The latest Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses reveals significant improvements in workplace safety for the U.S. private sector in 2023. The report shows that injuries and illnesses declined across industries, with a striking 8.4% reduction in nonfatal workplace incidents compared to 2022.
Key Findings From the Survey
The estimated number of workplace injuries and illnesses in the U.S. private sector was approximately 2.6 million in 2023, a decrease from around 2.8 million the previous year. The agency observed a 56.6% decrease in illnesses, as the number of cases reported (200,100) reached its lowest level since 2019.
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- Overall Incidence Rates: The total recordable case (TRC) rate dropped to 2.4 cases per 100 full-time workers, the lowest since the data series began in 2003.
- Injury vs. Illness Cases: Injury rates dropped slightly, while the incidence of nonfatal illness cases decreased to 19.0 cases per 10,000 workers.
- Respiratory Illness Decline: Notably, respiratory illness rates dropped from 35.8 to 9.5 cases per 10,000 workers.
- Days Away from Work: The number of nonfatal injuries and illnesses that resulted in days away from work also declined. The estimated total of 946,500 is a 20.1% decrease from 2022.
Industries Making Notable Progress
The BLS data reveals improvements in several industries, although others still grapple with high injury rates:
- Healthcare and Social Assistance: Despite a total decrease in reported illnesses, the healthcare sector saw increased physical injury cases. With a rate of 3.6 per 100 full-time exempt (FTE) workers, healthcare professionals continue to face challenges due to the physical demands of their roles, suggesting the need for ongoing ergonomic support and training.
- Transportation and Warehousing: This sector reduced its injury rate to 4.5 per 100 FTE workers. Couriers and messengers had 77,000 total cases in 2023, making up 29% of the total cases in the transportation and warehousing sector.
- Retail Trade: While most retail areas showed progress, food and beverage stores experienced a 6.5% increase in injuries, highlighting a potential need for more robust safety measures for roles involving physical tasks like lifting and stocking.
This report is the first of two releases for the BLS’s 2023 calendar year coverage on occupational safety and health. The next release, scheduled for December 19, will provide the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) data, offering a more comprehensive view of fatal incidents across industries.
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