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32 percent of nonfatal injuries resulting in days away from work treated in emergency room in 2019
August 26, 2021
An estimated 285,240 private industry workers were treated in an emergency room (ER) following a nonfatal workplace injury or illness in 2019, accounting for 32.1 percent of all private sector incidents that resulted in days away from work. Workers injured or made ill through a fall on the same level (56,530 cases), having been struck by an object (54,090 cases), or musculoskeletal disorders also known as ergonomic injury (47,280 cases) accounted for a combined 55.4 percent of ER visits in 2019.
Nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses resulting in days away from work, treated with or without emergency room visits, private industry, by selected event or exposure, 2019
Event or exposure
Emergency room visits only
In-patient overnight hospitalizations (with or without ER visits)
Without medical treatment facility visit
Total cases
Musculoskeletal disorders
47,280
3,610
215,640
266,530
Fall on same level
56,530
7,850
88,760
153,140
Struck by object
54,090
5,840
74,690
134,620
Overexertion in lifting or lowering
13,990
1,320
71,430
86,740
Transportation incidents
22,220
6,300
20,910
49,430
Fall to lower level
18,900
6,210
22,930
48,040
Struck against object
17,180
1,370
27,700
46,250
Slips, trips without fall
10,330
370
28,000
38,700
Exposure to harmful substances or environments
15,160
2,750
18,930
36,840
Caught in object, equipment, material
16,830
3,590
13,600
34,020
Intentional injury by other person
8,280
680
11,900
20,870
Repetitive motion involving microtasks
1,310
260
15,590
17,160
Animal and insect related incidents
5,290
1,900
7,200
14,390
Injury by person unintentional or intent unknown
3,020
150
5,990
9,160
Fires, explosions
870
470
360
1,700
Note: Total cases consists of those that result in days away from work with or without job transfer or restriction. The number of incidents displayed exceed the 2019 private industry total of 888,220 cases because musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are defined as a hybrid of events or exposures and natures of injury and illness according to the OIICS 2.01 structure.
The percentage of private nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses requiring ER visit only varied from 7.6 percent to 49.5 percent among the selected events or exposures displayed.
About 49.1 percent of roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicles were treated in an ER, as were 49.5 percent of events where a worker was caught in an object, equipment or material. The percentage of cases involving an ER visit only for repetitive motion involving microtasks and for musculoskeletal disorders were 7.6 percent and 16.1 percent, respectively.
United States Department of Labor
