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Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities

Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand, 2016-2020


Background

Hand laborers and freight, stock, and material movers move materials to and from storage and production areas, loading docks, delivery trucks, ships, and containers. Their specific duties may vary and could include performing other general labor.

As of May 2020, there were 2,805,200 people employed in this occupation. The average hourly wage was $16.21, and the average annual wage was $33,710.

Nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses

In private industry for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand, there were 64,930 nonfatal injury and illness cases involving days away from work in 2020. The incidence rate per 10,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers was 289.8.



Table 1. Number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work by selected case characteristics to laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand in private industry, 2020
Case characteristic[1]Number of cases

Nature of injury or illness

Sprains, strains, tears

25,100

All other natures

10,690

Soreness, pain

9,700

Bruises, contusions

7,120

Fractures

5,550

Part of body affected

Back

11,130

Hand

7,200

Shoulder

6,220

Foot

5,080

Knee

4,910

Source of injury or illness

Containers

18,100

All other sources

9,510

Vehicles

8,740

Floors, walkways, ground surfaces

7,130

Worker motion or position

7,020

Event or exposure leading to injury or illness

Struck by object or equipment

11,510

Overexertion in lifting or lowering

10,810

Fall on same level

7,260

Exposure to harmful substances or environments

4,650

Struck against object or equipment

3,460

[1] Data shown correspond to Nature, Part, Source, 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 88 for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand during 2020, compared to 102 during 2019.

Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure to laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand, all United States, 2016–2020
Event or exposure[1][2]20162017201820192020

Total fatal injuries (number)

9210611310288

Violence and other injuries by persons or animals

--118----

Transportation incidents

272728--23

Fires and explosions

----------

Falls, slips, trips

1917231917

Exposure to harmful substances or environments

1014191219

Contact with objects and equipment

3033322719

[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

Wage and employment estimates come from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 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: February 11, 2022