Workplace Injury and Illness Summary

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has released statistics on nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses among private employers for 2007. The statistical data shows that the number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illness declined to 4 million cases, compared to 4.1 million cases in 2006. The total recorded case injury and illness incidence rate among private industry employers has declined significantly—by 0.2 cases per 100 workers—each year since 2003.

One out of two of the 4 million injury and illness cases reported nationwide in 2007 were of a serious nature that involved days away from work, job transfer, or restriction. These cases occurred at a rate of 2.1 per 100 workers, a slight decline compared with 2.3 cases in 2006.

The overall decline was driven mainly by declines among all goods-producing industry sectors, such as agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining. Goods-producing industries as a whole were responsible for more than 60 percent of the decline in illnesses reported among private industry workplaces and accounted for about 41 percent of all occupational illness cases and in 2007.