Workplace Injuries on the Decline: Illinois Below the National Average

 Posted on December 00,0000 in Workers’ Compensation

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), workplace injuries are on the decline. The incident rate within the private sector workforce has declined from 4.4 cases per 100 full-time workers in 2006, to 2.9 cases in 2016.

In the state of Illinois, the average of 2.7 injuries per 100 full-time workers lies below the national average. Moreover, Illinois is ranked as the 9th safest state to work in throughout the United States.

A look at the long term trend in workplace safety shows that the commitment to improving worker safety has been a success. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), there were 10.9 worker accidents or illnesses per 100 workers annually in 1972 compared to 3.0 per 100 workers in 2015.

With the continued implementation of workplace safety procedures, most injuries at the workplace can now be avoided. However, if you or a family member are involved in a work related injury contact an experienced Lake County personal injury attorney today.

Most Common Types of Workplace Fatalities

Regulatory organizations such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have worked to see the rate of workplace fatalities decline over the past few decades. For instance, the national average of 38 worker deaths per day in 1970 has been reduced to 13 per day in 2015.

The risk for workplace accidents varies by industry. According to OSHA, the construction sector is responsible for over 20 percent of national workplace fatalities as of 2015. Most of these injuries fall within four common workplace accidents: falls, electrocutions, loose object striking, and crush/compression. Seeing as these categories represent over 60 percent of construction fatalities, finding ways to limit these are a top priority for regulatory organizations focused on the labor sector.

Most Common Workplace Injuries

While fatalities in the workplace are few and far between, injuries at the workplace are unfortunately much more common. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, fractures represented the most severe types of nonfatal injuries in the workplace during 2016, occurring at a rate of 36.3 cases per 10,000 full-time workers.

Although these injuries may seem minor, an injury such as a severe ankle fracture can result in missed work time, acute pain, swelling, and in some cases an inability to walk for several weeks.

Legal Steps to Take

How a victim or loved one works through a a fatal or non-fatal injury at the workplace can be an incredibly difficult and emotional process. If you or a member of your family are unfortunate enough to be involved in a workplace injury, no matter how severe, please contact our experienced team of Waukegan personal injury attorneys.

Sources:

https://www.osha.gov/oshstats/commonstats.html

https://www.bls.gov/iif/osch0060.pdf

https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/ankle-fractures-broken-ankle/