NewsUnited States

Department

of Labor

Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212

Technical Information: (202) 691-6170 USDL 04-460 

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

Internet address: http://www.bls.gov/iif/home.htm Thursday, March 25, 2004 

LOST-WORKTIME INJURIES AND ILLNESSES: CHARACTERISTICS 

AND RESULTING DAYS AWAY FROM WORK, 2002 

A total of 1.4 million injuries and illnesses in private industry required 

recuperation away from work beyond the day of the incident in 2002, according to the 

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. The two occupations with the 

greatest number of such injuries and illnesses – truck drivers and nursing aides, orderlies, 

and attendants – offer examples of the characteristics of these cases. Of the 112,200 

injured truck drivers, 93 percent were men. Half of their injuries were sprains or strains, 

often to the trunk or lower extremities, stemming from overexertion, contacts with 

objects or equipment, or falls. In contrast, 91 percent of the 79,000 injured nursing aides 

and related workers were women. They predominantly suffered sprains and strains to 

their trunk (typically their back), due to overexertion related to lifting or moving patients. 

In goods-producing industries such as construction and manufacturing, which 

make up about 20 percent of private industry employment but account for one-third of 

injuries and illnesses requiring days away from work, contact with objects and equipment 

– such as being struck by an object – was the most prevalent event. This is in contrast to 

service-producing industries, which make up 80 percent of private industry employment 

and account for two-thirds of the most severe injuries and illnesses. In these industries, 

overexertion – especially overexertion by lifting – was the most prevalent event (chart 1). 

Revision to the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses 

Effective January 1, 2002, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 

revised its requirements for recording occupational injuries and illnesses. The BLS 

Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, the primary source for the estimates of 

occupational injuries and illnesses in this release, is based on employers’ records of 

injuries and illnesses. Due to the revised recordkeeping rule, the estimates from the 2002 

survey are not comparable with those from previous years. See technical note for 

additional information. 
This is the third of three annual releases from the BLS safety and health statistical 

series for 2002. The first release, in September 2003, covered work-related fatalities 

from the 2002 National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. In December 2003, a 

release based on the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses presented the number 

and frequency (incidence rates) of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses by industry 

and type of case. Injuries and illnesses with days away from work, job transfer, or 

restriction are comprised of two types: 

• those requiring at least one day away from work, with or without job transfer or 

restricted work activity; and 

• those requiring only job transfer or restricted work activity. 

In 2002, there were 1.4 million cases requiring at least one day away from work and are 

the focus of this release. There were over 1,000,000 cases of injuries and illnesses 

reported in 2002 with only job transfer or restricted work activity. 

Chart 1. Incidence rates of occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away 

from work due to overexertion and contact with objects/equipment, 2002

59.5

97.0

84.0

63.1

43.1

41.2

10.6

40.6

52.3

74.2

57.2

53.6

33.3

43.1

9.3

43.5

47.3

24.2

57.3

42.9

0.0 20.0 40.0 60.0 80.0 100.0 120.0

Services

Finance, insurance

and real estate

Retail trade

Wholesale trade

Transportation and

public utilities

Manufacturing

Construction

Mining

Agriculture, forestry

and fishing

Private industry

Service producing industries Goods producing industries

Overexertion

Contact w ith objects/equipment

Incidence rates represent the number of injuries and illnesses involving

days aw ay from w ork per 10,000 full-time w orkers.
Ten occupations accounted for one-third of the cases requiring recuperation away 

from work. Truck drivers experienced the most injuries and illnesses with 112,200 

requiring days away from work followed by nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants with 

79,000 and nonconstruction laborers with 76,600 (chart 2). 

Chart 2. Number of occupational injuries and illnesses (in 1,000's) 

involving days away from work for selected occupations, 2002

24.7

24.7

26.1

28.3

34.4

41.9

42.0

76.6

79.0

112.2

0.0 20.0 40.0 60.0 80.0 100.0 120.0

Sales w orkers, other commodities

Cooks

Supervisors and proprietors, sales occupations

Carpenters

Assemblers

Construction laborers

Janitors and cleaners

Laborers, nonconstruction

Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants

Truck drivers

Sprains and strains, most often involving the back, accounted for 43 percent of 

injuries and illnesses resulting in days away from work in 2002. When sprains and 

strains, bruises and contusions, cuts and lacerations, and fractures are combined, they 

accounted for nearly two-thirds of the cases with days away from work (chart 3). 

Chart 3. Number of occupational injuries and illnesses (in 1,000's) 

involving days away from work for selected natures, 2002

8.3

8.8

9.3

21.5

22.6

52.5

99.2

110.2

127.0

617.2

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700

Chemical burns

Amputations

Tendonitis

Heat burns

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Multiple traumatic injuries

Fractures

Cuts, lacerations

Bruises, contusions

Sprains, strains
Worker demographics and case characteristics

Demographic characteristics. BLS collects data on gender, age, length of service with 

the employer at the time of the incident, and race or ethnic origin of workers sustaining 

an injury or illness resulting in days away from work (tables 1, 2, and 7). Worker 

demographics can be used to identify specific traits and patterns that may be relevant in 

efforts to reduce workplace injuries and illnesses. Following are highlights of these 

worker traits for 2002: 

• Men accounted for 65 percent of total cases (1.4 million), which is higher than 

their share of the hours worked, 59 percent. Of the 372,200 cases reported in 

the services industry, women made up 64 percent of these cases, compared 

with their employment share of 60 percent. 

• Injuries and illnesses to workers aged 20 to 44 accounted for 64 percent of all 

injured workers, about the same as their share of hours worked in 2002, 62 

percent. Although workers aged 65 and over accounted for only a small 

portion (1.7 percent) of total injuries and illnesses, 61 percent of these cases 

occurred in the services and retail trade industries. 

• Operators, fabricators, and laborers experienced more injuries and illnesses 

than any other major occupational group (552,900) in 2002. Within this 

occupation group, 36 percent of these cases occurred in the manufacturing 

industry. 

• Employees with one to five years of service with their employer accounted for 

37 percent of all injuries and illnesses sustained, while workers with more 

experience (more than 5 years of service) made up 29 percent of total cases in 

2002. 

• Of the black, non-Hispanic workers who sustained an injury or illness 

(114,500) in 2002, 40 percent of these cases occurred in the services industry. 

Hispanic workers accounted for 13 percent of total cases and most of these 

injuries and illnesses were in the services (39,900) and the manufacturing 

(39,500) industries. 

Case characteristics. The survey uses four case characteristics to describe each event that 

led to an injury or illness that involved one or more days away from work. These 

characteristics include: 

• nature - the physical characteristics of the disabling injury or illness, such as 

cuts/lacerations, fractures, or sprains/strains; 

• part of body affected - directly linked to the nature of injury or illness cited, 

such as back, finger, or eye; 

• event or exposure - the manner in which the injury or illness was produced or 

inflicted, such as falls, overexertion, or repetitive motion; and 
• source - the object, substance, exposure, or bodily motion that directly 

produced or inflicted the disabling condition, such as chemicals, vehicles, or 

machinery. 

For example a nursing aide strains his or her back while lifting a health care 

patient. The nature, or physical characteristic, is a sprain/strain; the part of body affected 

is the back; the event or exposure is overexertion in lifting; and the source is health care 

patient. Case characteristics can be used to help identify specific workplace risks for 

disabling injuries and illnesses (tables 4-6 and 9). Following are highlights of the 2002 

findings for these characteristics: 

• Sprains and strains were the leading nature of injury or illness in every major 

industry division in 2002, with 29 percent of these cases occurring in the 

services industry. 

• The trunk, which includes shoulder and back, was by far the part of body most 

affected by work incidents, accounting for 36 percent of all cases. The 

services industry had the highest number of injuries to the trunk with 28 

percent of these cases. 

• Overexertion and contact with objects and equipment accounted for more than 

half of all events or exposures that resulted in a disabling condition. Thirty 

percent of all overexertion cases were reported in the services industry, while 

25 percent of injuries and illnesses resulting from contact with objects and 

equipment occurred in the manufacturing industry. 

• Floors, walkways, and ground surfaces; worker motion or position; 

containers; and parts and materials accounted for 57 percent of reported cases 

in private industry and were the leading sources of injury and illness in 2002. 

Musculoskeletal disorders

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. In 2002, MSDs accounted for 487,900, or 34 percent, of the injuries 

and illnesses with days away from work. Table A presents the number of MSDs by major 

industry division, and table B presents the occupations with the most musculoskeletal 

disorders in 2002. 

• The services industry reported the most musculoskeletal disorders, accounting for 

29 percent of all cases of this type. 

• The manufacturing industry reported 21 percent of all MSD cases. 
• Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants had the highest number of 

musculoskeletal disorders (44,400) in 2002, followed by truck drivers with 36,800 

MSD cases. 

Table A. Number (in 1,000s) of work-related musculoskeletal disorders involving days away from 

work and median days away from work by major industry division, 2002 

 Number Median 

 days away from work 

 

Total musculoskeletal disorders 487.9 9 

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing 6.6 9 

Mining 3.3 23 

Construction 42.9 12 

Manufacturing 101.4 12 

Transportation and public utilities 58.2 13 

Wholesale trade 38.6 8 

Retail trade 85.1 7 

Finance, insurance, and real estate 11.7 10 

Services 140.2 7 

Injury and illness severity

 

Besides identifying high risk situations, the survey also focuses on the length of 

the absences resulting from these injuries and illnesses (tables 7-10). 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 revised OSHA 

recordkeeping requirements include new rules for counting that rely on calendar days 

Table B. Number (in 1,000s) of work-related musculoskeletal disorders involving days away from 

work and median days away from work by selected occupation, 2002 

 Number Median 

 days away from work 

 

Total musculoskeletal disorders 487.9 9 

Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants 44.4 6 

Truck drivers 36.8 12 

Laborers, nonconstruction 24.9 8 

Janitors and cleaners 15.2 7 

Assemblers 15.2 14 

Construction laborers 11.1 10 

Registered nurses 10.8 6 

Supervisors and proprietors, sales occupations 9.9 7 

Cashiers 9.3 8 

Stock handlers and baggers 8.8 5 

Sales workers, other commodities 7.8 7 
instead of workdays. This change affects the calculation of median days away from work 

and thus makes the data non-comparable with prior years. 

The median days away from work for all cases was 7 days in 2002, with over onefourth of the cases resulting in 31 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 (30 days), fractures (29 days), and 

amputations (26 days). 

• Among the most frequent events or exposures, repetitive motion, such as 

grasping tools, scanning groceries, and typing, resulted in the longest absences 

from work – a median of 23 days. Falls to lower level resulted in the next 

longest absences from work with a median of 14 days. 

• Of the occupations with 0.5 percent or more of the total days away from work 

cases, truck drivers had the highest median days away from work with 13 

days. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters; industrial machinery repairers; 

electricians; and industrial truck and tractor equipment operators had the next 

highest median days away from work, 10 days. 

• Injuries to the wrist or shoulder resulted in the longest absences from work – a 

median of 15 days, followed by injuries to the knee – a median of 14 days. 

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 2002 national survey marks the eleventh year that BLS has 

collected additional detailed information on such cases in the form of worker and case 

characteristics data, including lost worktime. 

On January 19, 2001, OSHA promulgated revisions to its requirements for 

recording occupational injuries and illnesses. These revisions became effective January 

1, 2002, and are reflected in the 2002 survey. Details about the revised requirements, 

including a summary of the revisions and a comparison between the old and the new 

requirements, are available from the OSHA Internet site at: 

http://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/index.html or from OSHA’s Office of Public Affairs 

at 202-693-1999. 

Due to the revised requirements, the estimates from the 2002 survey are not 

comparable with those from prior years. The survey was not designed to determine the 

impact of the revision on the estimates of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses. 

The term "lost workdays" is eliminated and the revision requires recording of days away 

from work and days of restricted work or transfer to another job. In addition, the new 

rules for counting rely on calendar days instead of workdays. Employers are no longer 

required to count days away from work or days of job transfer or restriction beyond 180 
days. These changes affect the calculation of median days away from work, making it 

non-comparable to prior years. 

The number and frequency (incidence rates) of days away from work 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 

employers’ 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 or employment by demographic characteristics, the 

hours and employment 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. 

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

the 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, 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. 

The survey is a Federal/State program (50/50 funded) in which employer reports 

are collected from about 182,800 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; Federal 

government employees; and, for national estimates, employees in 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 a 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 percent 

would be 6.5 plus or minus 2 percent (2 times 1 percent) or 6.37 to 6.63. One can be 95 

percent confident that the "true" incidence rate falls within the confidence interval. The 

2002 incidence rate for all occupational injuries and illnesses of 5.3 per 100 full-time 

workers in private industry has an estimated relative standard error of about 0.7 percent. 

A relative standard error was calculated for each estimate from the survey and will be 

published in a BLS bulletin. All findings in this release have been tested and found to be 

statistically significant using the 95-percent confidence interval. 

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 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 injuries and 

illnesses 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, 2002

(thousands)

Characteristic Private

industry2

Goods producing Service producing

Agriculture,

forestry,

and

fishing2

Mining3 Construction

Manufacturing

Transportation and

public

utilities4

Wholesale

trade

Retail

trade

Finance,

insurance,

and real

estate

Services

Total cases ...................................... 1,436.2 31.5 11.4 163.6 280.0 168.6 108.8 263.4 36.7 372.2

Sex:

Male ............................................ 930.9 25.1 11.1 159.6 214.7 130.0 92.3 144.8 17.9 135.5

Female ........................................ 500.6 6.4 .2 4.0 65.3 34.0 16.5 118.6 18.8 236.7

Age:5

14 - 15 ......................................... .2 – – – – – – .1 – –

16 - 19 ......................................... 38.4 1.0 .2 3.1 4.3 1.6 2.0 16.4 .4 9.5

20 - 24 ......................................... 159.2 5.4 1.4 21.7 24.1 11.9 10.8 43.4 2.8 37.6

25 - 34 ......................................... 358.4 9.8 2.9 49.7 65.9 41.1 29.8 64.0 8.1 86.9

35 - 44 ......................................... 400.9 8.3 3.0 49.4 80.7 53.0 31.6 63.2 10.5 101.2

45 - 54 ......................................... 305.0 4.7 2.7 26.6 67.9 41.1 23.2 46.2 8.8 83.7

55 - 64 ......................................... 143.5 1.7 .9 10.4 32.7 17.6 9.2 22.3 5.1 43.5

65 and over ................................. 25.1 .5 .1 1.4 3.3 1.7 1.9 6.9 .9 8.5

Occupation:

Managerial and professional

specialty .................................... 93.0 .5 .2 2.7 4.6 3.6 3.8 9.3 5.7 62.6

Technical, sales, and

administrative support ............... 239.4 1.4 .1 4.5 16.7 27.7 17.8 92.1 15.9 63.1

Service ........................................ 270.3 .5 6 ( ) .5 6.0 9.9 1.6 67.9 8.2 175.6

Farming, forestry, and fishing ...... 35.6 22.9 – .4 2.0 .7 1.3 1.2 1.7 5.5

Precision production, craft, and

repair ......................................... 242.8 1.1 5.8 94.9 49.4 27.3 13.0 24.7 3.7 22.7

Operators, fabricators, and

laborers ..................................... 552.9 5.1 5.3 60.4 200.7 99.1 71.1 67.8 1.5 42.0

Length of service with employer:

Less than 3 months ..................... 176.7 7.2 1.8 29.9 28.8 13.0 12.0 38.3 2.2 43.4

3 - 11 months .............................. 290.3 8.0 2.5 40.0 40.8 25.3 21.2 61.7 7.7 83.2

1 - 5 years ................................... 534.2 10.7 3.7 59.2 94.6 59.5 44.7 100.9 15.8 145.1

More than 5 years ....................... 422.3 5.5 3.1 33.3 114.7 65.8 30.2 60.9 10.8 98.2

Not reported ................................ 12.7 .1 .3 1.2 1.1 5.2 .6 1.6 .2 2.3

Race or ethnic origin:

White, non-Hispanic .................... 688.0 12.7 2.4 98.7 150.2 53.4 58.9 125.1 15.1 171.5

Black, non-Hispanic .................... 114.5 1.1 .2 7.1 22.5 9.2 9.3 16.2 3.0 45.9

Hispanic ...................................... 180.4 13.8 1.3 26.1 39.5 10.8 15.5 28.8 4.6 39.9

Asian or Pacific Islander .............. 22.1 .4 6 ( ) 1.2 5.2 1.3 1.6 3.2 1.0 8.3

American Indian or Alaskan

Native ........................................ 8.2 .1 6 ( ) 1.0 1.2 .6 .6 2.1 .4 2.3

Multi-race .................................... 2.7 .1 – .2 .3 .6 .2 .4 .2 .6

Not reported ................................ 420.3 3.3 7.4 29.3 61.1 92.7 22.7 87.6 12.4 103.8

1 Days-away-from-work cases include those that result in days away from

work with or without job transfer or restriction. 2 Excludes farms with fewer than 11 employees. 3 Data for mining (Division B in the Standard Industrial Classification

Manual, 1987 edition) include establishments not governed by the Mine

Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) rules and reporting, such as those

in oil and gas extraction. Data for mining operators in coal, metal, and

nonmetal mining are provided to BLS by the Mine Safety and Health

Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. Independent mining contractors

are excluded from the coal, metal, and nonmetal mining industries. These

data do not reflect the changes OSHA made to its recordkeeping

requirements effective January 1, 2002; therefore estimates for these

industries are not comparable with estimates for other industries. 

4 Data for employers in railroad transportation are provided to BLS by the

Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. These

data do not reflect the changes OSHA made to its recordkeeping

requirements effective January 1, 2002; therefore estimates for these

industries are not comparable with estimates for other industries. 5 Information is not shown separately for injured workers under age 14;

they accounted for fewer than 50 cases. 6 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, 2002

Characteristic Private

industry 2

Goods producing Service producing

Agriculture,

forestry,

and

fishing2

Mining3 Construction

Manufacturing

Transportation and

public

utilities4

Wholesale

trade

Retail

trade

Finance,

insurance,

and real

estate

Services

Total [1,436,194 cases] ................... 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Sex:

Male ............................................ 64.8 79.7 97.9 97.5 76.7 77.1 84.8 55.0 48.7 36.4

Female ........................................ 34.9 20.3 2.1 2.5 23.3 20.2 15.2 45.0 51.3 63.6

Age:5

14 - 15 ......................................... 6 () – – – – – – 6 () – –

16 - 19 ......................................... 2.7 3.1 1.4 1.9 1.5 1.0 1.8 6.2 1.2 2.6

20 - 24 ......................................... 11.1 17.3 12.6 13.3 8.6 7.0 9.9 16.5 7.7 10.1

25 - 34 ......................................... 25.0 31.1 25.9 30.4 23.5 24.4 27.4 24.3 22.1 23.3

35 - 44 ......................................... 27.9 26.4 26.1 30.2 28.8 31.4 29.0 24.0 28.6 27.2

45 - 54 ......................................... 21.2 14.9 24.2 16.3 24.3 24.3 21.3 17.5 24.1 22.5

55 - 64 ......................................... 10.0 5.5 8.0 6.4 11.7 10.4 8.5 8.5 13.8 11.7

65 and over ................................. 1.7 1.4 .5 .9 1.2 1.0 1.7 2.6 2.4 2.3

Occupation:

Managerial and professional

specialty .................................... 6.5 1.6 1.7 1.6 1.6 2.2 3.5 3.5 15.4 16.8

Technical, sales, and

administrative support ............... 16.7 4.5 .6 2.8 6.0 16.5 16.4 35.0 43.3 17.0

Service ........................................ 18.8 1.6 .2 .3 2.2 5.9 1.4 25.8 22.4 47.2

Farming, forestry, and fishing ...... 2.5 72.7 – .2 .7 .4 1.2 .4 4.6 1.5

Precision production, craft, and

repair ......................................... 16.9 3.5 50.7 58.0 17.6 16.2 12.0 9.4 10.2 6.1

Operators, fabricators, and

laborers ..................................... 38.5 16.1 46.3 36.9 71.7 58.8 65.3 25.7 4.0 11.3

Length of service with employer:

Less than 3 months ..................... 12.3 22.9 16.2 18.3 10.3 7.7 11.1 14.5 6.1 11.7

3 - 11 months .............................. 20.2 25.4 21.7 24.5 14.6 15.0 19.5 23.4 20.9 22.4

1 - 5 years ................................... 37.2 33.9 32.3 36.2 33.8 35.3 41.1 38.3 43.2 39.0

More than 5 years ....................... 29.4 17.3 26.9 20.4 41.0 39.0 27.7 23.1 29.3 26.4

Not reported ................................ .9 .4 2.9 .7 .4 3.1 .6 .6 .5 .6

Race or ethnic origin:

White, non-Hispanic .................... 47.9 40.3 21.4 60.3 53.6 31.7 54.2 47.5 41.2 46.1

Black, non-Hispanic .................... 8.0 3.4 1.8 4.3 8.0 5.5 8.5 6.2 8.2 12.3

Hispanic ...................................... 12.6 43.9 11.3 16.0 14.1 6.4 14.3 10.9 12.6 10.7

Asian or Pacific Islander .............. 1.5 1.4 .2 .8 1.8 .8 1.4 1.2 2.7 2.2

American Indian or Alaskan

Native ........................................ .6 .3 .1 .6 .4 .4 .5 .8 1.1 .6

Multi-race .................................... .2 .3 – .1 .1 .3 .2 .1 .5 .2

Not reported ................................ 29.3 10.4 65.2 17.9 21.8 55.0 20.9 33.3 33.8 27.9

1 Days-away-from-work cases include those that result in days away from

work with or without job transfer or restriction. 2 Excludes farms with fewer than 11 employees. 3 Data for mining (Division B in the Standard Industrial Classification

Manual, 1987 edition) include establishments not governed by the Mine

Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) rules and reporting, such as those

in oil and gas extraction. Data for mining operators in coal, metal, and

nonmetal mining are provided to BLS by the Mine Safety and Health

Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. Independent mining contractors

are excluded from the coal, metal, and nonmetal mining industries. These

data do not reflect the changes OSHA made to its recordkeeping

requirements effective January 1, 2002; therefore estimates for these

industries are not comparable with estimates for other industries. 

4 Data for employers in railroad transportation are provided to BLS by the

Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. These

data do not reflect the changes OSHA made to its recordkeeping

requirements effective January 1, 2002; therefore estimates for these

industries are not comparable with estimates for other industries. 5 Information is not shown separately for injured workers under age 14;

they accounted for fewer than 50 cases. 6 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, 2002

(thousands)

Occupation Private

industry2

Goods producing Service producing

Agriculture,

forestry,

and

fishing2

Mining3 Construction

Manufacturing

Transportation and

public

utilities4

Wholesale

trade

Retail

trade

Finance,

insurance,

and real

estate

Services

Total cases ...................................... 1,436.2 31.5 11.4 163.6 280.0 168.6 108.8 263.4 36.7 372.2

Truck drivers ................................... 112.2 1.3 .5 4.4 9.4 56.0 21.2 12.1 .1 7.2

Nursing aides, orderlies .................. 79.0 – – – – – – – .2 78.8

Laborers, nonconstruction ............... 76.6 1.5 1.4 – 23.3 6.9 21.2 12.7 .9 8.8

Janitors and cleaners ...................... 42.0 .3 5 ( ) .4 5.0 .9 1.2 4.8 5.6 23.9

Construction laborers ...................... 41.9 – 5 ( ) 41.3 5 ( ) .2 – – 5 ( ) .3

Assemblers ..................................... 34.4 .1 5 ( ) .7 29.0 .1 1.7 .8 – 1.9

Carpenters ...................................... 28.3 – 5 ( ) 23.4 1.8 .2 .6 1.0 .2 1.1

Supervisors and proprietors, sales .. 26.1 – – .1 .7 5 ( ) 3.1 20.4 .4 1.4

Cooks .............................................. 24.7 – – – .2 .1 .1 16.7 .2 7.4

Sales workers, other commodities .. 24.7 – – .1 .2 .1 1.4 20.2 .1 2.5

Cashiers .......................................... 22.5 – – – .1 .3 .2 20.7 .1 1.2

Registered nurses ........................... 21.9 – – – .1 5 ( ) – – .1 21.6

Miscellaneous food preparation ...... 21.8 – – – .2 .1 .2 15.6 .1 5.5

Stock handlers and baggers ........... 21.5 – 5 ( ) .1 .7 .3 1.6 18.5 – .3

Maids and housemen ...................... 18.6 – – – .1 .1 – .2 .3 18.0

Welders and cutters ........................ 15.2 – .1 1.4 11.1 .6 .8 .1 .1 1.1

Groundskeepers and gardeners,

except farm ................................... 14.9 7.3 – .4 .4 .2 .1 .4 1.6 4.6

Electricians ...................................... 14.4 – .2 10.7 1.6 .4 – .1 5 ( ) 1.3

Driver-sales workers ....................... 13.9 – – – 3.3 .5 6.5 2.4 5 ( ) 1.2

Shipping and receiving clerks ......... 13.5 .1 – – 3.2 5.2 1.7 2.7 5 ( ) .7

Mechanics, automobile ................... 13.3 – – – .1 .1 .6 9.7 5 ( ) 2.7

Kitchen workers ............................... 12.1 – – – .1 – – 11.2 5 ( ) .7

Plumbers, pipefitters, and

steamfitters .................................... 10.6 .1 – 8.4 .9 .3 .2 .1 .1 .5

Health aides, except nursing ........... 10.5 – – – – – – .2 .1 10.2

Waiters and waitresses ................... 10.4 – – – 5 ( ) – – 7.6 .1 2.6

Farm workers .................................. 10.1 9.1 – – .3 .5 .2 – – –

Repairers, industrial machinery ....... 10.0 – 1.0 .1 6.8 .3 .9 .1 .2 .6

Guards and police, except public .... 9.0 – 5 ( ) – .2 .6 – 1.1 .5 6.6

Industrial truck operators ................. 8.9 .4 .4 .2 3.6 1.2 1.6 .9 – .6

Stock and inventory clerks .............. 8.7 – – .2 1.7 .5 1.0 3.3 .1 1.8

Supervisors, production workers ..... 8.4 – .1 – 6.2 .5 .5 .4 – .7

Mechanics, bus, truck, stationary

engine ........................................... 8.3 – 5 ( ) .3 .3 3.5 1.6 .7 5 ( ) 1.8

Licensed practical nurses ................ 7.8 – – – – – – – 5 ( ) 7.8

Heating, air conditioning, and

refrigeration mechanics ................. 7.3 – – 5.3 .2 .2 .4 .6 .1 .6

Machinists ....................................... 7.2 – 5 ( ) – 6.4 5 ( ) .2 .1 – .4

General office clerks ....................... 7.0 – 5 ( ) .1 .9 .6 .5 .9 .9 2.9

Hand packers and packagers ......... 7.0 .2 – – 3.3 .2 1.1 1.8 – .4

Garage and service station related

occupations ................................... 6.9 – 5 ( ) .1 5 ( ) .3 .5 4.2 – 1.7

1 Days-away-from-work cases include those that result in days away from

work with or without job transfer or restriction. 2 Excludes farms with fewer than 11 employees. 3 Data for mining (Division B in the Standard Industrial Classification

Manual, 1987 edition) include establishments not governed by the Mine

Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) rules and reporting, such as those

in oil and gas extraction. Data for mining operators in coal, metal, and

nonmetal mining are provided to BLS by the Mine Safety and Health

Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. Independent mining contractors

are excluded from the coal, metal, and nonmetal mining industries. These

data do not reflect the changes OSHA made to its recordkeeping

requirements effective January 1, 2002; therefore estimates for these

industries are not comparable with estimates for other industries. 4 Data for employers in railroad transportation are provided to BLS by the

Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. These

data do not reflect the changes OSHA made to its recordkeeping

requirements effective January 1, 2002; therefore estimates for these

industries are not comparable with estimates for other industries. 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 4. Number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work1 by selected injury or illness

characteristics and industry division, 2002

(thousands)

Characteristic Private

industry2

Goods producing Service producing

Agriculture,

forestry,

and

fishing2

Mining3 Construction

Manufacturing

Transportation and

public

utilities4

Wholesale

trade

Retail

trade

Finance,

insurance,

and real

estate

Services

Total cases ...................................... 1,436.2 31.5 11.4 163.6 280.0 168.6 108.8 263.4 36.7 372.2

Nature of injury or illness:

Sprains, strains ........................... 617.2 10.5 4.5 60.3 105.5 81.9 51.4 108.4 13.3 181.3

Bruises, contusions ..................... 127.0 2.4 1.2 11.3 23.5 15.7 10.2 27.4 2.8 32.4

Cuts, lacerations ......................... 110.2 2.9 .7 17.7 25.1 6.6 7.6 30.9 2.0 16.8

Fractures ..................................... 99.2 2.9 1.8 17.4 19.6 10.5 7.7 16.5 3.0 19.9

Heat burns ................................... 21.5 .1 .1 1.7 4.8 .7 .7 8.2 .2 4.9

Carpal tunnel syndrome .............. 22.6 .2 5 ( ) .9 9.0 1.8 1.2 3.0 1.9 4.6

Tendonitis .................................... 9.3 .3 – .8 3.0 .8 .5 1.2 .5 2.1

Chemical burns ........................... 8.3 .3 .1 .6 2.6 .6 .5 1.2 .2 2.2

Amputations ................................ 8.8 .4 .2 .9 4.2 .8 .7 .7 .1 .7

Multiple traumatic injuries ............ 52.5 1.5 .5 6.5 10.2 7.2 4.3 7.4 1.4 13.5

Part of body affected by the

injury or illness:

Head ............................................ 90.2 2.8 .7 11.3 20.3 9.2 6.0 16.3 1.6 22.0

Eye ............................................ 42.3 1.6 .3 6.3 12.4 3.5 2.6 6.8 .5 8.4

Neck ............................................ 22.9 .5 .2 2.2 3.7 3.3 2.4 3.7 .4 6.4

Trunk ........................................... 522.1 10.0 4.1 54.3 94.7 67.1 42.2 93.8 11.1 144.7

Shoulder .................................... 83.9 1.7 .6 7.9 18.6 12.4 6.4 13.3 1.5 21.5

Back .......................................... 345.3 6.2 2.5 34.7 55.7 42.6 28.3 64.1 7.7 103.6

Upper extremities ........................ 328.3 7.2 2.5 40.0 88.5 27.3 21.1 66.0 8.6 67.0

Wrist .......................................... 69.2 1.1 .5 5.8 19.0 6.4 4.0 12.0 3.3 17.1

Hand, except finger ................... 55.9 1.5 .3 7.7 14.6 4.8 3.6 11.4 1.1 10.9

Finger ........................................ 121.6 2.6 1.3 16.7 36.5 7.9 8.3 26.9 2.1 19.2

Lower extremities ........................ 304.5 7.0 2.8 39.5 49.4 39.8 25.2 55.6 8.1 77.2

Knee .......................................... 113.0 2.2 1.0 14.9 18.7 14.7 8.3 18.8 3.0 31.4

Foot, except toe ........................ 46.2 1.1 .4 6.2 8.2 6.1 4.3 9.6 1.1 9.2

Toe ............................................ 14.5 .3 5 ( ) 2.2 2.7 1.3 1.2 3.9 .3 2.5

Body systems .............................. 19.9 .7 .1 1.3 3.2 2.1 .7 2.8 1.7 7.3

Multiple parts ............................... 139.4 2.8 1.0 13.8 18.5 19.0 10.3 23.5 5.0 45.6

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, 2002 — Continued

(thousands)

Characteristic Private

industry2

Goods producing Service producing

Agriculture,

forestry,

and

fishing2

Mining3 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 .................................... 20.7 0.8 0.8 1.2 5.6 1.4 1.1 3.3 0.5 5.8

Containers ................................... 193.1 2.8 .6 8.6 35.0 30.4 24.9 59.5 3.3 28.0

Furniture and fixtures .................. 52.4 .3 5 ( ) 2.7 7.7 3.4 3.0 15.0 2.0 18.3

Machinery .................................... 92.6 1.9 1.4 10.2 34.3 3.9 6.7 17.4 1.8 14.9

Parts and materials ..................... 147.6 2.2 2.3 37.5 49.1 14.6 12.4 15.4 1.7 12.4

Worker motion or position ........... 220.8 4.4 .6 20.7 54.0 26.9 14.4 35.7 8.4 55.7

Floors, walkways, ground

surfaces ..................................... 255.5 5.4 1.9 33.6 32.0 30.0 17.4 51.4 9.0 74.9

Tools, instruments, and

equipment ................................. 93.2 2.5 .9 18.1 19.2 7.7 4.9 18.4 2.0 19.4

Vehicles ....................................... 118.6 3.1 .6 9.8 13.6 31.3 15.5 16.6 2.8 25.2

Health care patient ...................... 70.0 – – – – 1.4 .1 – .2 68.2

Event or exposure leading to

injury or illness:

Contact with objects and

equipment ................................. 380.5 9.5 4.8 57.4 95.5 35.7 29.4 74.6 6.3 67.3

Struck by object ......................... 191.6 5.2 2.8 32.3 41.1 17.1 14.6 41.5 3.0 34.0

Struck against object ................. 99.9 2.0 .8 12.3 20.8 11.3 7.6 20.6 2.6 21.9

Caught in equipment or object .. 62.6 1.8 1.1 7.0 26.2 4.2 5.5 8.8 .5 7.7

Fall to lower level ........................ 86.9 2.4 .9 22.4 10.0 13.1 6.8 11.8 2.8 16.8

Fall on same level ....................... 176.0 2.9 1.0 12.3 23.9 17.4 10.9 42.5 6.3 58.9

Slip, trip, loss of

balance—without fall ................. 48.1 .8 .2 4.7 7.7 6.4 3.2 9.9 1.3 13.9

Overexertion ................................ 381.0 5.0 3.1 33.8 68.8 46.2 32.5 69.7 7.3 114.7

Overexertion in lifting ................ 208.3 2.7 1.1 17.9 35.6 23.3 19.8 45.8 4.2 57.8

Repetitive motion ........................ 58.6 .7 5 ( ) 2.9 23.6 5.0 2.6 8.4 3.6 11.8

Exposure to harmful

substances ................................ 60.0 1.9 .4 4.3 14.0 4.9 2.4 13.0 1.4 17.7

Transportation accidents ............. 63.0 1.8 .3 6.7 5.8 16.2 8.7 6.6 2.0 14.8

Fires and explosions ................... 2.7 .1 .1 .4 .6 .2 .2 .8 – .3

Assaults and violent acts by

person ....................................... 18.1 .1 – .2 .4 .7 .3 2.4 .4 13.6

1 Days-away-from-work cases include those that result in days away from

work with or without job transfer or restriction. 2 Excludes farms with fewer than 11 employees. 3 Data for mining (Division B in the Standard Industrial Classification

Manual, 1987 edition) include establishments not governed by the Mine

Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) rules and reporting, such as those

in oil and gas extraction. Data for mining operators in coal, metal, and

nonmetal mining are provided to BLS by the Mine Safety and Health

Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. Independent mining contractors

are excluded from the coal, metal, and nonmetal mining industries. These

data do not reflect the changes OSHA made to its recordkeeping

requirements effective January 1, 2002; therefore estimates for these

industries are not comparable with estimates for other industries. 4 Data for employers in railroad transportation are provided to BLS by the

Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. These

data do not reflect the changes OSHA made to its recordkeeping

requirements effective January 1, 2002; therefore estimates for these

industries are not comparable with estimates for other industries. 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 5. Percent distribution of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work1 by selected injury or

illness characteristics and industry division, 2002

Characteristic Private

industry 2

Goods producing Service producing

Agriculture,

forestry,

and

fishing2

Mining3 Construction

Manufacturing

Transportation and

public

utilities4

Wholesale

trade

Retail

trade

Finance,

insurance,

and real

estate

Services

Total [1,436,194 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 ........................... 43.0 33.4 40.0 36.8 37.7 48.6 47.2 41.2 36.3 48.7

Bruises, contusions ..................... 8.8 7.6 10.7 6.9 8.4 9.3 9.4 10.4 7.6 8.7

Cuts, lacerations ......................... 7.7 9.1 6.2 10.8 9.0 3.9 7.0 11.7 5.4 4.5

Fractures ..................................... 6.9 9.1 16.1 10.6 7.0 6.2 7.1 6.3 8.1 5.4

Heat burns ................................... 1.5 .4 1.2 1.0 1.7 .4 .6 3.1 .6 1.3

Carpal tunnel syndrome .............. 1.6 .7 .2 .6 3.2 1.1 1.1 1.1 5.2 1.2

Tendonitis .................................... .6 1.1 – .5 1.1 .5 .5 .5 1.3 .6

Chemical burns ........................... .6 1.0 1.3 .4 .9 .4 .4 .5 .4 .6

Amputations ................................ .6 1.2 1.7 .6 1.5 .5 .6 .3 .2 .2

Multiple traumatic injuries ............ 3.7 4.7 4.4 4.0 3.7 4.2 4.0 2.8 3.9 3.6

Part of body affected by the

injury or illness:

Head ............................................ 6.3 8.8 6.0 6.9 7.3 5.5 5.6 6.2 4.4 5.9

Eye ............................................ 2.9 4.9 2.4 3.8 4.4 2.1 2.3 2.6 1.3 2.3

Neck ............................................ 1.6 1.6 2.1 1.3 1.3 1.9 2.2 1.4 1.2 1.7

Trunk ........................................... 36.3 31.8 35.8 33.2 33.8 39.8 38.8 35.6 30.3 38.9

Shoulder .................................... 5.8 5.5 5.1 4.8 6.6 7.4 5.9 5.1 4.1 5.8

Back .......................................... 24.0 19.8 21.8 21.2 19.9 25.3 26.0 24.3 20.9 27.8

Upper extremities ........................ 22.9 22.8 22.0 24.4 31.6 16.2 19.4 25.1 23.6 18.0

Wrist .......................................... 4.8 3.4 4.1 3.6 6.8 3.8 3.7 4.6 8.9 4.6

Hand, except finger ................... 3.9 4.9 2.9 4.7 5.2 2.9 3.3 4.3 3.0 2.9

Finger ........................................ 8.5 8.4 11.1 10.2 13.1 4.7 7.6 10.2 5.8 5.1

Lower extremities ........................ 21.2 22.2 24.4 24.1 17.6 23.6 23.1 21.1 22.0 20.7

Knee .......................................... 7.9 7.0 9.0 9.1 6.7 8.7 7.6 7.1 8.1 8.4

Foot, except toe ........................ 3.2 3.4 3.5 3.8 2.9 3.6 4.0 3.6 3.1 2.5

Toe ............................................ 1.0 .9 .4 1.3 1.0 .8 1.1 1.5 .9 .7

Body systems .............................. 1.4 2.2 .8 .8 1.1 1.2 .7 1.1 4.6 2.0

Multiple parts ............................... 9.7 8.8 8.9 8.4 6.6 11.2 9.5 8.9 13.7 12.2

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, 2002 — Continued

Characteristic Private

industry 2

Goods producing Service producing

Agriculture,

forestry,

and

fishing2

Mining3 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 .................................... 1.4 2.5 7.3 0.8 2.0 0.9 1.0 1.3 1.4 1.6

Containers ................................... 13.4 8.7 5.2 5.3 12.5 18.1 22.9 22.6 9.0 7.5

Furniture and fixtures .................. 3.6 .9 .3 1.7 2.7 2.0 2.7 5.7 5.5 4.9

Machinery .................................... 6.4 6.1 12.5 6.2 12.2 2.3 6.2 6.6 4.9 4.0

Parts and materials ..................... 10.3 6.9 20.4 22.9 17.5 8.7 11.4 5.8 4.6 3.3

Worker motion or position ........... 15.4 13.9 5.1 12.6 19.3 16.0 13.2 13.5 22.9 15.0

Floors, walkways, ground

surfaces ..................................... 17.8 17.0 16.9 20.5 11.4 17.8 16.0 19.5 24.7 20.1

Tools, instruments, and

equipment ................................. 6.5 7.8 7.8 11.1 6.9 4.6 4.5 7.0 5.5 5.2

Vehicles ....................................... 8.3 10.0 5.3 6.0 4.9 18.5 14.2 6.3 7.7 6.8

Health care patient ...................... 4.9 – – – – .8 .1 – .6 18.3

Event or exposure leading to

injury or illness:

Contact with objects and

equipment ................................. 26.5 30.2 42.2 35.1 34.1 21.2 27.0 28.3 17.3 18.1

Struck by object ......................... 13.3 16.4 24.6 19.7 14.7 10.2 13.4 15.8 8.3 9.1

Struck against object ................. 7.0 6.2 7.3 7.5 7.4 6.7 7.0 7.8 7.0 5.9

Caught in equipment or object .. 4.4 5.6 9.4 4.2 9.3 2.5 5.0 3.3 1.3 2.1

Fall to lower level ........................ 6.1 7.7 7.8 13.7 3.6 7.8 6.2 4.5 7.5 4.5

Fall on same level ....................... 12.3 9.1 8.8 7.5 8.5 10.3 10.0 16.1 17.1 15.8

Slip, trip, loss of

balance—without fall ................. 3.4 2.4 1.6 2.9 2.8 3.8 2.9 3.8 3.6 3.7

Overexertion ................................ 26.5 15.9 27.0 20.7 24.6 27.4 29.9 26.4 19.8 30.8

Overexertion in lifting ................ 14.5 8.7 10.0 10.9 12.7 13.8 18.2 17.4 11.5 15.5

Repetitive motion ........................ 4.1 2.2 .4 1.8 8.4 3.0 2.4 3.2 9.7 3.2

Exposure to harmful

substances ................................ 4.2 6.1 3.9 2.6 5.0 2.9 2.2 4.9 3.7 4.8

Transportation accidents ............. 4.4 5.7 2.2 4.1 2.1 9.6 8.0 2.5 5.6 4.0

Fires and explosions ................... .2 .2 .5 .3 .2 .1 .2 .3 – .1

Assaults and violent acts by

person ....................................... 1.3 .2 – .1 .1 .4 .3 .9 1.0 3.7

1 Days-away-from-work cases include those that result in days away from

work with or without job transfer or restriction. 2 Excludes farms with fewer than 11 employees. 3 Data for mining (Division B in the Standard Industrial Classification

Manual, 1987 edition) include establishments not governed by the Mine

Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) rules and reporting, such as those

in oil and gas extraction. Data for mining operators in coal, metal, and

nonmetal mining are provided to BLS by the Mine Safety and Health

Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. Independent mining contractors

are excluded from the coal, metal, and nonmetal mining industries. These

data do not reflect the changes OSHA made to its recordkeeping

requirements effective January 1, 2002; therefore estimates for these

industries are not comparable with estimates for other industries. 4 Data for employers in railroad transportation are provided to BLS by the

Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. These

data do not reflect the changes OSHA made to its recordkeeping

requirements effective January 1, 2002; therefore estimates for these

industries are not comparable with estimates for other industries. 

NOTE: Dashes indicate data that are not available. Percentages may not

add to 100% because of rounding, nonclassifiable responses, and

presentation of selected categories.

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, 2002

Characteristic Private

industry3

Goods producing Service producing

Agriculture,

forestry,

and

fishing3

Mining4 Construction

Manufacturing

Transportation and

public

utilities5

Wholesale

trade

Retail

trade

Finance,

insurance,

and real

estate

Services

Total [1,436,194 cases] ................... 162.6 208.6 198.8 276.8 174.5 270.6 175.0 153.6 53.5 133.8

Nature of injury or illness:

Sprains, strains ........................... 69.9 69.7 79.5 101.9 65.8 131.4 82.7 63.2 19.4 65.2

Bruises, contusions ..................... 14.4 15.8 21.3 19.1 14.7 25.3 16.4 16.0 4.1 11.6

Cuts, lacerations ......................... 12.5 19.0 12.4 30.0 15.7 10.5 12.2 18.0 2.9 6.0

Fractures ..................................... 11.2 19.1 31.9 29.4 12.2 16.8 12.4 9.6 4.3 7.2

Heat burns ................................... 2.4 6 ( ) 2.4 2.8 3.0 1.2 1.1 4.8 6 ( ) 1.8

Carpal tunnel syndrome .............. 2.6 1.4 6 ( ) 1.6 5.6 3.0 1.9 1.8 2.8 1.6

Tendonitis .................................... 1.1 2.3 – 1.3 1.9 1.3 6 ( ) 6 ( ) 6 ( ) 6 ( )

Chemical burns ........................... 6 ( ) 2.0 2.6 1.1 1.6 1.0 6 ( ) 6 ( ) 6 ( ) 6 ( )

Amputations ................................ 1.0 2.4 3.3 1.6 2.6 1.4 1.1 6 ( ) 6 ( ) 6 ( )

Multiple traumatic injuries ............ 5.9 9.9 8.7 11.0 6.4 11.5 7.0 4.3 2.1 4.8

Part of body affected by the

injury or illness:

Head ............................................ 10.2 18.4 11.8 19.2 12.7 14.8 9.7 9.5 2.3 7.9

Eye ............................................ 4.8 10.3 4.8 10.6 7.7 5.7 4.1 4.0 6 ( ) 3.0

Neck ............................................ 2.6 3.3 4.1 3.7 2.3 5.3 3.9 2.2 6 ( ) 2.3

Trunk ........................................... 59.1 66.4 71.1 91.8 59.0 107.7 67.9 54.7 16.2 52.0

Shoulder .................................... 9.5 11.4 10.0 13.3 11.6 19.9 10.4 7.8 2.2 7.7

Back .......................................... 39.1 41.3 43.3 58.6 34.7 68.4 45.5 37.4 11.2 37.2

Upper extremities ........................ 37.2 47.5 43.7 67.7 55.1 43.9 34.0 38.5 12.6 24.1

Wrist .......................................... 7.8 7.0 8.2 9.8 11.9 10.3 6.4 7.0 4.8 6.2

Hand, except finger ................... 6.3 10.2 5.7 13.0 9.1 7.7 5.8 6.6 1.6 3.9

Finger ........................................ 13.8 17.5 22.1 28.3 22.8 12.7 13.3 15.7 3.1 6.9

Lower extremities ........................ 34.5 46.4 48.5 66.7 30.8 63.9 40.5 32.4 11.8 27.7

Knee .......................................... 12.8 14.5 17.9 25.3 11.7 23.6 13.4 11.0 4.3 11.3

Foot, except toe ........................ 5.2 7.2 7.0 10.5 5.1 9.7 6.9 5.6 1.7 3.3

Toe ............................................ 1.7 2.0 6 ( ) 3.7 1.7 2.1 1.9 2.3 6 ( ) 6 ( )

Body systems .............................. 2.3 4.6 1.6 2.3 2.0 3.3 1.2 1.7 2.5 2.6

Multiple parts ............................... 15.8 18.4 17.6 23.3 11.6 30.4 16.6 13.7 7.3 16.4

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, 2002 — Continued

Characteristic Private

industry3

Goods producing Service producing

Agriculture,

forestry,

and

fishing3

Mining4 Construction

Manufacturing

Transportation and

public

utilities5

Wholesale

trade

Retail

trade

Finance,

insurance,

and real

estate

Services

Source of injury or illness:

Chemicals and chemical

products .................................... 2.3 5.1 14.6 2.1 3.5 2.3 1.8 1.9 6 ( ) 2.1

Containers ................................... 21.9 18.2 10.3 14.6 21.8 48.9 40.0 34.7 4.8 10.1

Furniture and fixtures .................. 5.9 1.8 6 ( ) 4.6 4.8 5.4 4.8 8.8 2.9 6.6

Machinery .................................... 10.5 12.7 24.9 17.2 21.4 6.2 10.8 10.2 2.7 5.4

Parts and materials ..................... 16.7 14.3 40.6 63.5 30.6 23.5 20.0 9.0 2.5 4.4

Worker motion or position ........... 25.0 29.1 10.1 35.0 33.7 43.2 23.1 20.8 12.3 20.0

Floors, walkways, ground

surfaces ..................................... 28.9 35.5 33.5 56.8 20.0 48.1 28.0 29.9 13.2 26.9

Tools, instruments, and

equipment ................................. 10.6 16.2 15.6 30.6 12.0 12.3 8.0 10.8 3.0 7.0

Vehicles ....................................... 13.4 20.8 10.5 16.5 8.5 50.2 24.9 9.7 4.1 9.1

Health care patient ...................... 7.9 – – – – 2.2 6 () – 6 ( ) 24.5

Event or exposure leading to

injury or illness:

Contact with objects and

equipment ................................. 43.1 63.1 84.0 97.0 59.5 57.3 47.3 43.5 9.3 24.2

Struck by object ......................... 21.7 34.3 48.9 54.6 25.6 27.5 23.4 24.2 4.4 12.2

Struck against object ................. 11.3 13.0 14.5 20.9 13.0 18.1 12.2 12.0 3.8 7.9

Caught in equipment or object .. 7.1 11.6 18.7 11.8 16.3 6.7 8.8 5.1 6 ( ) 2.8

Fall to lower level ........................ 9.8 16.1 15.5 37.9 6.2 21.0 10.9 6.9 4.0 6.0

Fall on same level ....................... 19.9 19.0 17.6 20.8 14.9 27.9 17.5 24.8 9.1 21.2

Slip, trip, loss of

balance—without fall ................. 5.5 5.0 3.1 8.0 4.8 10.3 5.1 5.8 1.9 5.0

Overexertion ................................ 43.1 33.3 53.6 57.2 42.9 74.2 52.3 40.6 10.6 41.2

Overexertion in lifting ................ 23.6 18.2 19.8 30.3 22.2 37.3 31.9 26.7 6.1 20.8

Repetitive motion ........................ 6.6 4.6 6 ( ) 4.9 14.7 8.1 4.2 4.9 5.2 4.2

Exposure to harmful

substances ................................ 6.8 12.6 7.8 7.3 8.8 7.8 3.8 7.6 2.0 6.4

Transportation accidents ............. 7.1 12.0 4.4 11.3 3.6 26.0 14.0 3.9 3.0 5.3

Fires and explosions ................... 6 ( ) 6 ( ) 1.0 6 ( ) 6 ( ) 6 ( ) 6 ( ) 6 () – 6 ( )

Assaults and violent acts by

person ....................................... 2.1 6 () – 6 ( ) 6 ( ) 1.2 6 ( ) 1.4 6 ( ) 4.9

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 that result in days away from

work with or without job transfer or restriction. 3 Excludes farms with fewer than 11 employees. 4 Data for mining (Division B in the Standard Industrial Classification

Manual, 1987 edition) include establishments not governed by the Mine Safety

and Health Administration (MSHA) rules and reporting, such as those in oil and

gas extraction. Data for mining operators in coal, metal, and nonmetal mining

are provided to BLS by the Mine Safety and Health Administration, U.S.

Department of Labor. Independent mining contractors are excluded from the

coal, metal, and nonmetal mining industries. These data do not reflect the

changes OSHA made to its recordkeeping requirements effective January 1,

2002; therefore estimates for these industries are not comparable with

estimates for other industries. 5 Data for employers in railroad transportation are provided to BLS by the

Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. These

data do not reflect the changes OSHA made to its recordkeeping requirements

effective January 1, 2002; therefore estimates for these industries are not

comparable with estimates for other industries. 6 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, 2002

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 [1,436,194 cases] .................. 100.0 15.0 11.2 18.6 12.4 11.0 6.7 25.1 7

Sex:

Male ............................................ 100.0 14.6 10.9 18.1 12.4 11.3 6.9 25.7 8

Female ........................................ 100.0 15.7 11.9 19.4 12.6 10.6 6.2 23.7 6

Age:2

14 - 15 ......................................... 100.0 4.6 17.3 4.1 50.8 1.0 9.6 12.7 7

16 - 19 ......................................... 100.0 19.8 17.9 25.3 12.7 10.4 4.9 9.0 4

20 - 24 ......................................... 100.0 19.8 13.8 22.4 12.9 10.9 5.5 14.7 5

25 - 34 ......................................... 100.0 17.1 12.5 19.6 12.7 10.7 6.5 21.0 6

35 - 44 ......................................... 100.0 14.1 10.9 17.9 12.3 10.8 6.6 27.4 8

45 - 54 ......................................... 100.0 12.4 9.7 16.8 12.1 11.8 7.4 29.8 10

55 - 64 ......................................... 100.0 11.4 8.6 15.8 12.3 11.6 7.3 33.0 12

65 and over ................................. 100.0 11.7 7.9 17.0 12.0 9.7 7.6 34.2 12

Occupation:

Managerial and professional

specialty .................................... 100.0 16.2 12.0 19.5 12.1 11.8 6.3 22.1 6

Technical, sales, and

administrative support ............... 100.0 17.2 11.7 19.3 12.4 10.3 5.8 23.3 6

Service ........................................ 100.0 15.3 13.7 20.5 13.5 10.6 5.7 20.7 6

Farming, forestry, and fishing ...... 100.0 16.2 12.4 20.2 12.3 10.9 6.7 21.4 6

Precision production, craft, and

repair ......................................... 100.0 14.8 10.1 17.2 11.2 11.1 7.6 28.0 9

Operators, fabricators, and

laborers ..................................... 100.0 13.6 10.2 17.6 12.6 11.4 7.2 27.4 9

Length of service with employer:

Less than 3 months ..................... 100.0 17.6 13.3 20.2 12.6 10.5 6.1 19.7 5

3 - 11 months .............................. 100.0 15.7 12.6 20.2 12.8 10.4 6.3 22.0 6

1 - 5 years ................................... 100.0 15.6 11.2 18.4 12.6 11.1 6.5 24.6 7

More than 5 years ....................... 100.0 12.7 9.4 17.0 11.9 11.7 7.4 29.9 10

Race or ethnic origin:

White, non-Hispanic .................... 100.0 16.2 11.6 18.8 12.2 10.6 6.9 23.7 7

Black, non-Hispanic .................... 100.0 14.0 12.2 20.0 12.3 12.0 6.4 23.1 7

Hispanic ...................................... 100.0 13.3 12.5 18.0 12.6 10.9 6.3 26.4 7

Asian or Pacific Islander .............. 100.0 12.6 11.2 21.9 12.5 10.9 7.0 23.8 7

American Indian or Alaskan

Native ........................................ 100.0 14.8 11.7 17.8 11.2 13.3 6.2 25.1 8

Multi-race .................................... 100.0 15.5 12.6 39.9 6.0 3.2 7.1 15.7 3

1 Days-away-from-work cases include those that result in days away

from work with or without job transfer or restriction. 2 Information is not shown separately for injured workers under age 14;

they accounted for fewer than 50 cases.

NOTE: 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, 2002

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 [1,436,194 cases] ................... 100.0 15.0 11.2 18.6 12.4 11.0 6.7 25.1 7

Truck drivers ................................... 100.0 9.3 7.6 15.8 14.3 11.5 8.0 33.5 13

Nursing aides, orderlies .................. 100.0 16.0 11.5 22.0 15.4 10.5 6.2 18.5 6

Laborers, nonconstruction ............... 100.0 15.5 11.0 18.8 13.4 11.2 7.7 22.4 7

Janitors and cleaners ...................... 100.0 13.2 13.7 20.5 10.9 12.3 6.0 23.4 7

Construction laborers ...................... 100.0 12.5 10.1 18.5 11.2 12.0 8.1 27.5 9

Assemblers ..................................... 100.0 15.2 10.5 16.7 11.7 11.5 7.0 27.5 8

Carpenters ...................................... 100.0 13.2 11.4 17.9 11.4 10.7 7.3 28.0 9

Supervisors and proprietors, sales .. 100.0 14.0 12.4 19.3 15.8 10.4 4.6 23.5 6

Cooks .............................................. 100.0 16.9 14.6 21.0 13.5 7.8 3.9 22.3 5

Sales workers, other commodities .. 100.0 16.8 12.1 22.4 9.8 10.3 6.1 22.5 5

Cashiers .......................................... 100.0 18.0 10.5 20.2 12.4 8.9 4.7 25.3 6

Registered nurses ........................... 100.0 16.2 12.5 19.1 12.8 11.9 6.2 21.3 6

Miscellaneous food preparation ...... 100.0 13.0 20.2 22.3 12.0 9.6 5.7 17.2 5

Stock handlers and baggers ........... 100.0 16.2 13.5 21.6 11.3 10.4 5.7 21.4 5

Maids and housemen ...................... 100.0 11.9 15.2 20.9 10.5 9.2 5.7 26.5 6

Welders and cutters ........................ 100.0 20.7 13.8 19.6 8.8 9.6 5.1 22.4 5

Groundskeepers and gardeners,

except farm ................................... 100.0 17.5 14.8 21.6 9.0 9.8 4.1 23.2 5

Electricians ...................................... 100.0 17.8 9.3 16.0 7.6 12.2 8.4 28.5 10

Driver-sales workers ....................... 100.0 13.3 8.5 19.4 14.2 12.8 6.6 25.3 8

Shipping and receiving clerks ......... 100.0 17.8 10.7 19.4 10.7 9.8 6.6 24.9 6

Mechanics, automobile ................... 100.0 20.7 10.0 18.7 12.0 10.0 7.6 20.9 6

Kitchen workers ............................... 100.0 14.9 17.9 19.9 14.3 9.6 4.1 19.4 5

Plumbers, pipefitters, and

steamfitters .................................... 100.0 15.9 9.4 16.8 11.2 9.2 8.7 28.8 10

Health aides, except nursing ........... 100.0 22.2 16.0 20.2 10.4 10.4 5.2 15.7 4

Waiters and waitresses ................... 100.0 23.4 11.6 15.0 12.1 14.5 6.3 17.1 5

Farm workers .................................. 100.0 11.5 13.0 21.4 12.0 13.6 8.7 19.8 7

Repairers, industrial machinery ....... 100.0 15.3 10.2 15.3 9.7 12.3 7.6 29.6 10

Guards and police, except public .... 100.0 16.4 13.4 17.1 13.6 11.4 4.4 23.7 7

Industrial truck operators ................. 100.0 10.0 8.6 18.4 13.7 11.3 6.7 31.3 10

Stock and inventory clerks .............. 100.0 16.1 10.1 18.1 10.7 11.9 3.9 29.1 8

Supervisors, production workers ..... 100.0 17.4 13.8 15.9 11.2 15.3 5.7 20.7 7

Mechanics, bus, truck, stationary

engine ........................................... 100.0 15.7 10.4 16.9 8.8 12.7 7.9 27.5 9

Licensed practical nurses ................ 100.0 15.8 18.9 21.5 11.4 8.3 3.9 20.2 4

Heating, air conditioning, and

refrigeration mechanics ................. 100.0 13.4 15.5 15.4 11.3 7.7 7.5 29.3 8

Machinists ....................................... 100.0 16.3 10.0 17.9 10.5 11.4 8.2 25.6 8

General office clerks ....................... 100.0 21.5 11.8 15.8 10.7 7.1 7.2 25.9 6

Hand packers and packagers ......... 100.0 13.8 10.9 20.7 9.7 9.5 5.2 30.3 7

Garage and service station related

occupations ................................... 100.0 12.8 13.9 22.0 11.8 10.8 6.9 21.8 6

1 Days-away-from-work cases include those that result in days away

from work with or without job transfer or restriction. 

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, 2002

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 [1,436,194 cases] ................... 100.0 15.0 11.2 18.6 12.4 11.0 6.7 25.1 7

Nature of injury or illness:

Sprains, strains ........................... 100.0 12.5 10.6 20.1 13.7 11.6 6.4 25.1 7

Bruises, contusions ..................... 100.0 20.5 15.2 22.9 12.2 9.6 4.5 15.1 4

Cuts, lacerations ......................... 100.0 24.3 17.6 19.4 14.4 9.2 4.7 10.4 3

Fractures ..................................... 100.0 6.3 4.7 10.6 9.0 12.5 10.0 46.7 29

Heat burns ................................... 100.0 21.5 12.1 23.8 13.2 13.1 6.3 10.1 4

Carpal tunnel syndrome .............. 100.0 4.3 3.5 10.2 7.3 14.0 11.6 49.1 30

Tendonitis .................................... 100.0 7.1 7.4 17.5 12.0 13.2 9.7 33.2 15

Chemical burns ........................... 100.0 34.1 20.4 21.3 10.2 7.1 2.9 4.1 2

Amputations ................................ 100.0 7.0 3.5 10.1 9.6 14.1 12.3 43.4 26

Multiple traumatic injuries ............ 100.0 12.5 9.1 18.5 12.0 11.2 6.0 30.7 9

Part of body affected by the

injury or illness:

Head ............................................ 100.0 35.5 19.8 19.3 10.1 5.8 2.5 6.9 2

Eye ............................................ 100.0 43.5 22.6 19.3 7.8 2.4 1.4 2.9 2

Neck ............................................ 100.0 16.6 11.7 17.6 12.2 8.2 6.2 27.5 7

Trunk ........................................... 100.0 11.7 10.5 19.3 13.4 11.6 7.2 26.3 8

Shoulder .................................... 100.0 9.6 7.7 15.6 12.0 10.8 7.0 37.4 15

Back .......................................... 100.0 12.5 11.5 21.0 14.3 11.1 6.2 23.4 7

Upper extremities ........................ 100.0 16.7 11.8 17.9 12.1 11.5 6.7 23.3 7

Wrist .......................................... 100.0 11.1 7.2 14.9 10.0 12.8 8.6 35.4 15

Hand, except finger ................... 100.0 19.5 12.8 21.6 14.0 11.2 5.1 15.8 5

Finger ........................................ 100.0 20.3 14.9 18.6 12.9 11.1 5.9 16.2 5

Lower extremities ........................ 100.0 12.5 9.7 18.6 12.5 11.8 7.5 27.4 9

Knee .......................................... 100.0 9.3 8.1 15.0 12.2 12.3 8.7 34.4 14

Foot, except toe ........................ 100.0 13.4 11.5 19.9 11.9 10.8 7.4 25.1 7

Toe ............................................ 100.0 17.3 10.7 21.2 12.8 12.6 9.8 15.6 6

Body systems .............................. 100.0 21.0 14.1 19.8 11.7 8.3 3.7 21.3 4

Multiple parts ............................... 100.0 13.6 9.8 16.4 11.4 10.6 6.3 31.8 10

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, 2002 — 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 29.1 19.2 22.9 9.5 8.7 3.4 7.2 3

Containers ................................... 100.0 13.8 11.3 19.6 13.5 11.3 6.8 23.7 7

Furniture and fixtures .................. 100.0 16.9 13.2 20.1 12.6 11.1 8.2 18.1 5

Machinery .................................... 100.0 14.4 12.4 18.8 11.9 12.1 6.5 23.9 7

Parts and materials ..................... 100.0 15.4 11.0 18.9 12.6 11.2 7.3 23.6 7

Worker motion or position ........... 100.0 11.4 8.5 17.1 12.7 12.0 8.1 30.3 11

Floors, walkways, ground

surfaces ..................................... 100.0 12.1 9.7 17.1 11.2 11.2 6.8 31.9 10

Tools, instruments, and

equipment ................................. 100.0 20.2 14.8 19.8 12.4 9.1 5.9 17.9 5

Vehicles ....................................... 100.0 12.1 10.3 17.4 11.8 11.5 6.3 30.5 10

Health care patient ...................... 100.0 14.9 12.7 21.2 16.6 11.0 5.6 18.1 6

Event or exposure leading to

injury or illness:

Contact with objects and

equipment ................................. 100.0 20.7 14.1 19.4 12.4 9.9 5.6 17.9 5

Struck by object ......................... 100.0 20.8 14.5 19.5 12.8 9.4 5.6 17.2 5

Struck against object ................. 100.0 19.0 13.5 20.5 13.6 10.6 5.3 17.6 5

Caught in equipment or object .. 100.0 15.5 11.8 18.4 11.0 12.2 7.4 23.7 7

Fall to lower level ........................ 100.0 10.0 8.1 15.9 10.4 12.2 6.8 36.6 14

Fall on same level ....................... 100.0 14.0 10.9 17.8 10.8 10.3 6.7 29.5 9

Slip, trip, loss of

balance—without fall ................. 100.0 13.6 10.5 20.0 13.0 11.4 7.0 24.6 7

Overexertion ................................ 100.0 11.8 10.6 19.3 13.5 11.9 7.2 25.7 8

Overexertion in lifting ................ 100.0 12.1 10.6 19.8 13.5 12.6 7.3 24.0 8

Repetitive motion ........................ 100.0 7.2 5.2 12.3 10.0 13.1 9.1 43.2 23

Exposure to harmful

substances ................................ 100.0 27.6 15.6 22.8 11.2 9.0 4.0 9.8 3

Transportation accidents ............. 100.0 10.8 9.7 16.5 11.8 11.3 6.4 33.6 12

Fires and explosions ................... 100.0 12.1 9.4 9.2 18.3 19.6 11.5 19.8 12

Assaults and violent acts by

person ....................................... 100.0 16.6 13.9 19.7 12.0 14.6 4.9 18.2 5

1 Days-away-from-work cases include those that result in days away

from work with or without job transfer or restriction. 

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, 2002

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 [1,436,194 cases] ...... 100.0 15.0 11.2 18.6 12.4 11.0 6.7 25.1 7

Goods producing:

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing2 ....... 100.0 15.3 13.3 18.8 12.1 10.7 7.3 22.5 7

Mining3 ............................................... 100.0 6.4 7.3 12.6 11.9 11.1 6.7 44.0 21

Construction ....................................... 100.0 13.6 10.1 17.9 10.9 11.0 7.5 28.9 10

Manufacturing .................................... 100.0 15.4 10.6 17.3 11.8 11.8 7.2 26.0 8

Durable goods .................................. 100.0 15.8 10.5 17.1 11.8 11.8 7.0 26.1 8

Nondurable goods ............................ 100.0 14.7 10.9 17.6 11.7 11.9 7.4 25.7 8

Service producing:

Transportation and public utilities4 ..... 100.0 11.0 7.7 15.7 14.2 11.9 7.2 32.3 12

Wholesale trade ................................. 100.0 15.9 10.6 19.5 12.6 11.2 6.8 23.3 7

Retail trade ......................................... 100.0 16.2 13.0 19.4 12.5 10.2 6.2 22.6 6

Finance, insurance, and real estate ... 100.0 15.6 13.1 18.1 11.4 11.0 6.4 24.4 7

Services ............................................. 100.0 16.0 12.6 20.5 12.9 10.7 6.0 21.4 6

1 Days-away-from-work cases include those that result in days away

from work with or without job transfer or restriction. 2 Excludes farms with fewer than 11 employees. 3 Data for mining (Division B in the Standard Industrial Classification

Manual, 1987 edition) include establishments not governed by the Mine

Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) rules and reporting, such as

those in oil and gas extraction. Data for mining operators in coal, metal,

and nonmetal mining are provided to BLS by the Mine Safety and Health

Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. Independent mining contractors

are excluded from the coal, metal, and nonmetal mining industries. These

data do not reflect the changes OSHA made to its recordkeeping

requirements effective January 1, 2002; therefore estimates for these

industries are not comparable with estimates for other industries. 4 Data for employers in railroad transportation are provided to BLS by

the Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. 

These data do not reflect the changes OSHA made to its recordkeeping

requirements effective January 1, 2002; therefore estimates for these

industries are not comparable with estimates for other industries. 

NOTE: Because of rounding and nonclassifiable responses,

percentages may not add to 100.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor