The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that on-the-job injuries and illnesses declined three percent in 2000, and that the overall injury and illness rate, which was calculated at 6.1 cases per every 100 workers, is the lowest since the federal government began to collect and report these data in the early seventies.
BLS reports that, in 2000, 5.7 million workplace nonfatal injuries and illnesses were reported. This is the same number as in 1999, but because more Americans were working in 2000, the overall rate declined slightly. The U.S. illness and injury rate has been cut nearly fifty percent since 1973.
The BLS report reveals that only about 400,000 of the reported cases were due to illnesses, such as contact dermatitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, noise-related hearing loss and exposure-related cancers. The lost workday rate remained steady at 3.0 cases per 100, but the most severe injuries and illnesses accounted for 2.8 cases, which is up slightly from 1999.
The manufacturing sector continues to have the highest injury and illness rate, at 9.0 cases per 100 workers. This figure was, however, down slightly from 1999, and there has been a more pronounced decrease over the past five years. The complete BLS report is available on the internet at http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshsum.htm .
