According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were 2.8 nonfatal workplace injuries or illnesses per 100 full-time employees in 2018. That represents a decline from 10.9 cases per 100 full-time employees throughout Minnesota and the rest of the country in 1972. That was the first year in which the BLS published the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII).
The top causes of fatal and nonfatal injuries differ
According to BLS data, slips, trips and falls account for 27% of nonfatal injuries at work. Furthermore, 23.6% of nonfatal workplace injuries were attributed to coming into contact with equipment or other objects used in the workplace. In 2018, 39.7% of fatal injuries were caused by transportation accidents. However, this category was only responsible for 5.8% of nonfatal injuries. Workplace violence was cited as the main cause of 15.8% of fatal injuries while only causing 7.5% of fatal injuries.
Data has become more specific over time
In 1992, the SOII was updated to include information about the workers who were hurt in workplace accidents. It also began to include more detailed information about the incidents that led to workers getting hurt. In that same year, the BLS introduced the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). In 2009, there was a record low 4,551 recorded workplace fatalities in the United States. In 2014, machine learning tools were used to help analyze SOII data.
What the information is used for
The SOII data gathered each year is used by companies, government agencies and other interested parties to develop workplace health and safety policies. In addition to information about specific cases, the SOII contains nonfatal workplace injury and illness estimates at both the state and federal level.
If you have been hurt at work, it could be possible to collect workers’ compensation benefits. These benefits allow you to recoup a portion of your lost wages and receive assistance paying medical bills associated with a workplace injury. An attorney could help you with the filing process.
