Did you know that employers across the U.S. reported 2.7 million cases of injury and illness in 2020? That was down almost 6% year-over-year. But the tally, which comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, was still too high for comfort.
When you go to work, the last thing you want is to suffer a life-altering injury that leaves you incapacitated for weeks or months and requires you to seek medical care. You can get the compensation you’re entitled to if you have a worker’s compensation lawyer in your corner. But you’ll still want to avoid a workplace injury at all costs.
Continue reading to see workplace injury and illness statistics that every worker should know.
12 Days Off
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report cited above, the median number of days away from the job in all private industry occupations in 2020 was 12 days. That’s up from eight days the year before. But the number was much higher for certain occupations. Case in point: the median days away from the job in 2020 for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers was 23 days versus 19 days the year before.
4,764 Fatal Work Injuries
Unfortunately, some workplace injuries turn into fatalities, says the CDC. In 2020, 4,764 work injuries resulted in death. While that’s 4,764 fatalities too many, the number was down 10.7% from 5,333 the year before. Drilling down further into the findings, you’ll see that the fatal work injury rate came in at 3.4 deaths per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers versus 3.5 deaths per 100,00 full-time equivalent workers in 2019.
Nearly 20% of Injuries Result from Slips, Trips, and Falls
According to the CDC, 18% of the 1,176,340 non-fatal work injuries that led to time off from work in 2020 were due to slips, trips, and falls. Fortunately, many such mishaps don’t result in serious injuries.
22% of Deaths Due to Work-Related Crashes
Did you know that 1,038 U.S. workers lost their lives in work-related car accidents in 2020. According to the CDC, that works out to more than one in five — 22% — of all fatalities.
Almost 100,000 Injuries Due to Contact with Objects and Equipment
Many injuries in the workplace occur when workers come into contact with equipment and objects, says the CDC. In fact, there were 196,140 such injuries in 2020. And these injuries were so bad that they resulted in the injured having to take days off work.
Workers Under 25 More Likely to Suffer Injuries at Work
The CDC adds that workers under 25 years old have higher rates of workplace injuries requiring treatment in emergency departments than other age groups.
Three Leading Causes of Injuries
The three primary cases of workplace-related injuries requiring emergency room visits were, in 2020, contact with equipment and objects; slips, falls, and trips; and overexertion and bodily reaction, according to the CDC.
1.8 Million Injured Workers Send to Emergency Departments
The CDC notes that around 1.8 million workers sustained work-related injuries and received treatment in emergency rooms in 2020.
As you can see, injuries on the job are a fact of life. Workers can do things to reduce, if not eliminate, the chances of getting injured on the job. One thing’s for sure: You’ll want to contact a lawyer if you’re ever hurt at work and sustain serious injury. This is especially the case if you must take time off work and seek medical care. Getting in touch with a worker’s compensation lawyer might be one of the best decisions you make after a mishap at work that leaves you seriously injured.