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Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities

Transportation and warehousing, 2016-2020


Background

The transportation and warehousing sector includes industries that provide transportation of passengers and cargo, warehousing and storage for goods, sightseeing transportation, and support activities related to modes of transportation.

As of 2020, there was an average of 5,547,576 people employed in the private sector of this industry in 271,535 establishments.

Nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses

In the private transportation and warehousing industry during 2020, there were 206,900 total recordable cases (TRC) of nonfatal injuries and illnesses. Of those, 99,800 had days away from work (DAFW), 57,000 had days of job transfer or restriction (DJTR), and 50,100 had other recordable cases (ORC). The total recordable case incidence rate per 100 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers was 4.0.



Table 1. Number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work by selected case characteristics, transportation and warehousing, private industry, 2020
Case characteristic[1]Number of cases

Nature of injury or illness

Sprains, strains, tears

42,280

Soreness, pain

15,630

Bruises, contusions

10,370

Fractures

7,790

Cuts, lacerations

3,900

Part of body affected

Back

16,910

Shoulder

9,840

Knee

9,370

Multiple body parts

8,540

Hand

8,030

Event or exposure leading to injury or illness

Struck by object or equipment

12,100

Overexertion in lifting or lowering

11,950

Fall on same level

10,940

Fall to lower level

6,750

Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicles

6,430

[1] Data shown correspond to Nature, Part, and Event codes based on the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System 2.01 developed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses

Fatal occupational injuries

Fatal work injuries totaled 846 for the transportation and warehousing industry during 2020, compared to 948 during 2019.

Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, transportation and warehousing, all United States, 2016-2020
Event or exposure[1][2]20162017201820192020

Total fatal injuries (number)

856916909948846

Violence and other injuries by persons or animals

6973558862

Transportation incidents

617656661677602

Fires and explosions

671110--

Falls, slips, trips

5151494641

Exposure to harmful substances or environments

4960565672

Contact with objects and equipment

6265757165

[1] CFOI data by event are only provided if there are fatal case counts in three or more of the six event categories.

[2] Data shown correspond to Event codes based on the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System 2.01 developed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Note: Dashes indicate data do not meet BLS publication guidelines.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

Sources

Employment data come from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program. Injury and illness information come from the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) and Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). For more information on SOII program concepts, see the definitions page and the SOII Handbook of Methods. For more information on CFOI program concepts, see the definitions page and the CFOI Handbook of Methods.

 

Last Modified Date: January 5, 2022