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Bureau of Labor Statistics > Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities > Publications > Snapshots

Manufacturing, 2015-2019

Background

The manufacturing sector is comprised of establishments engaged in the mechanical, physical, or chemical transformation of materials, substances, or components into new products.

As of 2019, there was an average of 12,776,157 people employed in the private sector of this industry in 355,019 establishments.

Nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses

In the private manufacturing industry during 2019, there were 421,400 total recordable cases (TRC) of nonfatal injuries and illnesses. Of those, 116,100 had days away from work (DAFW), 139,600 had days of job transfer or restriction (DJTR), and 165,700 had other recordable cases (ORC). The total recordable case incidence rate per 100 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers was 3.3.

View data

Table 1. Number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work by selected case characteristics, manufacturing, private industry, 2019
Case characteristic^[1]	Number of cases
Nature of injury or illness
Sprains, strains, tears	32,470
Soreness, pain	16,790
Fractures	13,400
Cuts, lacerations	13,100
Bruises, contusions	9,050
Part of body affected
Hand	27,250
Back	13,800
Shoulder	9,500
Knee	7,650
Multiple body parts	6,770
Event or exposure leading to injury or illness
Struck by object or equipment	21,860
Fall on same level	14,400
Caught in or compressed by object or equipment	13,330
Overexertion in lifting or lowering	11,090
Struck against object or equipment	7,710
^[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 336 for the manufacturing industry during 2019, compared to 343 during 2018.

Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, manufacturing, all United States, 2015-2019
Event or exposure^[1][2]	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019
Total fatal injuries (number)	353	319	303	343	336
Violence and other injuries by persons or animals	37	48	31	40	34
Transportation incidents	94	73	79	83	99
Fires and explosions	19	12	21	16	10
Falls, slips, trips	63	49	50	46	61
Exposure to harmful substances or environments	38	28	41	50	40
Contact with objects and equipment	102	108	79	106	90
^[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: August 11, 2021