2016 SURVEY OF OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES & ILLNESSES

CHARTS PACKAGE

November 9, 2017
Industry-level estimates

•Incidence rates and numbers of nonfatal injuries and illnesses are presented by industry and case

types, including total recordable cases (TRC); days away from work, job transfer, or restriction

(DART) cases; days away from work (DAFW) cases; days of job transfer or restriction only (DJTR)

cases; and other recordable cases (ORC).

•Industry-level estimates for nonfatal injuries and illnesses combined and for injuries only are

presented per 100 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers for incidence rates and rounded to thousands for

numbers of cases. Industry-level estimates of illness cases are presented per 10,000 FTE workers.

Case circumstances and worker characteristics

•Estimates of case circumstances and worker characteristics are presented for the subset of

cases that resulted in days away from work (DAFW).

•Case circumstances include: event or exposure, source, nature of injury or illness,

part of body, day of week, and time of incident. Worker characteristics include: occupation,

gender, age, and race.

•DAFW incidence rates are calculated per 10,000 FTE workers and case counts rounded to tens.

NOTE:

•Previous chart packages from the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) first published

industry-level results, followed several weeks later by more detailed estimates of case circumstances

and worker characteristics for cases that resulted in days away from work. This charts package

combines, for the first time, highlights from both of these data series.

•Data users are cautioned to account for different levels of precision when analyzing

estimates presented in these charts.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2017
Incidence rate per 100 full-time workers

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

Year

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Nonfatal occupational injury and illness incidence rates

by case type, private industry, 2003-16

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2017

TRC = total recordable cases

DART = days away from work, job transfer, or restriction cases

DAFW = days away from work cases

DJTR = days of job transfer or restriction only cases

ORC = other recordable cases

5.0

4.8

4.6

4.4

4.2

3.9

3.6 3.5 3.4 3.4 3.3 3.2

3.0 2.9 2.6 2.5 2.4 2.3

2.1 2.0

1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.2 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.9 0.9

1.1 1.1 1.0 1.0 0.9 0.9 0.8 0.8 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7

2.4 2.3 2.2 2.1 2.1

1.9 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.4 1.3

The total recordable cases (TRC) incidence rate among private industry employers declined to 2.9 cases per 100 full-time equivalent 

workers in 2016—down from 3.0 cases in 2015. Incidence rates for days away from work, job transfer, or restriction (DART) cases, 

for days away from work (DAFW) cases, and for days of job transfer or restriction only (DJTR) cases all remained unchanged from 

2015, while the rate for other recordable cases (ORC) declined to 1.3 cases in 2016—down from 1.4 cases in 2015.

1

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Distribution of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses by private industry sector, 2016

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2017

Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction

Utilities

Management of companies and enterprises

Finance and insurance

Information

Educational services

Real estate and rental and leasing

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Arts, entertainment, and recreation

Professional and technical services

Other services (except public administration)

Administrative and waste services

Wholesale trade

Construction

Transportation and warehousing

Accommodation and food services

Retail trade

Manufacturing

Health care and social assistance

0 125 250 375 500 625

552.6 33.2

410.5 39.2

386.7 9.2

272.3 7.6

202.2 8.1

197.7 5.7

152.7 4.4

113.8 5.7

70.9 2.3

67.8 3.8

55.6 3.0

54.2 4.1

49.0 2.1

35.6 | 1.9

30.6 | 1.9

28.4 | 2.5

19.2 | 1.1

10.4 | 1.1

9.7 | 0.5

Number of cases

(in thousands)

Injuries

Illnesses

Injuries accounted for 95 percent of cases reported among all private industry workplaces combined in 2016, as well as the majority of 

cases reported among individual industry sectors. Illnesses accounted for only a small fraction of cases reported in each industry sector.

2

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Incidence rates and numbers of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses

by private industry sector, 2016

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2017

Finance and insurance

Professional and technical services

Management of companies and enterprises

Information

Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction

Educational services

Utilities

Other services (except public administration)

Administrative and waste services

Real estate and rental and leasing

Wholesale trade

Construction

Retail trade

Accommodation and food services

Manufacturing

Health care and social assistance

Arts, entertainment, and recreation

Transportation and warehousing

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

7.5 5.0 2.5 0 200 400 600

6.1

4.6

4.4

4.2

3.6

3.3

3.3

3.2

2.8

2.7

2.3

2.3

2.1

2.0

1.5

1.3

0.9

0.9

0.6

10.1

11.5

20.3

30.8

32.5

37.5

51.1

58.3

58.6

71.6

73.3

119.5

157.1

203.5

210.2

279.9

395.9

449.8

585.8

Incidence rate

(per 100 full-time workers)

Number of cases

(in thousands)

Approximately 1 in 5 injury and illness cases reported by private industry employers in 2016 occurred in healthcare and social 

assistance industries. About half of all nonfatal injury and illness cases reported among private industry establishments in 

2016 occurred in just three industry sectors—health care and social assistance, manufacturing, and retail trade. 

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The manufacturing and health care and social assistance industry sectors together reported more than half (52.7 percent) of all private industry illness 

cases in 2016. The estimated rate of occupational illness across private industry was 14.1 cases per 10,000 full-time equivalent workers, with rates 

ranging broadly among industry sectors from 4.5 cases in the finance and insurance sector to 43.3 cases in agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting. 

Incidence rates and numbers of nonfatal occupational illnesses

by private industry sector, 2016

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2017

Finance and insurance

Professional and technical services

Management of companies and enterprises

Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction

Other services (except public administration)

Information

Wholesale trade

Retail trade

Accommodation and food services

Construction

Educational services

Administrative and waste services

Real estate and rental and leasing

Transportation and warehousing

Utilities

Arts, entertainment, and recreation

Health care and social assistance

Manufacturing

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

45.0 30.0 15.0 0 15 30 45

43.3

31.5

23.7

22.5

20.0

17.7

11.2

11.0

10.2

9.2

8.9

7.8

7.7

7.5

7.3

7.2

5.2

4.7

4.5

0.5

1.1

1.1

1.9

1.9

2.1

2.3

2.5

3.0

3.8

4.1

4.4

5.7

5.7

7.6

8.1

9.2

33.2

39.2

Incidence rate

(per 10,000 full-time workers)

Number of cases

(in thousands)

4

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Nonfatal occupational injury and illness incidence rates by case type and ownership, 2016

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2017

Private industry State government Local government

1.5

1.6

0.9

1.9

2.3

1.6

0.4

0.7 0.7

1.8

2.7

1.3

3.7

5.0

2.9

Incidence rate per 100 full-time workers

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

TRC DART DAFW DJTR ORC

TRC = total recordable cases

DART = days away from work, job transfer, or restriction cases

DAFW = days away from work cases

DJTR = days of job transfer or restriction only cases

ORC = other recordable cases

Case type

Continuing a trend since 2008, the total recordable cases (TRC) incidence rate of injuries and illnesses remained highest among 

local government workplaces (5.0 cases per 100 full-time equivalent workers), compared to state government (3.7 cases) and 

private industry (2.9 cases) workplaces. The local government TRC rate declined from 5.6 cases in 2015 to 5.0 cases in 2016.

5

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National public sector estimates of nonfatal injuries and illnesses, covering more than 4.8 million state government workers* in 2016, 

are available for selected industries within state government and provide for limited comparisons to same industries in local government 

or private industry. For example, rates observed for hospitals or for nursing and residential care facilities may differ significantly between 

private industry and local government as a result of different types of facilities that are more prevalent in one compared to the other. 

Incidence rates and numbers of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses

by select industry, state government, 2016

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2017

Colleges, universities, and professional schools (NAICS 6113)

Police protection (NAICS 92212)

Correctional institutions (NAICS 92214)

Hospitals (NAICS 622)

Nursing and residential care facilities (NAICS 623)

14.0 10.5 7.0 3.5 0 10 20 30 40

13.7

8.2

7.7

6.7

1.8

7.6

14.9

22.0

25.3

31.0

Incidence rate

(per 100 full-time workers)

Number of cases

(in thousands)

6 * 2016 employment from the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW)

View data
Incidence rates and numbers of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses

by industry, local government, 2016

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2017

Elementary and secondary schools (NAICS 6111)

Hospitals (NAICS 622)

Water sewage and other systems (NAICS 2213)

Nursing and residential care facilities (NAICS 623)

Transit and ground passenger transportation (NAICS 485)

Heavy and civil engineering construction (NAICS 237)

Fire protection (NAICS 92216)

Police protection (NAICS 92212)

15.0 10.0 5.0 0 100 200 300

10.2

9.5

9.1

6.8

6.1

6.0

4.9

4.2

3.6

8.9

9.1

13.4

19.2

27.0

43.6

213.3

Incidence rate

(per 100 full-time workers)

Number of cases

(in thousands)

While the incidence rate for elementary and secondary schools (NAICS 6111)—4.2 cases per 100 full-time equivalent workers—was lower than 

the average rate for all local government workers (5.0 cases), this industry accounted for 40.3 percent (213,300 cases) of all injuries and illnesses 

among local government workers in 2016. More than half of the 14.0 million local government employees* were employed in this industry. 

7 * 2016 employment from the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW)

View data
State nonfatal occupational injury and illness incidence rates*

compared to the national rate, private industry, 2016

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2017

* Total recordable case (TRC) incidence rate per 100 full-time equivalent workers

State rate not available

State rate statistically greater than national rate

State rate not statistically different from national rate

State rate statistically less than national rate

AL

(2.7)

AK

(3.6)

AZ

(2.9) AR

(2.4)

CA

(3.3) CO

CT(3.3)

DE(2.6)

DC(1.5)

FL

GA

(2.7)

HI

(3.5)

ID

IL

(2.7)

IN

(3.4)

IA

(3.7)

KS

(3.3) KY

(3.2)

LA

(1.9)

ME

(4.7)

MD(2.8)

MA(2.6)

MI

(3.3)

MN

(3.3)

MS

MO

(2.8)

MT

(4.2)

NE

(3.4) NV

(3.7)

NH

NJ(2.6)

NM

(3.2)

NY

(2.3)

NC

(2.5)

ND

OH

(2.7)

OK

OR

(4.0)

PA

(3.3)

RI

SC

(2.5)

SD

TN

(2.9)

TX

(2.2)

UT

(2.9)

VT(4.6)

VA

(2.5)

WA

(4.3)

WV

(3.2)

WI

(3.7) WY

(3.4)

PR

Private industry and public sector estimates are available individually for 41 participating states and for the District of Columbia for 

2016. The private industry injury and illness rate was statistically higher in 21 states than the national rate of 2.9 cases per 100 fulltime workers, lower in 13 states and in the District of Columbia, and not statistically different in 7 states. Caution should be taken 

when comparing rates among different states as some differences can be attributed to different industry composition within each state. 

8 View data
Nonfatal occupational injury and illness incidence rates for cases with days away from work, 

by ownership, 2016

The all ownerships incidence rate of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses 

resulting in days away from work has decreased each year consecutively since 2011. 

Incidence rate per 10,000 full-time workers

Number of injuries and illnesses with days away from work

Number of nonfatal occupational injury and illness cases with days away from work,

by ownership, 2016

Local government

State government

Private industry

All ownerships

0.0 40.0 80.0 120.0 160.0 200.0

100.4

91.7

151.6

161.8

Local government

State government

Private industry

All ownerships

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

1,122,960

892,270

60,210

170,490

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2017 9

View data
98.4 82.5

0.0

100.0

200.0

Incidence rate per 10,000

full-time workers

Male

62%

Female

38%

Private industry 

Injuries and illnesses

(892,270 cases)

Male

55% Female

45%

State government 

Injuries and illnesses

(60,210 cases)

217.3

117.5

0.0

100.0

200.0

300.0

Incidence rate per 10,000

full-time workers

Male

60%

Female

40%

Local government 

Injuries and illnesses

(170,490 cases)

Distribution of nonfatal occupational injury and illness cases and incidence rates for cases with days away 

from work, by gender and ownership, 2016

The incidence rate of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses resulting in days away from work for male state 

government workers increased to 200.0 cases per 10,000 full-time equivalent workers in 2016, up from 188.0 cases in 2015.

200.0

117.0

0.0

100.0

200.0

300.0

Incidence rate per 10,000

full-time workers

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2017 10

View data
Median days away from work is a key measure of severity of injuries and illnesses resulting in days away from work and represents the point where 

half of the cases involved more days and half involved fewer days than the specified median. Workers 65 and over required more time to return to 

work than workers in other age groups in 2016; however, their incidence rate was lower than the rates for workers in most of the other age groups.

Median days away from work and incidence rates of nonfatal occupational injuries and 

illnesses by age of worker, all ownerships, 2016

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

20 15 10 5 0

16 to 19 years

20 to 24 years

25 to 34 years

35 to 44 years

55 to 64 years

45 to 54 years

65 years and over

0.0 50.0 100.0 150.0

14

12

12

9

6

5

4 101.9

98.1

90.4

96.3

107.9

113.8

89.8

Median days away from work

(All ownerships median days = 9)

Days-away-from-work rate

(All ownerships rate = 100.4)

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2017 11

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Nonfatal occupational injury and illness incidence rates for cases with days away from work by 

selected event or exposure, all ownerships, 2012-16

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

Overexertion and bodily

reaction

Falls, slips, trips Contact with objects or

equipment

Violence and other

injuries by persons or

animals

Transportation incidents

Event or exposure

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Incidence rate per 10,000 

full-time workers

Across the five-year period 2012 to 2016, the rate of occupational injuries and illnesses resulting from overexertion 

and bodily reaction decreased from 39.4 cases per 10,000 full-time equivalent workers in 2012 to 32.9 cases in 2016.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2017 12

View data
Nonfatal occupational injury and illness incidence rates for cases with days away from work by 

selected nature of injury or illness, all ownerships, 2012-16

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

Sprains, strains, tears Soreness, pain Cuts, lacerations,

punctures

Bruises, contusions Fractures

Nature of injury or illness with days away from work

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Incidence rate per 10,000

full-time workers

Across the five-year period 2012 to 2016, the rate of occupational injuries and illnesses resulting in sprains, 

strains, or tears decreased from 42.7 cases per 10,000 full-time equivalent workers in 2012 to 36.3 cases in 2016.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2017

13

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In 2016, fractures and multiple injuries with fractures were the most severe types of nonfatal injuries or 

illnesses resulting in medians of 32 and 43 days away from work, respectively. Sprains, strains, and tears 

occurred at a rate of 36.3 cases per 10,000 full-time equivalent workers in 2016, down from 38.0 cases in 2015.

Median days away from work and incidence rates of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses

by nature, all ownerships, 2016

Median days away from work

50 40 30 20 10 0

Cuts, lacerations, punctures

Punctures (except gunshots)

Cuts, lacerations

Chemical burns and corrosions

Bruises, contusions

Heat (thermal) burns

Multiple injuries with sprains

Soreness, pain

Multiple traumatic injuries

Sprains, strains, tears

Tendonitis

Amputations

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Fractures

Multiple injuries with fractures

Incidence rate per 10,000 full-time workers

0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0

43

32

25

23

16

10

10

8

7

6

4

3

3

3

3

8.5

36.3

0.5

8.8

1.4

16.8

7.8

1.6

9.3

0.5

Less than 0.5

1.2

2.6

Less than 0.5

Less than 0.5

Median days away from work

(All ownerships median days = 9)

Days-away-from-work rate

(All ownerships rate = 100.4)

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2017

14

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Eleven occupations had 20,000 or more days-away-from-work (DAFW) cases across all ownerships. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers 

accounted for 6 percent of all DAFW cases. Police and sheriff’s patrol officers had the highest rate of DAFW cases among these occupations.

Nonfatal occupational injury and illness incidence rates and number of cases with days away from work for selected occupations 

with 20,000 cases or more, all ownerships, 2016

Number of injuries and illnesses with days away from work Incidence rate per 10,000 full-time workers

Light truck or delivery 

services drivers

Retail salespersons

Registered nurses

Construction laborers

Stock clerks and order fillers

General maintenance and repair

workers

Police and sheriff's patrol officers

Nursing assistants

Janitors and cleaners, except 

maids

Heavy and tractor-trailer truck 

drivers

Laborers and freight, stock, and 

material movers, hand

0.0 175.0 350.0 525.0 700.0

110.1

336.5

481.2

235.4

73.4

171.0

316.0

239.7

306.1

282.4

315.9

90,000 60,000 30,000 0

63,790

48,710

36,470

36,340

28,740

27,900

24,890

24,650

24,310

23,480

22,650

Number of cases 

(Total=1,122,960)

Days away from 

work rate = 100.4

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2017

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0.0

50.0

100.0

150.0

Fall on same level Roadway incidents Struck by object

Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

0.0

50.0

100.0

150.0

Struck by object Overexertion in

lifting or lowering

Fall on same level

Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, 

hand*

0.0

50.0

100.0

150.0

Violence and other

injuries by persons

or animal

Fall on same level Roadway incidents

Police and sheriff’s patrol officers

0.0

50.0

100.0

150.0

Fall on same level Overexertion in

lifting or lowering

Violence and other

injuries by persons

or animal

Nursing assistants

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Nonfatal occupational injury and illness incidence rate for cases resulting in days away from work by selected occupations and 

leading event or exposure, all ownerships, 2012-16

Incidence rate per 10,000 full-time workers

*Incidence rates are not available for 2014 for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand.

Event or exposure

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2017

Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand and heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers had among the 

highest number of cases with days away from work (DAFW) in 2016 (for occupations with at least 20,000 cases). Police 

and sheriff’s patrol officers and nursing assistants had among the highest DAFW rates (for occupations with at least 

20,000 cases). A common event leading to occupational injuries in these occupations included falls on the same level.

16

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Nonfatal occupational injury and illness incidence rates for cases involving days away from work for selected healthcare 

and protective service occupations, by ownerships, 2016

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

of cases involving days away from work (DAFW) among psychiatric aides (1,136.3 cases per 10,000 full-time equivalent 

workers) in 2016 was over six-times greater than the DAFW incidence rate for all state government workers (151.6 cases).

Private industry

Local government

State government

Incidence rate per 10,000 full-time workers

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

0.0 200.0 400.0 600.0 800.0 1,000.0 1,200.0 1,400.0

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2017

*Incidence rates are not available for local government psychiatric aides or psychiatric technicians. 17

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Nonfatal occupational injury and illness incidence rates of musculoskeletal disorders with days away from work, 

by ownership, 2016

Musculoskeletal disorders accounted for 32 percent of days-away-from-work cases in 2016 in private industry and occurred 

at a rate of 29.4 cases per 10,000 full-time equivalent workers. This rate was essentially the same as reported for 2015.

Number nonfatal occupational injury and illness cases of musculoskeletal disorders with days away from work, 

by ownership, 2016

Number of injuries and illnesses with days away from work

Incidence rate per 10,000 full-time workers

Local government

State government

Private industry

0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0

29.4

40.3

44.7

Local government

State government

Private industry

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

285,950

15,990

47,100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2017

18

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Nonfatal occupational injury and illness incidence rates and number of cases of 

musculoskeletal disorders by selected occupations, all ownerships, 2016

These ten occupations had at least 0.1 percent of total employment. Firefighters, nursing assistants, bus drivers, and emergency 

medical technicians and paramedics had the highest rate of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among the occupations shown. Also, 

among these ten occupations, laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand had the highest number of MSD cases in 2016.

Incidence rate per 10,000 full-time workers Number of injuries and illnesses with days away from work

250.0 200.0 150.0 100.0 50.0

Bus and truck mechanics and

diesel engine specialists

Police and sheriff's patrol officers

Heavy and tractor-trailer truck 

drivers

Light truck or delivery services 

drivers

Maids and housekeeping cleaners

Laborers and freight, stock, 

and material movers, hand

Emergency medical 

technicians and paramedics

Bus drivers, transit and intercity

Nursing assistants

181.9 Firefighters

181.1

173.3

167.3

122.8

107.2

103.7

101.5

97.3

93.3

0.0

Number of MSD cases

(Total = 349,050)

MSD rate

(All ownerships rate = 31.2)

8,000 16,000 24,000 32,000

5,860

19,560

2,080

3,530

24,810

7,180

8,320

16,160

5,810

2,230

0

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, November 2017

19

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