Source:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 1

Number of injuries and illnesses with days away from work, 2003-2006

908,310850,930 840,580 803,060

407,610408,400 394,090

380,440

0

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

1,200,000

1,400,000

2003 2004 2005 2006

Goods-producing industriesService-providing industries

Total injuries and illnesses

2003: 1,315,920

2004: 1,259,320

2005: 1,234,680

2006: 1,183,500

In 2006, injuries and illnesses with days away from work declined by 4.1 percent.  Goods-producing industries had a decline of 3.5 percent, while service-providing industries had a decline of 4.5 percent.  

Source:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 2

Percent change in incidence rate of injuries and illnesses by selected events and exposures, 2005-2006

Incidence rates for all events fell by 5.8 percent between 2005 and 2006.  Repetitive motion fell by 15 percent; falls on same level fell by 11 percent.  Slips, trips; struck by object; and contact with object, equipment fell by less than the average.  The incidence rates for assaults, violent act, by person; being caught in 

object, equipment, material; and exposures to harmful substances increased from 2005 to 2006.

Below average improvementDid not improve Above average improvement

-20.0%-15.0%-10.0%-5.0%0.0%5.0%10.0%

Contact with object, equipment

Struck by object

Slips, trips

Total

Overexertion

Overexertion in lifting

Fall to lower level

Transportation accidents

Fall on same level

Repetitive motion

Exposed to harmful substances

Caught in object, equipment, material

Assaults, violent act, by person

All events or exposures -5.8%

Source:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 3

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

90,000

100,000

Laborer

s and fr

eight, 

stock

, and m

ateria

l move

rs

Heavy

 and tr

actor-t

railer

truck

 drivers

Nursing ai

des, o

rderl

ies, 

and at

tendan

tsConstr

uction la

borers

Retail s

alesp

ersons

Janito

rs an

d clea

ners

Carpen

ters

Light or d

elive

ry se

rvice

truck

 drivers

Mainten

ance

 and re

pair

workers,

 genera

lStock

 clerk

s and 

order 

fillers

Regist

ered nurse

s

2003200420052006

Occupations with 20,000 or more injuries and illnesses, 2003-2006

These 11 occupations have had 20,000 or more cases for the past 4 years. Light or delivery service truck drivers declined by 18 percent, the largest percentage decline, followed by carpenters which declined by 11 percent, and janitors and cleaners which declined by 10 percent.  

Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers had the largest number of injuries and illnesses. 

Source:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 4

Transportation and material moving occupations have the highest incidence rate of occupation groups, at 301.  They also have the second-highest number of injuries and illnesses.

Number and incidence rate of injuries and illnesses by occupation group, 2006

14,330

25,810

76,210

81,190

83,320

94,890

149,910

171,030

239,710

245,150

152

28

70

58

54

213

271

189

301

163

300,000 250,000 200,000 150,000 100,000 50,000 0 250 500

Number of injuries/illnesses(Total = 1,183,500)

Days away from work rate(Private industry rate = 128)

Farming, fishing, and forestry

Management, business, and financial

Sales and related

Professional and related

Office and administrative support

Installation, maintenance, and repair

Construction, extraction

Production

Transportation and material moving

Service

Number of injuries and illnesses Incidence rate(per 10,000 workers)

Source:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 5

Number and incidence rate for occupations with 20,000 or more injuries and illnesses, 2006

These eleven occupations have 20,000 or more cases of injuries and illnesses.  Retail salespersons have a high number of injuries and illnesses, but only have an incidence rate of 106 per 10,000 full-time workers, a lower rate than average.  This is due to the large number of persons working as retail salespersons.

Number of injuries and illnesses Incidence rate(per 10,000 workers)

20,500

20,870

21,600

26,760

28,000

28,260

33,210

40,510

49,480

66,040

85,120

132

168

220

297

335

248

106

488

526

411

466

100,000 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 0 400 800

Registered nurses

Stock clerksand order fillers

Maintenance and repairworkers, general

Light or delivery servicetruck drivers

Carpenters

Janitors and cleaners

Retail salespersons

Construction laborers

Nursing aides, orderlies,and attendants

Heavy and tractor-trailertruck drivers

Laborers and freight,stock, and material movers

Number of injuries/illnesses(Total = 1,183,500)

Days away from work rate(Private industry rate = 128)

Source:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 6

These eleven occupations have 1/10 of one percent of employment and an incidence rate of 300 or more.  Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers have the highest number of injuries and illnesses, but are third in terms

of incidence rates behind nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants; and construction laborers.

Number and incidence rate of injuries and illnesses for occupations with the highest incidence rate, 2006

Number of injuries and illnessesIncidence rate(per 10,000 workers)

Industrial machinery mechanics

Mobile heavy equipment mechanics,except engines

Food servers, nonrestaurant

Carpenters

Welders, cutters, solderers,and brazers

Roofers

Heavy and tractor-trailertruck drivers

Emergency medical techniciansand paramedics

Laborers and freight, stock,and material movers

Construction laborers

Nursing aides, orderlies,and attendants

316

317

333

335

363

410

411

454

466

488

526

7,360

3,270

3,910

28,000

12,890

4,300

66,040

5,070

85,120

40,510

49,480

600 400 200 0 20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000

Number of injuries/illnesses(Total = 1,183,500)

Days away from work rate(Private industry rate = 128)

Source:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 7

Goods-producing industries made up 21 percent of private industry employment but accounted for 32 percent of injuries and illnesses with days away from work.  Service-providing industries made up 79 percent of employment and 68 percent of injuries and illnesses in 2006.

Injuries and illnesses and employment by industry domain, 2006

Employment(BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages)

Goods producing

21%

Service providing

79%

Goods producing

32%

Service providing

68%

Injuries and illnesses withdays away from work(Total injuries/illnesses =1,183,500)

Source:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 8

Almost two-thirds of injured or ill workers were men in 2006, well above their 59 percent share of the nation’s hours worked.

Injuries and illnesses and hours worked by gender of worker, 2006

Days away from work rateMen: 143

Women: 106

Injuries and illnesses withdays away from work(Total injuries/illnesses =1,183,500; 

Chart excludes unreported data.)

Men66%

Women34%

Hours worked(Current Population Survey, 

Private Wage and Salary Workers)

Men59%

Women41%

Source:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 9

Financial activities

900

14,400

28,790

3,350

31,220

4,770

15,230

16,510

33,930

9,670

010,00020,00030,00040,000

Cases involving Hispanic or Latino workers

Number of injuries and illnesses and percentage of casesinvolving Hispanic or Latino workers by industry, 2006

In 2006, there were 158,760 injuries and illnesses among Hispanic or Latino workers.  Hispanic or Latino workers made up nearly 20 percent of injuries and illnesses where race or ethnicity was reported.  Race is not reported in nearly one-third of all cases. 

Information

Education and health services

Trade, transportation and utilities

Other services

Manufacturing

Leisure and hospitality

Professional and business services

Construction

Natural resources and mining

11%

12%

14%

15%

20%

21%

24%

26%

27%

55%

0% 20% 40% 60%

Percent of cases in industry involvingHispanic or Latino workers

Source:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 10

Median days away from work is a key measure of severity of injuries and illnesses.  Injuries and illnesses become more severe as age increases, from 4 days away from work for workers aged 16 to 24 to 15 days for those workers 65 years old and older. The rate of injuries and illnesses are highest for younger 

workers, and decline with age. Workers 65 and older had the lowest incidence rate at 106, while workers aged 20 to 24 had the highest incidence rate of 143. 

Median days away from work and incidence rate due to injuries and illnesses by age of worker, 2006

4

4

6

7

10

12

15

134

143

126

132

124

122

106

20 16 12 8 4 0 100 200

16 to 19

20 to 24

25 to 34

35 to 44

45 to 54

55 to 64

65 and over

Days away from work rate(Total, all ages = 128)

Median days away from work(Private industry median days = 7)

Incidence rate(per 10,000 workers)

Median days away from work

Age of worker

Source:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 11

sprains

A nursing aide

her back

over-exertion patient

from

in

lifting

Nature ofdisablingcondition

Eventor

exposure

Part of bodyaffected

Sourcedirectly

producingdisability

Injury and illness topology

Each injury or illness is described from four viewpoints.

Source:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 12

Distribution of injuries and illnesses by nature, 2006

Sprains and strains accounted for  472,740 cases, or approximately 4 out of 10 of all nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses with days away from work in 2006.  The incidence rate of sprains and strains decreased by 6 percent from 2005 to 2006.  The rate of soreness, pain, except back increased by 4 percent.     

All other, 16.8%

Cuts, lacerations, punctures, 9.7%

Bruises, contusions, 8.6%

Fractures, 8.0%

Soreness, pain, except back, 5.9% 

Multiple traumatic injuries, 3.9% 

Back pain, 3.0%Heat burns, 1.5%

Carpal tunnel syndrome, 1.1% Amputations, 0.7%

Chemical burns, 0.6%Tendonitis, 0.4%

Sprains, strains, 39.9%

Source:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 13

Fractures had the most median days away from work in 2006 with 28 days, followed by carpal tunnel syndrome with 27 days and amputation with 22 days.

Incidence rate(per 10,000 workers)

Median days away from work

Median days away from work and incidence rate due to injuries and illnesses by nature, 2006

1

12

11

2

51

1

1

1

10

3

4

4

5

8

10

14

22

27

28

5

40 30 20 10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Chemical burns

Cuts, lacerations, and punctures

Bruises, contusions

Heat burns

Sprains, strains, tears

Multiple injuries

Tendonitis

Amputations

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Fractures

Days away from work rate(Total, all natures = 128)

Median days away from work(Private industry median days = 7)

Source:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 14

Upper extremities, lower extremities, and back each accounted for over one-fifth of all injuries and illnesses. 

Upper extremities, 23.3%

Lower extremities, 22.2%

Multiple body parts, 9.8%

Head, 7.0%

Body systems, 1.5%

Neck, 1.5%

Trunk, 34.0%

Back, 21.2%

Distribution of injuries and illnesses by part of body, 2006

Source:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 15

Incidence rate(per 10,000 workers)

Injuries and illnesses to the shoulder (16 days), knee (14 days), and wrist (14 days) required the most time to recuperate in 2006. These were at least twice the median time required for all parts.

Days away from work rate(Total, all parts = 128)

Median days away from work(Private industry median days = 7)

Median days away from work

2

3

5

6

7

7

7

8

8

9

10

14

14

16

9

2

17

2

2

27

30

5

43

13

28

5

10

8

20 10 0 10 20 30 40 50

Head

Body systems

Hands, fingers

Toe

Neck

Back

Upper extremities

Foot, except toe

Trunk

Multiple body parts

Lower extremities

Wrist

Knee

Shoulder

Median days away from work and incidence rate due to injuries and illnesses by part of body, 2006

Source:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 16

Four sources accounted for over half of all nonfatal occupational injuries and illness that resulted in days away from work in 2006: floor, ground surfaces with 18 percent; worker motion or position with 14 percent; containers with 12 percent; and parts and materials with 11 percent.

Distribution of injuries and illnesses by source, 2006

All other, 20.7%

Floor, ground surfaces, 18.1%

Worker motion or position, 13.8% 

Parts and materials,10.5% 

Vehicles,8.6%

Machinery, 6.5%

Handtools, 4.8%

Health care patient, 4.4%

Containers, 12.4%

Source:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 17

Incidence rate(per 10,000 workers)

Median days away from work

Of the sources of the injury or illness, floors, walkways, ground surfaces (11 days), worker motion or position (10 days), and vehicles (9 days) had the highest median days away from work.

Median days away from work and incidence rate due to injuries and illnesses by source, 2006

2

9

5

6

8

14

16

11

18

23

3

5

6

6

7

7

8

9

10

11

15 10 5 0 5 10 15 20 25

Chemicals and chemical products

Tools, instruments, and equipment

Furniture and fixtures

Health care patient

Machinery

Parts and materials

Containers

Vehicles

Worker motion or position

Floors, walkways, ground surfaces

Days away from work rate(Total, all sources = 128)

Median days away from work(Private industry median days = 7)

Source:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 18

Bodily reaction and exertion, 39.0%

Contact with objects and equipment, 28.3% 

Falls, 19.8%

Exposure to harmful substances, 4.8% 

Transportation accidents, 4.7%

Assaults and violent acts, 1.9% 

All other, 1.2%

Fires and explosions, 0.2%

Distribution of injuries and illnesses by event or exposure, 2006

Bodily reaction and exertion, contact with objects and equipment, and falls accounted for nearly 9 out of 10 nonfatal injuries and illnesses that resulted in days away from work in 2006.

Source:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 19

Of the events shown, repetitive motion injuries and illnesses had the highest median days away from work, but had a relatively low incidence rate.  At 19 days, its median was more than double the median for all injuries and illnesses.  

Incidence rate(per 10,000 workers)

Median days away from work

Median days away from work and incidence rate due to injuries and illnesses by event or exposure, 2006

3

4

5

5

7

8

8

9

9

10

10

14

19

6

18

2

9

4

6

16

16

31

6

0

8

4

30 20 10 0 10 20 30 40

Exposure to harmful substances

Struck by object

Assaults and violent acts by persons

Struck against object

Slips, trips, loss of balance-without fall

Caught in equipment or objects

Overexertion in lifting

Fall to same level

Overexertion

Transportation accidents

Fires and explosions

Fall to lower level

Repetitive motion

Days away from work rate(Total, all events or exposures = 128)

Median days away from work(Private industry median days = 7)

Source:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 20

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

In 2006, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) accounted for 357,160 cases, or 30 percent of the total injuries and illnesses with days away from work.  MSD cases decreased by almost 5 percent from 2005 to 2006.

Number of musculoskeletal disorders, 2002-2006

34.0% of total cases 33.1% of 

total cases 32.0% of total cases 30.4% of 

total cases 30.2% of total cases

Source:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 21

Distribution of musculoskeletal disorders by nature of injury or illness, 2006

Sprains, strains, and tears accounted for over three-fourths of the musculoskeletal disorders that resulted in days away from work in 2006.

Sprains, strains, tears, 76.9%

Back pain, hurt back, 6.1%

Soreness, pain, except back, 6.1%

Hernia, 4.7%

Carpal tunnel syndrome, 3.6%

Musculoskeletal system and connectivetissue diseases and disorders, except

tendonitis, 1.4%

Tendonitis, 1.1%

Source:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, cases involving days away from work. Chart 22

The above occupations had 0.5 percent or more of total cases, and have more than twice the average MSD incidence rate.  Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants have 8 times the average rate of MSDs.  

Number and incidence rate of injuries and illnesses due to musculoskeletal disorders by selected occupations, 2006

Incidence rate(per 10,000 workers)

Number of musculoskeletal disorder cases

79

91

91

91

99

100

102

108

110

158

272

293

6,630

5,830

3,500

3,240

8,890

8,270

2,370

17,400

4,190

28,860

3,040

27,590

400 300 200 100 0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000

Carpenters

Maids and housekeepingcleaners

Driver/sales workers

Welders, cutters, solderers,and brazers

Light or delivery servicetruck drivers

Construction laborers

Industrial machinery mechanics

Heavy and tractor-trailertruck drivers

Plumbers, pipefitters,and steamfitters

Laborers and freight, stock,and material movers

Emergency medical techniciansand paramedics

Nursing aides, orderlies,and attendants

MSD cases(Total = 357,160)

MSD Incidence rate (Private industry MSD rate = 39)