This document contains statistics on workplace injuries and illnesses in the United States in 2011. It shows that local and state government workers had higher injury rates than private industry workers. It also provides data on injury rates and median days away from work for different occupations, industries, genders, age groups, injury types and causes. Transportation, healthcare, protective and education occupations commonly had high injury rates. Sprains, strains and injuries to the back and upper extremities were the most frequent types of injuries reported. Overexertion, falls and contact with objects were leading causes of workplace injuries.

1. INJURIES TO
WORKERS THAT CAUSE WORKERS
COMPENSATION CLAIMS

2. Nonfatal Occupational Injuries and Illnesses:
Cases with days away from work. Case and Demographics.

3. INJURIES AND ILLNESSES WITH DAYS AWAY FROM WORK
By ownership • 2011
Local and state government both had much higher rates than in private industry.
Local government had a rate of 193 injuries and illnesses per 10,000 full-time workers and state government had
a rate of 183. Private industry had a rate of 105.
Rate of injuries and illnesses with days away from work • Per 10,000 full-time workers
All ownerships
Private industry
State governmen
Local governmen
Number of injuries and illnesses with days away from work • Number of cases
All ownerships
Private industry
State governmen
Local governmen
117
105
183
193
1,181,290
908,310
200,330
72,650

4. NUMBER OF INJURIES AND ILLNESSES WITH DAYS AWAY FROM WORK
Private industry, 2007-2011
In 2011, the number of injuries and illnesses with days away from work in private industry decreased 2.7%.
Injuries and illnesses for goods-producing industries were statistically unchanged, while the number in
service-providing industries decreased by 3.6%.
2007
2008
2009
2010 2011
933,200 908,310
964,990
1,078,140
1,158,870
809,420 766,250 723,680 710,170 684,390
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Total cases with days
away from work
Goods-producing
Service-providing
349,450 311,890 241,310 223,020 223,920

5. INCIDENCE RATE AND NUMBER OF INJURIES AND ILLNESSES
For occupations with 20,000 cases or more, all ownerships, 2011
Eleven occupations had 20,000 or more cases in private industry, state government, and local government. Laborers and freight, stock, and
material movers had the highest number of cases. Police and sheriff’s patrol officers and correctional officers and jailers had both high
numbers of cases and high rates of injuries and illnesses. Rates for two new occupations in the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification-manual,
nursing assistants and a redefined registered nurses category, are not available for 2011.
Number of cases (Total=1,181,290)
Days-away-from-work rate (All ownership rate = 117)
Number of cases Rate per 10,000 full-time workers
56,950 367
Janitors and cleaners,
except maids
Heavy and tractor-trailer
truck drivers
Police and sheriff's
patrol officers
General maintenance and
repair workers
Registered nurses
Light truck or delivery
service drivers
Retail sales persons
Stock clerks and order fillers
Correctional officers and jailers
N/A
N/A
309
319
596
277
368
81
170
544
46,520
44,850
44,120
33,590
28,280
27,610
26,050
23,600
21,650
21,210
Laborers and freight, stock, and
material movers
Nursing assistants

6. INCIDENCE RATE AND NUMBER OF INJURIES AND ILLNESSES
For occupations with high incidence rates, all ownerships, 2011
Thirteen occupations had both a large number of employees and a published rate of injury or illness of 300 per 10,000 workers or higher.
Transit and intercity bus drivers had the highest rate, followed by police and sheriff’s patrol officers, correctional officers and jailers, and firefighters.
Number of cases (Total=1,181,290) Days-away-from-work rate (All ownership rate = 117)
Number of cases Rate per 10,000 full-time workers
9,030
21,210
14,890
7,680
4,650
15,100
Transit and intercity bus drivers
Police and sheriff's patrol officers
Correctional officers and jailers
Firefighters
Emergency medical technicians
and paramedics
Highway maintenance workers
Light truck or delivery
service drivers
Laborers and freight, stock,
and material movers
Heavy and tractor-trailer
truck drivers
Food preparation workers
Construction laborers
Janitors and cleaners,
except maids
596
544
475
381
381
368
367
319
312
312
309
306
33,590
26,050
56,950
44,120
19,590
44,850
19,220
746

7. RATES OF INJURIES AND ILLNESSES
For selected healthcare and protective service occupations, by ownership, 2011. Per 10,000 full-time workers
These occupations are frequently employed in both the private and public sectors. Psychiatric aides had very high rates of injuries and illnesses
in state government, and high rates in private sector. The predominant source of these cases was health care patients. The rates shown for
registered nurses and nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants are based on the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) manual
definitions. All others are based on 2010 SOC manual.
Registered nurses Private industry
Psychiatric technicians
Firefighters
0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200 1,400
Local Government
State Government
(SOC 2000 definition)
Emergency medical technicians
and paramedics
Licensed practical and
licensed technical nurses
Nursing aides, orderlies, and
attendants (SOC 2000 definition)
Psychiatric aides
Police and sheriff's patrol officers

8. RATES OF INJURIES AND ILLNESSES
For selected education and transportation occupations, by ownership, 2011. Per 10,000 full-time workers.
Transportation occupations have very high rates of injuries and illnesses in local government, and high but lower
rates in the private sector. Teacher assistants had high rates in both private industry and in local government.
Preschool and kindergarten
teacher
Elementary and middle
school teachers
Secondary school teachers
Teacher assistants
Transit and intercity
bus drivers
School or special client
bus drivers
Heavy and tractor - trailer
truck drivers
Light truck or delivery
service drivers
Private industry
Local Government
State Government
0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200 1,400

9. INJURIES AND ILLNESSES WITH DAYS AWAY FROM WORK
Distribution of and rates, by gender, 2011
Injury and illness cases in state government were split relatively evenly between male and female workers,
but male workers had a much higher rate. In local government, male workers had 60 percent of cases, and had
a rate that was nearly double that of female workers.
Private Industry
Injuries and Illnesses
Female
38%
Male
62%
State Government
Injuries and Illnesses
Local Government
Injuries and Illnesses
Incidence Rate
(per 10,000 full-time employees)
Incidence Rate
(per 10,000 full-time employees)
Incidence Rate
(per 10,000 full-time employees)
Female
46%
Male
54%
Female
40%
Male
60%
112 95
232
147
260
139

10. NUMBER OF INJURIES AND ILLNESSES AND PERCENTAGE OF CASES
Involving Hispanic or Latino workers by industry, private industry, 2011
In 2011, there were 117,210 injuries and illnesses among Hispanic or Latino workers, down 4.7 percent from 2010. Hispanic or La tino
workers made up 20.0 percent of injuries and illnesses where race or ethnicity was reported.
They suffered 61.5 percent of injuries and illnesses in natural resources and 30.4 percent in leisure and hospitality.
Race and ethnicity was not reported in one-third of private industry cases.
Cases involving Hispanic or
Latino workers
Percent of total cases
(where race or ethnicity is reported)
Trade, transportation,
24,080 16,1
and utilities
Manufacturing
19,570 20,5
17,050 30,4
Leisure and hospitality
Edication and health
14,160 11,7
12,360 22,0
service
Construction
Professional and business
11,420 service
23,3
9,440 Natural resource
61,5
4,900 Financial activities
27,0
3,670 17,9
Other service
560 11,4
Information

11. MEDIAN DAYS AWAY FROM WORK
Due to injuries and illnesses and incidence rate by age of worker, all ownerships, 2011
Median days away from work is a key measure of severity of injuries and illnesses. Injuries and illnesses become more severe as age
increases, requiring 3 days away from work for workers aged 16 to 19 years old to 14 days for those workers 65 years and older.
The rate of injuries and illnesses decreased from 2010 for workers 16 to 19 years old, and for workers 65 years and older.
Median days away from work
(All ownerships median days = 8)
Days-away-from-work rate
(All ownership rate = 117)
Median days away from work Rate per 10,000 full-time workers
14 65 years and older
100
55 to 64 years
45 to 54 years
35 to 44 years
25 to 34 years
20 to 24 years
16 to 19 years
118
129
120
107
113
109
12
11
9
6
5
3

12. INJURY AND ILLNESS TOPOLOGY
Each injury or illness is described from four viewpoints. The Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS)
was revised to version 2.01 for survey year 2011.
Nature of
disabling
condition
Part of
body affected
A nursing aide
sprains her back
from
overexertion
while lifting a
patient
Event or
exposure
Source of
injury or illness

13. DISTRIBUTION OF INJURIES AND ILLNESSES
By nature, all ownerships, 2011
Sprains, strains, and tears, and soreness and pain made up half of all injuries and illnesses. Sprains, strains, and tears
accounted for 447,200 injuries and illnesses in 2011.
37,9 %
Sprains, strains, tears
12,4 %
Soreness, pain
Tendonitis
0,3 %
Chemical burns
0,4 %
Amputations
0,9 %
Carpal tunnel syndrome
1,3 %
Heat burns
3,6 %
Multiple traumatic injuries
7,8 %
Fracture
0,3 %
8,7 %
Bruises, contusions
18,3 %
All other natures
8,2 %
Cuts, lacerations, punctures

14. MEDIAN DAYS AWAY FROM WORK AND INCIDENCE RATE
Due to injuries and illnesses by nature, all ownerships, 2011
In 2011, carpal tunnel syndrome were the most severe nature of injuries and illnesses, having a median of 28 days away from
work to recover, followed by fractures with 27 days, multiple injuries with fractures with 26 days, and amputations with 25 days.
Sprains, strains, and tears had a high rate, but a median days away of 10 days.
0
5 10
5
4 8
4 10
3
0
3
Median days away from work
(All ownerships median days = 8)
Days-away-from-work rate
(All ownership rate = 117)
Median days away from work Rate per 10,000 full-time workers
28 1
9
1
1
27
26
25
14
10 44
10 4
9 15
9 2
2
2
Carpal tunrel syndrome
Fractures
Mutiple inyuries with fractures
Amputations
Tendonitis
Sprains, strains, tears
Multiple traumatic injuries
Soreness, pain
Multiple traumatic with sprains
Bruises, contusions
Heat burns
Cuts, lacerations
Cuts, lacerations, punctures
Chemical burns and corrosions
Punctures (except gunshots)

15. DISTRIBUTION OF INJURIES AND ILLNESSES BY PART OF BODY
All ownerships, 2011
Injuries and illnesses to upper extremities were the most frequent injuries and illnesses with 356,750 cases, 30.2% of total
cases. Injuries to lower extremities accounted for 270,040 cases, and injuries to the back accounted for 225,980 cases.
30,2 %
Upper extremities
22,9 %
Lower extremities
11,1 %
Multiple body parts
19,1 %
Back
0,8 % All other parts
6,6 %
Head
1,4 %
Neck
5,7 %
Trunk, except back
2,2 %
Body system

16. MEDIAN DAYS AWAY FROM WORK AND INCIDENCE RATE
Due to injuries and illnesses by part of body, all ownerships, 2011
Injuries to the shoulder took the most time away from work, requiring a median of 23 days away from work.
Knee injuries took a median of 15 days, and wrist injuries took 14 days away from work to recuperate.
Median days away from work
(All ownerships median days = 8)
Days-away-from-work rate
(All ownership rate = 117)
Median days away from work Rate per 10,000 full-time workers
23 9
11
5
6
6
5
9
8
2
2
2
3
27
35
29
22
14
15
14
12
10
10
10
8
8
7
7
7
5
5
5
3
2
Shoulder
Knee
Wrist
Lower extremities
Arm
Upper extremities
Ankle
Trunk
Foot
Neck
Back
Toe, toenail
Hand
Hand, except finger
Finger, fingernail
Head
Eye

17. DISTRIBUTION OF INJURIES AND ILLNESSES
by source, all ownerships, 2011
Persons, plants, animals, and minerals had 331,910 cases in 2011. More than half of these (170,120) are from
the body motion or position of the injured or ill worker, and a large number (64,950) are from health care patients.
1,3 % Chemicals and
chemical products
8,0 %
Parts and materials
8,2 %
Tools, instrument,
and equipment
4,9 %
Machinery
4,9 %
Other sources
28,1 %
Persons, plants,
animals, and minerals
19,7 %
Structures
15,1 % and surfaces
Containers,
furniture
and fixtures
9,7 %
Vehicles

18. MEDIAN DAYS AWAY FROM WORK AND INCIDENCE RATE
Due to injuries and illnesses by source, all ownerships, 2011
Injuries and illnesses where trucks were the source had a median of 16 days away from work, followed by ladders with
14 days and the injured or ill worker with a median of 13 days and a rate of 18 cases per 10,000 full-time workers.
Median days away from work
(All ownerships median days = 8)
Days-away-from-work rate
(All ownership rate = 117)
Median days away from work Rate per 10,000 full-time workers
16 3
Truck
Ladder
14
13 18
Person, injured or ill worker
Worker motion or position
Vehicles
Containers
Parts and materials
Flors, walkways, ground
surfaces
Cart, dolly, hand truck
Machinery
Person, other than injured or
ill worker
Furniture, Fixtures
Patient
Handtools
Chemicals, chemical
2
1
2
17
11
13
9
6
5
6
5
19
12
13
11
10
10
10
10
8
8
7
7
5
3

19. DISTRIBUTION OF INJURIES AND ILLNESSES
By event or exposure, all ownerships, 2011
Overexertion and bodily reaction, and falls, slips, and trips made up more than 60 percent of all injures
and illnesses with days away from work.
4,1 %
Exporsure to harmful
subtances or environment
5,0 %
Transportation incidents
6,2 %
Violence and other injuries
by persons or animals
0,2 %
Fires and explosions
1,1 %
All other events
35,2 %
Overexertion and
bodly reaction
25,3 %
Falls, slips,
and trips
22,9 %
Contact
with object,
equipment

20. MEDIAN DAYS AWAY FROM WORK AND INCIDENCE RATE
Due to injuries and illnesses by event or exposure, all ownerships, 2011
In 2011, injuries and illnesses from repetitive motion had a median of 23 days away from work to recover,
but had a fairly lowrate of 3 per 10,000 full-time workers. Overexertion and bodily reaction and falls on same level had
high rates of injuries and illnesses, and a higher mediandays than the median for all cases
Median days away from work
(All ownerships median days = 8)
Days-away-from-work rate
(All ownership rate = 117)
Median days away from work Rate per 10,000 full-time workers
Repetitive motion involving
23 3
microtasks
Fall to lower level
Transportation incidents
Overexertion and
bodily reaction
Slips, trips without fall
Fall on same level
Caught in or compressed
by object or equipment
Overexection in lifting
or lowering
Fires and explosions
Intentional injury
by other person
Struck by object or equipment
Struck against object
or equipment
Exposure to harmful
substances or environment
6
6
5
4
0
3
41
18
14
15
6
5
19
11
11
10
10
10
10
8
7
5
5
4

21. FALLS ON SAME LEVEL
By distribution of source and secondary source, all ownerships, 2011
BLS revised the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) in 2011. For falls on same level, source
is what the worker fell on or from, and the secondary source is what contributed to the fall. All other secondary sources
includes cases where no secondary source was specified. More information on source and secondary source selection
can be found in the OIICS manual.
Source Secondary Source
1,5 %
Parts and materials
4,0 %
Furniture, fixtures
14,4 %
Ice, sleet, snow
10,8%
Liquids - non chemical
7,7%
Containers, furniture
and fixtures
1,7% Vehicles
0,6%
Tools, instruments
and equipment
0,6% Machinery
1,7 %
Vehicles
1,5 %
Containers
5,4 %
All oyher sources
86,0 %
Floors, walkways,
ground surface
63,3 %
All other
secondary sources

22. RATE OF MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS WITH DAYS AWAY FROM WORK
By ownership, 2011
As part of the OIICS revision, the event or exposure and nature categories that comprise musculoskeletal disorders
(MSD) changd in 2011. MSDs accounted for 33 percent of all cases in 2011. There was a higher rate of MSDs in state
and local government than in private industry. However, MSDs represented a lower percentage of injuries and illnesses
in state and local government (27 and 29 percent).
Rate of musculoskeletal disorders with days away from work, by ownership, 2011. Per 10,000 full-time workers.
Private industry 36
49
Number of musculoskeletal disorders with days away from work, by ownership, 2011. Number of cases.
56
309,940
19,560
58,320
State government
Local government
Private industry
State government
Local government

23. INCIDENCE RATE AND NUMBER OF INJURIES AND ILLNESSES
Due to musculoskeletal disorders by selected occupations, all ownerships, 2011
These twelve occupations had at least 1/10 of 1 percent of total employment, and had published incidence rates of musculoskeletal disorders
(MSDs) of 100 per 10,000 full-time workers or higher. Emergency medical technicians and paramedics had the highest rate of MSDs in 2011.
Firefighters and transit and intercity bus drivers also had high rates of MSDs.
All ownership rate = 39 Number of MSD cases (Total=387,820)
MSD rate
Rate per 10,000 full-time workers Number of cases
Emergency medical technicians
240 4,830
and paramedic
Fire fighters
transit and intercity bus drivers
Highway maintenance workers
Reservation and transportation
tikcket agents and travel clerks
Laborers and freight, stock,
and material movers
Light truck or delivery service drivers
Maids and house keeping cleaners
Janitors and cleaners, except maids
Police and sheriff’s patrol officer
Correctional officers and jaliers
Heating. a/c, and refrigeration
mechanics and installer
5,800
2,090
1,800
1,490
5,950
3,970
1,980
185
173
148
141
140
136
121
114
106
102
101
21,700
9,600
7,610
16,530