Number of Injuries and Illnesses Involving Time

Away from Work, 1992-2001

The number of injuries and illnesses resulting in time away from work declined by 7.6 percent from 2000.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Private industry

Service producing

Goods producing

Injuries and Illnesses (thousands)
Incidence rates per 100 full-time workers

Lost workday cases

Cases with days away from work

Cases with days of restricted 

work activity only

Lost workday case incidence rates, injuries and illnesses,

private industry, 1982-2001

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

0

1

2

3

4

5

1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

The incidence rate for lost workday cases declined steadily from 4.1 cases per 100 full-time workers in 

1990 to 2.8 cases per 100 full-time workers in 2001. Rates for the two types of lost workday cases 

moved in opposite directions during that period.
Hours Worked and Nonfatal Injury and Illness

by Gender of Worker, 2001

Two-thirds of the injured or ill workers were men, well

above their 59 percent share of the nation’s hours worked.

Men

65.7%

Women

33.6%

Injuries and Illnesses with 

days away from work

(Total = 1,537,567 injuries and illnesses)

Chart excludes unreported data.

Women

Men

Hours worked

(Current Population Survey, 

Private Wage and Salary Workers)

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

41.3%

58.7%
16 - 19

20 - 24 

25 - 34

35 - 44 

45 - 54

55 - 64 

65+

Hours Worked and Nonfatal Injury and Illness

by Age of Worker, 2001

Injuries and Illnesses with 

days away from work

(Total = 1,537,567 injuries and illnesses)

Chart excludes unreported data.

Hours worked

(Current Population Survey, 

Private Wage and Salary Workers) 

A majority of injured or ill workers were 20 to 44 years old. Workers 20 to 44 had a higher, while workers 45 and older 

had a lower incidence of injuries or illnesses than each of their hours worked shares suggest.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

2.9%

11.2%

28.5%

20.5%

1.6%

25.3%

8.8%

3.9%

10.5%

24.2%

28.2%

21.9%

9.3%

2.0%
Operators, 

fabricators, 

and laborers

39.4%

Service 

17.3%

Precision 

production, 

craft and 

repair 18.3%

Technical, sales, 

and administrative 

support 15.5%

Managerial and 

professional 6.4%

Farming, forestry,

and fishing 2.9%

Nonclassified, less than .5%

Managerial

and 

professional

27.9%

Technical, sales, 

and administrative 

support 30.7%

Farming, 

forestry, and 

fishing 1.7%

Precision 

production, 

craft and 

repair 

11.7%

Service

12.5%

Operators, 

fabricators, 

and laborers 

15.4%

Operators, fabricators, and laborers accounted for almost 4 out of every 10 injuries and illnesses, well above 

their employment share of 15%.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey Occupational Injuries and Illnesses

Injuries and Illnesses

Employment

(Total =1,537,567 injuries and illnesses)

(Current Population Survey, 

Private Wage and Salary Workers) 

Employment and Nonfatal Injury and Illness

by Occupation, 2001
Occupations with the Most Injuries and Illnesses

with days away from work, 2001

Injuries and Illnesses (thousands)

(1,537,567 injuries and illnesses that resulted in days away from work)

Truck drivers suffered the most injuries and illnesses involving days away from work, followed by

nursing aides, orderlies and by laborers,nonconstruction.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

24.7

25.7

27.8

31.1

32.7

38.6

44.1

68.9

71.0

129.1

0 20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000 100,000 120,000 140,000

Registered nurses

Stock handlers and baggers

Cooks

Assemblers

Carpenters

Janitors and cleaners

Construction laborers

Laborers, nonconstruction

Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants

Truck drivers
Number of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Involving Time

Away from Work for Selected Occupations, 1992-2001

In 1992 laborers, nonconstruction suffered more injuries than any other occupations;

however from 1993 to 2001 truck drivers suffered the most injuries involving time away from work.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

Injuries and Illnesses (thousands)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

Truck drivers Nursing aides,

orderlies, and

attendants

Laborers,

nonconstruction

Construction

laborers

Janitors and

cleaners

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001
Percentages of Employment and Nonfatal Injuries and Illnesses

for Occupations with the Most Injuries and Illnesses, 2001

Truck drivers, nursing aides and orderlies, nonconstruction laborers, construction laborers, 

janitors and cleaners, carpenters and assemblers experienced a higher percentage of injuries 

and illnesses than their employment share. Stock handlers/baggers and registered nurses experienced a 

lower percentage of injuries and illnesses than their employment share.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

Truck drivers

Laborers,

nonconstruction

Nursing aides,

orderlies

Construction

laborers

Janitors and

cleaners

Carpenters

Assemblers

Cooks

Stock handlers

and baggers

Registered

nurses

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Percent

Percentage of injuries and illnesses

Percentage of employment (CPS)
Nonfatal Occupational Injuries and Illnesses

by Length of Service, 2001

Less than 3 months

11.8%

3 to 11 months

18.5%

1 to 5 years

33.3%

More than 5 years

24.6%

Not reported

11.8%

Length of Service

(1,537,567 injuries and illnesses that resulted in days away from work)

Most workers had at least 1 year of service with their employer

when they were injured or became ill.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.
sprains

Nurse

her back

lifting patient

while

her

Nature of

disabling

condition

Event

or

exposure

Part of body

affected

Source

directly

producing

disability

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.
The Nature of the Disabling Condition,

Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Involving Days Away from Work, 2001

Sprains, strains 43.6%

669,889 cases

All other 17.0%

Bruises, contusions 8.9%

Cuts, lacerations 7.5%

Soreness, pain 7.2%

Fractures 7.0%

Multiple injuries 3.5%

Carpal tunnel syndrome 1.7%

Heat burns 1.6%

Tendonitis 0.9%

Amputations 0.6%

Chemical burns 0.6%

Nature of Injury or Illness

(1,537,567 injuries and illnesses that resulted in days away from work)

Sprains and strains accounted for almost 670,000 or nearly 44 percent

of all nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.
The Part of Body Affected,

Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Involving Days Away from Work, 2001

24.2

23.1

21.0

12.3

9.1

3.6 2.9

1.8 1.4 0.6

Back Upper

extremities

Lower

extremities

Trunk,

except

back

Multiple

body

parts

Head,

except

eye

Eye Neck Body

systems

Other

Percent

The back was involved in almost one-fourth of all occupational injuries and illnesses.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0
Nonfatal Occupational Injuries and Illnesses

by Source of Injury or Illness, 2001

Source of Injury or Illness

(1,537,567 injuries and illnesses that resulted in days away from work)

Four sources accounted for over half of all nonfatal injuries and illnesses that resulted in

days away from work: floor, ground surfaces 17.2%; worker motion or position 16.0%; containers 13.6%;

and parts and materials 10.6%.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

Chemicals, chemical

products 1.6%

Containers 13.6%

Furniture, fixtures 3.5%

Machinery 6.3%

Parts and materials 10.6%

Worker motion

or position 16.0%

Floor, ground surfaces 17.2%

Handtools 4.4%

Vehicles 8.4%

Health care

patient 4.4%

Other 13.9%
Bodily

reaction

and

exertion

Assaults

and

violent

acts

The Manner in Which the Disabling Condition Occurred,

Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Involving Days Away from Work, 2001

Bodily reaction and exertion, contact with objects and equipment, and falls

accounted for almost 90% on nonfatal injuries and illnesses

that resulted in days away from work.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

43.5

26.0

18.8

4.4 4.3

1.5

0.2 1.2

Contact with

objects and

equipment

Falls Transportation

accidents

Exposure

to harmful

substances

Fires

and

explosions

Other

Percent

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50
Percent Change in Incidence Rate

by Selected Events and Exposures, 1992-2001

The incidence rate for all events and exposures improved by almost 45% between 1992 and 2001. The chart

shows seven events improved more than the average and seven events improved less than the average.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

All events and exposures -44.5 %

Below average

improvement

Above average

improvement

Percent

0 -10 -20 -30 -40 -50 -60

Transportation accidents

Fall to lower level

Assault, violent act

Assault, violent act by person

Fall on same level

Repetitive motion

Struck by object

Total

Caught in object, equipment, material

Contact with object, equipment

Overexertion

Slips, trips

Exposed to harmful substance

Struck against object

Overexertion in lifting
14 to 15

16 to 19

20 to 24

25 to 34

35 to 44

45 to 54

55 to 64

65 and over

Age of

worker

Median Days Away from Work Due to Nonfatal Occupational

Injury and Illness by Age of Worker, 2001

Median days away from work

The median days away from work due to nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses

increased as the age of the worker increased.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

All ages

6 days

2

4

4

5

7

8

10

14

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
Occupations with the Highest Median Days Away from Work, 2001

Of the occupations with at least 1/2% of the total days away from work cases, bus drivers had a median of 11 days. 

Truck drivers; plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters; and industrial machinery repairers had a median of 10 days.

This compared to a median of 6 days for all occupations.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

Median days away from work

All occupations

Guards and police, exc. public service

Industrial truck & tractor equipment operators

Assemblers

Farm workers

Public transportation attendants

Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

Bus drivers

Truck drivers

Industrial machinery repairers

Carpenters

Construction laborers

Electricians

Waiters and waitresses

Heating, a/c, refrigeration mechanics

6

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

8

8

9

10

10

10

11

0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Vehicle washers and equipment cleaners
Median Days Away from Work Due to Nonfatal Occupational

Injury or Illness by Nature, 2001

Chemical burns

Cuts, lacerations

Bruises, contusions

Heat burns

Sprains, strains, tears

Multiple injuries

Tendonitis

Amputations

Fractures

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Median days away from work

All natures

6 days

Carpal tunnel syndrome had a median of 25 days away from work, followed by

fractures with 21 days and amputations with 18 days.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

2

3

3

5

6

8

10

18

21

25

0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Median Days Away from Work Due to Nonfatal Occupational

Injury or Illness by Event or Exposure, 2001

Repetitive motion, with a median of 18 days, resulted in the longest absences from work among the leading

events and exposures. Falls to a lower level, transportation accidents, overexertion in lifting,

overexertion, and falls on the same level also had medians above the national median.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

Exposure to harmful substances

Struck by object

Struck against object

Assaults and violent acts by person

Caught in equipment

Overexertion in lifting

Fall to same level

Slips, trips, loss of balance - without fall

Overexertion

Fires and explosions

Transportation accidents

Fall to lower level

Repetitive motion

Median days away from work

All events

6 days

3

4

4

5

5

6

6

7

7

7

10

11

18

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Median Days Away from Work Due to Nonfatal Occupational

Injury or Illness by Part of Body, 2001

Median days away from work

All parts of body

6 days

Injuries and illnesses to the abdomen (17 days) and to the wrist (13 days) took the longest

median time from which to recover. Injuries and illnesses to the shoulder, knee, and leg

also took a median of 10 or more days from which to recover.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

Eye

Head

Body systems

Hand, except finger

Finger

Neck

Foot, except toe

Toe

Arm

Back

Multiple parts

Leg

Shoulder

Knee

Wrist

Abdomen

2

2

4

4

4

5

5

5

6

6

7

8

10

11

12

13

17

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18

Chest
Musculoskeletal Disorders with Days Away from Work

by Nature of Injury or Illness, 2001

Sprains, strains, and tears accounted for over 76% of the musculoskeletal disorders that resulted

in days away from work in 2001.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

Nature of Injury or Illness

(522,528 MSD cases that resulted in days away from work)

Sprains, strains, tears 76.5%

Carpal tunnel syndrome 5.1%

MSD system and connective tissue

disorders, except tendonitis 2.2%

Tendonitis 2.3%

Soreness, pain, except back 4.3%

Back pain, hurt back 5.3%

Hernia 4.3%
Comparison of Total Injury and Illness Cases Involving Days Away from Work

to MSD Cases Involving Days Away from Work, 1992-2001

Percentage of Total Cases that are MSD cases

The percentage of total cases involving lost worktime that result from musculoskeletal disorders

has remained constant since 1992.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

Injuries and Illnesses

(thousands)

Total DAFW cases

MSDs

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

33.6% 33.9% 33.8% 34.1% 34.4% 34.2% 34.2% 34.2% 34.7%

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

34.0%

2001