Workplace Injury Statistics

May 11, 2021
by Jeremy Olivier

Did you know that private industry employers reported 2.8 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2019? The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics published the following occupations that had the highest incidence rates per 10,000 full-time workers:

• Nursing assistants
• Tractor-trailer and heavy truck drivers
• Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers
• Light truck drivers
• Construction laborers
• Maintenance and repair workers
• Stockers and order fillers
• Janitors and cleaners
• Registered nurses
• Retail salespersons

The most common causes of non-fatal workplace injuries include:

• Overexertion and bodily reaction
• Falls, slips, and trips
• Contact with objects or equipment
• Violence and other injuries caused by persons or animals
• Transportation accidents

OSHA’s “Fatal Four” – Most common causes of construction site deaths:

• Falls – 33.5%
• Struck by object – 11.1%
• Electrocutions – 8.5%
• Caught in/between objects – 5.5%

Knowing how to reduce the number of fatal and non-fatal workplace injuries is only half the battle. Implementing intervention strategies is also vital, and can help mitigate the frequency and severity of workplace injuries. Lofton Safety Services can design safety programs to help reduce injuries, and implement methods to communicate early injury warning signs to management for review.

How can Lofton Safety help?

Workers have a right to a safe workplace. If you have questions regarding safety issues or training, contact Lofton Safety Services at 337-330-2642 or info@loftonsafety.com. For other valuable worker protection information, such as Workers’ Rights, Employer Responsibilities and other services OSHA offers, visit www.osha.gov.