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News Release Information

16-85-NEW
Thursday, January 14, 2016

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (617) 565-4141

Employer-Reported Workplace Injuries and Illnesses in New York - 2014

Over 149,000 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses were reported among New York’s private industry employers in 2014, resulting in an incidence rate of 2.5 cases per 100 equivalent full-time workers, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (See table A.) Chief Regional Economist Martin Kohli noted that New York was among 14 states and the District of Columbia that had an incidence rate of total recordable cases (TRC) significantly lower than the national rate of 3.2. (New York was 1 of 41 states and the District of Columbia for which statewide estimates are available. See Technical Note at the end of this release for more information about the survey.)

New York's findings from the 2014 Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses include:

  • TRC incidence rates in private industry ranged from 0.9 in financial activities to 3.5 in education and health services. (See table 1.)
  • Two supersectors, with about 45 percent of private industry employment, accounted for 55 percent of the occupational injuries and illnesses: education and health services; and trade, transportation, and utilities. (See table 2.)
  • In private industry, the TRC injury and illness incidence rate ranged from 1.2 for small establishments (those employing fewer than 11 workers) to 3.1 for small mid-size establishments (those employing between 50 and 249 workers). (See table 3.)
  • New York’s private industry TRC rate of 2.5 in 2014 was similar to the rate in 2013. (See table 4.)
Table A. Number and rate of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses in private industry, United States and New York, 2014
CharacteristicUnited StatesNew York
Number (in thousands)Rate (per 100 workers)Number (in thousands)Rate (per 100 workers)

Total cases

2,953.53.2149.12.5

Cases with days away from work job transfer or restriction

1,580.01.780.71.3

Cases with days away from work

916.41.072.51.2

Cases with job transfer or restriction

663.60.78.10.1

Other recordable cases

1,373.51.568.51.1
Private industry injury and illness case types

Of the 149,100 private industry injury and illness cases reported in New York, 80,700 were of a more severe nature, involving days away from work, job transfer, or restriction—commonly referred to as DART cases. These cases occurred at a rate of 1.3 cases per 100 full-time workers. Ninety percent of the DART cases in New York were incidents that resulted in at least one day away from work, compared to 58 percent nationally. Other recordable cases (those not involving days away from work, job transfer, or restriction) accounted for the remaining 68,400 cases in New York, at a rate of 1.1. In comparison, the national rate for other recordable cases was 1.5.

In New York, no private industry supersector experienced a significant change in the TRC incidence rate from the previous year. Similarly, no supersector had a significant change in the DART incidence rate over the year.

In 2014, approximately 142,700 (95.7 percent) of private industry recordable injuries and illnesses were injuries. Workplace illnesses accounted for an additional 6,400 recordable cases. Four categories—hearing loss, skin disorders, respiratory conditions, and poisoning—accounted for 34 percent of the occupational illnesses in New York. Nationally, these four categories amounted to 37 percent of the work-related illness total.

State and local government injury and illness cases

In the state and local government sectors of New York, 64,200 injury and illness cases were reported in 2014, resulting in a rate of 6.7 cases per 100 full-time workers. Nationally, the rate was 5.0. Almost 78 percent of injuries and illnesses reported in New York’s public sector occurred among local government workers.

State estimates and over-the-year change

For 2014, occupational injury and illness data are available for 41 states and the District of Columbia. Nineteen states had private industry TRC incidence rates higher than the national rate of 3.2 cases per 100 full-time workers in 2014. (See chart 1.) Fourteen states, including New York, and the District of Columbia had TRC rates lower than the national rate. Eight states had TRC rates that were about the same as the national rate. Factors such as differences in the composition of industry employment may influence state incidence rates and should be considered when comparing rates among different states.

Compared to 2013, private industry TRC incidence rates declined in 10 states. The private industry TRC incidence rate was relatively unchanged in 31 states, including New York, and the District of Columbia. Estimates for nine states were not available in 2014 for comparison.

Change in Industry Classifications

Beginning with the 2014 reference year, the SOII began using the 2012 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). Comparison of SOII estimates for 2014 to prior years is not advised below the sector level due to this change. For more detailed information regarding NAICS revisions, visit www.bls.gov/bls/naics.htm.


Technical Note

The Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) is based on employer reports of OSHA-recordable injuries. Survey data are collected and processed by state agencies cooperating with the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The survey measures nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses, only, and excludes the self-employed; farms with fewer than 11 employees; private households; and federal government agencies.

Employer reports reflect not only the year’s injury and illness experience, but also employers’ understanding of which cases are work-related under recordkeeping rules revised by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor and made effective on January 1, 2002.

The number of injuries and illnesses reported any year can be influenced by the level of economic activity, working conditions and work practices, worker experience and training, and the number of hours worked.

The incidence rates presented in this release represent the number of injuries and/or illnesses per 100 full-time equivalent workers and were calculated as:
     (N / EH) X 200,000 where,
          N = number of injuries and/or illnesses
        EH = total hours worked by all employees during the calendar year
200,000 = base for 100 full-time equivalent workers (working 40 hours per week, 50 weeks per year)

Background and methodological information regarding the BLS occupational safety and health statistics program, including information such as changes in the definition of recordable cases due to revised recordkeeping requirements in 2002 and the inherent underreporting of illnesses, can be found in Chapter 9 of the BLS Handbook of Methods at www.bls.gov/opub/hom/pdf/homch9.pdf.

Additional occupational injury and illness data are available from the “Workplace injuries and illnesses” tab of our regional web page at www.bls.gov/regions/northeast/subjects.htm.

Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200; Federal Relay Service: 800-877-8339.

Table 1. Incidence rates of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses by industry sector and case types, New York, 2014
Industry(1)(2)(3)Total recordable casesCases with days away from work, job transfer, or restrictionOther recordable cases
TotalCases with days away from work(4)Cases with job transfer or restriction

All industries including state and local government

3.11.71.60.11.3

Private industry

2.51.31.20.11.1

Goods-producing

3.21.81.50.21.4

Natural resources and mining

2.71.61.6--1.1

Construction

3.41.81.70.11.6

Manufacturing

3.11.81.50.31.3

Service-providing

2.41.31.20.11.1

Trade, transportation, and utilities

2.91.81.50.31.2

Information

1.30.80.8(5)0.5

Financial activities

0.90.40.4--0.5

Professional and business services

1.10.60.50.10.5

Education and health services

3.52.01.80.11.6

Leisure and hospitality

3.21.21.10.12.0

Other services, except public administration

1.80.90.9(5)0.9

State and local government

6.74.14.00.12.7

State government

7.44.74.60.12.7

Local government

6.63.93.80.12.7

Footnotes:
(1) Excludes farms with fewer than 11 employees.
(2) Data for mining (Sector 21 in the North American Industry Classification System, 2012 edition) include establishments not governed by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) rules and reporting, such as those in oil and gas extraction and related support activities. Data for mining operators in coal, metal, and nonmetal mining are provided to BLS by the Mine Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. Independent mining contractors are excluded from the coal, metal, and nonmetal mining industries. These data do not reflect the changes OSHA made to its recordkeeping requirements effective January 1, 2002; therefore estimates for these industries are not comparable to estimates in other industries.
(3) Data for employers in rail transportation are provided to BLS by the Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation.
(4) Days-away-from-work cases include those that result in days away from work with or without job transfer or restriction.
(5) Data too small to be displayed.
 

Note: Dashes indicate data do not meet publication guidelines. Incidence rates represent the number of injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time workers and were calculated as: (N/EH) x 200,000 where N = number of injuries and illnesses; EH = total hours worked by all employees during the calendar year; and 200,000 = base for 100 equivalent full-time workers (working 40 hours per week, 50 weeks per year).
 

Table 2. Numbers of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses by selected industries and case types, New York, 2014 (numbers in thousands)
Industry(1)(2)(3)Total recordable casesCases with days away from work, job transfer, or restrictionOther recordable cases
TotalCases with days away from work(4)Cases with job transfer or restriction

All industries including state and local government

213.3119.5110.68.993.8

Private industry

149.180.772.58.168.5

Goods-producing

24.513.611.81.810.9

Natural resources and mining

0.70.40.4(5)0.3

Construction

9.85.14.90.34.7

Manufacturing

14.08.06.51.55.9

Service-providing

124.667.160.86.357.6

Trade, transportation, and utilities

37.322.619.33.314.7

Information

3.12.02.0(5)1.1

Financial activities

5.72.82.8(5)2.9

Professional and business services

11.76.25.11.15.5

Education and health services

44.224.723.21.519.6

Leisure and hospitality

18.56.76.30.411.8

Other services, except public administration

4.22.22.10.12.0

State and local government

64.238.838.10.725.3

State government

14.29.18.90.25.1

Local government

50.029.829.20.520.2

Footnotes:
(1) Excludes farms with fewer than 11 employees.
(2) Data for mining (Sector 21 in the North American Industry Classification System, 2012 edition) include establishments not governed by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) rules and reporting, such as those in oil and gas extraction and related support activities. Data for mining operators in coal, metal, and nonmetal mining are provided to BLS by the Mine Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. Independent mining contractors are excluded from the coal, metal, and nonmetal mining industries. These data do not reflect the changes OSHA made to its recordkeeping requirements effective January 1, 2002; therefore estimates for these industries are not comparable to estimates in other industries.
(3) Data for employers in rail transportation are provided to BLS by the Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation.
(4) Days-away-from-work cases include those that result in days away from work with or without job transfer or restriction.
(5) Data too small to be displayed.
 

Table 3. Incidence rates of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses by industry sector and employment size, New York, 2014
Industry(1)(2)(3)All establishmentsEstablishment employment size (workers)
1 to 1011 to 4950 to 249250 to 9991,000 or more

All industries including state and local government

3.11.22.23.33.54.4

Private industry

2.51.22.13.12.92.8

Goods-producing

3.21.63.53.73.32.3

Natural resources and mining

2.7--3.32.4----

Construction

3.41.84.03.74.0--

Manufacturing

3.1--3.13.83.12.1

Service-providing

2.41.21.92.92.82.8

Trade, transportation, and utilities

2.91.12.43.74.53.9

Information

1.3--2.21.51.00.8

Financial activities

0.91.61.10.80.70.4

Professional and business services

1.1--1.51.21.10.8

Education and health services

3.51.02.34.14.04.0

Leisure and hospitality

3.2--2.04.54.84.8

Other services, except public administration

1.81.30.83.72.5--

State and local government

6.76.15.35.77.36.9

State government

7.4--3.96.39.36.5

Local government

6.66.55.45.76.27.0

Footnotes:
(1) Excludes farms with fewer than 11 employees.
(2) Data for mining (Sector 21 in the North American Industry Classification System, 2012 edition) include establishments not governed by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) rules and reporting, such as those in oil and gas extraction and related support activities. Data for mining operators in coal, metal, and nonmetal mining are provided to BLS by the Mine Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. Independent mining contractors are excluded from the coal, metal, and nonmetal mining industries. These data do not reflect the changes OSHA made to its recordkeeping requirements effective January 1, 2002; therefore estimates for these industries are not comparable to estimates in other industries.
(3) Data for employers in rail transportation are provided to BLS by the Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation.
 

Note: Dashes indicate data do not meet publication guidelines. Incidence rates represent the number of injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time workers and were calculated as: (N/EH) x 200,000 where N = number of injuries and illnesses; EH = total hours worked by all employees during the calendar year; and 200,000 = base for 100 equivalent full-time workers (working 40 hours per week, 50 weeks per year).
 

Table 4. Incidence rates of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses by industry sector and selected case type with measures of statistical significance, New York, 2013-14
Industry(1)(2)(3)(4)Total recordable casesCases with days away from work, job transfer, or restriction
2013201420132014

All industries including state and local government

3.03.11.81.7*

Private industry

2.42.51.41.3

Goods-producing

3.13.21.81.8

Natural resources and mining

2.82.71.61.6

Construction

3.23.42.01.8

Manufacturing

3.03.11.81.8

Service-providing

2.32.41.31.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities

3.22.92.01.8

Information

1.11.30.80.8

Financial activities

0.80.90.50.4

Professional and business services

1.11.10.50.6

Education and health services

3.43.51.92.0

Leisure and hospitality

2.83.21.31.2

Other services, except public administration

1.81.81.00.9

State and local government

6.66.74.24.1*

State government

8.17.4*5.14.7*

Local government

6.36.6*3.93.9

Footnotes:
(1) Excludes farms with fewer than 11 employees.
(2) Estimates for 2014 represent a break in series as a result of the incorporation of the 2012 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). Comparison of estimates for 2014 and the prior year is not advised below the sector level due to changes in industry classifcations.
(3) Data for mining (Sector 21 in the North American Industry Classification System, 2012 edition) include establishments not governed by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) rules and reporting, such as those in oil and gas extraction and related support activities. Data for mining operators in coal, metal, and nonmetal mining are provided to BLS by the Mine Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. Independent mining contractors are excluded from the coal, metal, and nonmetal mining industries. These data do not reflect the changes OSHA made to its recordkeeping requirements effective January 1, 2002; therefore estimates for these industries are not comparable to estimates in other industries.
(4) Data for employers in rail transportation are provided to BLS by the Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation.
 

Note: An asterisk indicates a significant difference between the current year and prior year values, when testing at the 95% confidence level. Incidence rates represent the number of injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time workers and were calculated as: (N/EH) x 200,000 where N = number of injuries and illnesses; EH = total hours worked by all employees during the calendar year; and 200,000 = base for 100 equivalent full-time workers (working 40 hours per week, 50 weeks per year).
 

 

Last Modified Date: Thursday, January 14, 2016