Which injuries are causing employees to lose the most time from work?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has released its annual report, Nonfatal Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Requiring Days Away From Work.
The survey for 2007 uses four case characteristics:
- Nature: Sprains and strains were the most frequent nature, accounting for 38% of injuries.
- Part of body: The trunk, including the shoulders and back, is most often affected, accounting for 33% of injuries.
- Event or exposure: Injuries from repetitive motion continue to be the event with the highest median days away from work (20 days).
- Source: Floors, walkways and ground surfaces were the source of injury for 20% of all days-away-from-work (DAFW) cases and increased by 7% from 2006 levels.
How many days away from work?
The 2007 DAFW rate was 122 per 10,000 full-time workers, a decrease of 4% from 2006.
The median days away from work was seven, the same as the previous three years. Cases resulting in 31 or more DAFW totaled 26%.
Fractures required the highest median days away from work: 30. Falls accounted for 48% of fractures. Carpal tunnel syndrome came in second at 28 days. Injuries involving the shoulder took 18 days to recuperate.
For more information on the BLS report, click here.
