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

Manufacturing, 2016-2020

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 2020, there was an average of 12,083,479 people employed in the private sector of this industry in 358,272 establishments.

Nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses

In the private manufacturing industry during 2020, there were 373,300 total recordable cases (TRC) of nonfatal injuries and illnesses. Of those, 135,900 had days away from work (DAFW), 108,800 had days of job transfer or restriction (DJTR), and 128,700 had other recordable cases (ORC). The total recordable case incidence rate per 100 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers was 3.1.

View data

Table 1. Number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work by selected case characteristics, manufacturing, private industry, 2020
Case characteristic^[1]	Number of cases
Nature of injury or illness
Sprains, strains, tears	29,620
Soreness, pain	15,940
Fractures	12,030
Cuts, lacerations	11,660
Bruises, contusions	7,540
Part of body affected
Body systems	31,780
Hand	23,600
Back	13,560
Shoulder	8,380
Knee	6,930
Event or exposure leading to injury or illness
Exposure to harmful substances or environments	35,800
Struck by object or equipment	18,040
Fall on same level	12,910
Caught in or compressed by object or equipment	11,240
Overexertion in lifting or lowering	9,760
^[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 341 for the manufacturing industry during 2020, compared to 336 during 2019.

Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, manufacturing, all United States, 2016-2020
Event or exposure^[1][2]	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
Total fatal injuries (number)	319	303	343	336	341
Violence and other injuries by persons or animals	48	31	40	34	42
Transportation incidents	73	79	83	99	77
Fires and explosions	12	21	16	10	10
Falls, slips, trips	49	50	46	61	55
Exposure to harmful substances or environments	28	41	50	40	50
Contact with objects and equipment	108	79	106	90	106
^[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