
An official website of the United States government
Sprains, strains, or tears were the leading injury or illness in private industry and state and local government in 2014. There were 420,870 of these cases requiring days away from work to recuperate. The incidence rate was 38.9 cases per 10,000 full-time workers, down from 40.2 in 2013. Workers who suffered sprains, strains, or tears needed a median of 10 days away from work, compared to 9 days for all types of injuries or illnesses.
Nature of injury or illness | Number of cases | Incidence rate | Median days away from work |
---|---|---|---|
Fractures |
95,550 | 8.8 | 32 |
Sprains, strains, tears |
420,870 | 38.9 | 10 |
Amputations |
4,900 | 0.5 | 19 |
Cuts, lacerations, punctures |
94,670 | 8.8 | 3 |
Bruises, contusions |
97,080 | 9.0 | 5 |
Chemical burns and corrosions |
3,750 | 0.3 | 3 |
Heat (thermal) burns |
14,120 | 1.3 | 5 |
Multiple traumatic injuries |
36,040 | 3.3 | 10 |
Soreness, pain |
197,870 | 18.3 | 9 |
Carpal tunnel syndrome |
7,970 | 0.7 | 32 |
Tendonitis (other or unspecified) |
2,440 | 0.2 | 15 |
All other natures |
182,150 | 16.9 | 9 |
In 2014, upper extremities affected by an injury or illness accounted for 346,170 cases, or 32 cases per 10,000 full-time workers. Hands accounted for 40 percent of those cases, the most among upper extremities. Shoulder injuries and illnesses caused workers to miss a median of 26 days of work, more than any other body part.
Part of body affected | Number of cases | Incidence rate | Median days away from work |
---|---|---|---|
Head |
84,750 | 7.8 | 3 |
Eye(s) |
23,730 | 2.2 | 2 |
Neck |
16,060 | 1.5 | 8 |
Trunk |
269,290 | 24.9 | 9 |
Back |
200,250 | 18.5 | 8 |
Upper extremities |
346,170 | 32 | 10 |
Shoulder |
88,980 | 8.2 | 26 |
Arm |
53,330 | 4.9 | 11 |
Wrist |
43,980 | 4.1 | 15 |
Hand |
137,440 | 12.7 | 5 |
Lower extremities |
268,860 | 24.9 | 12 |
Knee |
104,090 | 9.6 | 17 |
Ankle |
60,830 | 5.6 | 9 |
Foot |
52,070 | 4.8 | 9 |
Body systems |
24,440 | 2.3 | 5 |
Multiple |
131,910 | 12.2 | 10 |
All other parts of body |
15,930 | 1.5 | 10 |
These data are from the Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities program. To learn more, see "Nonfatal Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Requiring Days Away From Work, 2014" (HTML) (PDF).
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Type of injury or illness and body parts affected by nonfatal injuries and illnesses in 2014 at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2015/type-of-injury-or-illness-and-body-parts-affected-by-nonfatal-injuries-and-illnesses-in-2014.htm (visited March 16, 2025).