Industry Shifts In Hours And Nonfatal Work Injuries And Illnesses, 2003–2008

Washington, DC (WorkersCompensation.com) - Data from the 2003-2008 Surveys of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) indicate that the total recordable injury and illness rate in the private sector fell from 5.0 to 3.9 cases per 100 full-time workers. The exact reasons for this decline are unknown, but one contributing factor may be that safer industries are accounting for an increased share of hours worked. This report uses data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) SOII to examine the extent to which shifts in the share of hours worked across industries contributed to the decline. The analysis presented estimates the impact of these shifts on private sector injury and illness rates between 2003 and 2008.

Download full article in PDF