TX 2008 Rate Of Nonfatal Occupational Injuries And Illnesses Declined

Austin, TX (CompNewsNetwork) - Private industry workplaces in Texas reported a total of 234,559 nonfatal injuries and illnesses during 2008. The incidence rate of 3.1 cases per 100 equivalent full-time workers marks the sixth consecutive year that the incidence rate has dropped. The rate for 2008 is a 9% decrease from 3.4 in 2007.  The Texas rate is below the national rate of 3.9 for 2008.

This is the first time public sector data has been collected and released through this survey. State and local government reported a total of 77,985 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses and the incidence rate among state and local government employees was 5.8 cases per 100 full-time workers. This rate is lower than the national public sector rate of 6.3

The 2008 injury and illness data are the latest available from the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses conducted by the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation (TDI-DWC) in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The occupational injury and illness rates are based on a statistical sample of private firms and state and local government employers in Texas. Beginning with the 2003 reference year, the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses began using the 2002 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). In this 2008 reference year release, we are able to compare six years of industry data and the rate of decline for previous years. This is the first time public sector data has been collected and released through this survey.

Highlights of the 2008 Annual Survey:

The incidence rate decreased for goods producing industries by 15% from 2007 and 29% from 2003. Within goods producing, the largest decrease was seen in construction, down 18% from 2007. Manufacturing continued to decline, down 11% from 2007 and 26% from 2003. Mining slightly decreased from 2.2 in 2007; however, it has decreased 38% since 2003.

The incidence rate for service providing industries showed a 6% decline from 2007.  Within this group, leisure and hospitalities reported the largest decrease (23%) from 4.2 in 2007 to 3.2 in 2008. Meanwhile, utilities and professional and business services both declined 17% over the last year. Workplace injury and illness rates in private industries decreased within all sectors except wholesale trade and financial activities.

Within local government and public administration industries, justice, public order and safety activities had an overall incidence rate of 16.2.  More specifically within this sector, police protection has an incidence rate of 23.4 and fire protection a rate of 14.0. Transit and ground passenger transportation has a rate of 6.8, and hospitals have an incidence rate of 6.4. 

At a more detailed level, workplace injury and illness incidence rates varied among the major industries of the private sector in 2008. Couriers and messengers (8.4) and air transportation (7.5) are the top two industries. The rates for these industries dropped 18% and 29% respectively from 2007. The industry with the largest rate increase was leather and allied product manufacturing (27%), followed by beverage and tobacco manufacturing (8%). Other industries that experienced increases include food and beverage stores and animal production. Hospitals maintained the same rate (6.7) from the previous year. Warehousing and storage and primary metal manufacturing had significant decreases of 34% and 24% from 2007.

The TDI-DWC collects survey data in order to assist employers, safety professionals, and policymakers in identifying safety and health issues in the state. Likewise, the TDI-DWC Workplace Safety program area provides various safety and health services to help reduce injuries and illnesses in the workplace through accident and illness prevention. Services include: free safety and health consultations on Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations; regional and statewide safety conferences; customized on-site safety training; free safety and health publications; free safety training video and DVD loans; and the Safety Violations Hotline.