There were 1,181,290 nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses in 2011 that required days away from work to recuperate. The rate of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses requiring days away from work was 117 incidents per 10,000 full-time workers in 2011, statistically unchanged from 2010. The median days away from work—a key measure of severity of injuries and illnesses—was 8 days in 2011, the same as the previous year.
Among major occupational groups, protective service occupations had 361 incidents requiring days away from work per 10,000 full-time workers in 2011. That incidence rate was more than three times the average for all occupations. Protective service workers also tended to have more severe injuries and illnesses, with a median of 12 days away from work to recuperate.
Transportation and material moving occupations had an incidence rate more than double the average for all occupations and a median of 13 days away from work.
Healthcare support occupations also had an incidence rate more than double the average for all occupations, but the injuries and illnesses tended not to be as severe, requiring a median of 6 days away from work to recuperate.
These data are from the BLS Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities program. To learn more, see "Nonfatal Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Requiring Days away from Work, 2011" (HTML) (PDF), news release USDL-12-2204.
United States Department of Labor
