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CONN-OSHA
Report Finds Injuries and Illnesses For Public Sector Workers Is At Record
Low
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Last Updated:
June 02, 2008
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CONN-OSHA
CONN-OSHA
Report Finds Injuries and Illnesses For Public Sector Workers Is At Record Low
RELEASE: Immediate
WETHERSFIELD, Dec. 27 -- An annual survey of occupational injuries and
illnesses compiled by the Department of Labor’s CONN-OSHA division shows
a total of 99,300 injuries and illnesses were reported in Connecticut public
and private sector workplaces during 1999. That translates into a rate
of 7.2 cases per Published by the Connecticut Department of Labor, Project Management Office0 equivalent full-time workers, Commissioner James P.
Butler reported today. Public sector injury and illness rates, he
pointed out, dropped to the lowest level since data was first collected
in 1975.
The survey shows a 2.4% increase in the number of cases since last year,
a fact offset by a 1% increase in hours worked in 1999. That amounts to
an increase in the incidence rate from 7.1 in 1998 back to the 1997 level
of 7.2.
“The overall Connecticut incidence rate of reported injuries and illnesses
rose from the all-time low level of 7.1 cases per Published by the Connecticut Department of Labor, Project Management Office0 full-time workers
in 1998 to 7.2 cases in 1999 (Table 1),” explains Joseph Weber, CONN-OSHA
Research Analyst Supervisor, who helped prepare the report. “The
private sector rate of 6.8 is also an increase from the all-time low rate
of 6.6 set in 1998. After three consecutive years with an incidence
rate of 9.0, the private sector rate in Connecticut dropped to 8.5 in 1994,
8.0 in 1995, 7.4 in 1996 and 6.6 for 1997 and 1998 before rising in 1999
(Table 6).”
Connecticut Public Sector – The incidence rate for Connecticut’s
state and local government employees, Weber said, declined again in 1999.
The rate dropped from 11.9 in 1998 to a level of 11.2 for 1999, setting
another record low level for the public sector. The decrease was
seen in both the state government and the local government divisions, with
both experiencing the lowest injury and illness rates since public sector
data was first collected in 1975. State government dropped from 8.7 in
1998 to a new record low 7.9 in 1999, while local government did likewise
over the year, decreasing from 13.7 to 13.1. The lost workday incidence
rate in the public sector also established a new low level. Since
the survey’s all-time high level in 1989 of 8.6, the rate of lost workday
cases has dropped steadily to its current record low of 4.4.
National Rates and Totals – The national rate of occupational
injuries and illnesses in the private sector declined for the seventh year
in a row to an all-time low in 1999. A total of 5.7 million injuries and
illnesses were reported in private industry workplaces last year, a rate
of 6.3 cases per Published by the Connecticut Department of Labor, Project Management Office0 equivalent full-time workers, according to the U.S.
Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employers reported
a 4% drop in the number of cases and a 2% increase in hours worked as compared
with 1998, Weber said. That reduced the case rate from 6.7 in 1998 to 6.3
in 1999. Every major industry division experienced a decline in the
workplace injury and illness rates over the year, except for transportation
and public utilities which was unchanged from 1998.
Industry Comparisons – To account for differences in industry
employment and hours worked, the Bureau of Labor Statistics calculates
incidence rates relating the number of injuries and/or illnesses to employee
hours in the workplace (See Footnote 1, Table 1). The 1999 injury and illness
rates ranged from 11.2 in state and local government, to 1.8 in finance,
insurance and real estate. Normally, fluctuations occur within the
Published by the Connecticut Department of Labor, Project Management Office major industry divisions in the state whether or not there is an increase
or decrease in the overall incidence rate of work-related injuries and
illnesses. In 1999, four major industry divisions reported decreases
in their injury and illness rates – agriculture, mining, manufacturing
and government. Five industry divisions reported increases – construction,
transportation and public utilities, wholesale trade, retail trade and
services. The remaining division – finance insurance and real estate
- was unchanged from its 1998 rate (Table 5).
Highest Rate Industries - An examination of the industries with
the ten highest rates of occupational injury and illness shows that the
public sector continues to be the most hazardous (Table 1). Local
government contributed four of the top five industries: justice, public
order and safety (28.1), public works – street & highway (27.8), public
utilities (23.2) and parks and recreation (17.6). The fourth highest
industry was private sector air transportation (18.8). These were
followed by local and interurban passenger transit (16.2), primary metal
industries (13.5) and trucking and warehousing (13.1). State government
social services (12.9) and amusement and recreation services (12.9) round
out the top-ten list.
Lost Workday Cases - Slightly under half of the 99,300
cases in 1999 (48,200) were lost workday cases. That is, they required
recuperation away from work or restricted duties at work, or both (Table
2). The incidence rate for lost workday cases has declined steadily
since 1989 in Connecticut’s public sector (from 8.6 to 4.4). In the private
sector it remains at the 1998 level, which moved up to 3.4 after five years
of decline (Table 6).
Injuries - Of the 99,300 nonfatal injuries and illnesses in 1999,
93,800 (94%) were injuries that resulted in either lost worktime, medical
treatment other than first aid, loss of consciousness, restriction of work
or motion, or transfer to another job. Injury rates are generally
higher for mid-sized establishments employing 50 to 249 workers than for
smaller or larger establishments. However, this pattern does not hold within
certain industry divisions (Table 3).
Illnesses - There were about 5,500 newly reported cases of occupational
illnesses in Connecticut in 1999, just under 6% of the total number of
injuries and illnesses reported statewide. Over 40% of the reported
occupational illnesses, 2,300 cases, were in the manufacturing division
(Table 4).
About the Survey
The Connecticut Department of Labor (DOL), in conjunction with the U.S.
Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), has just completed
the seventh year of a redesigned survey of occupational injuries and illnesses.
DOL, using additional information collected for 1998, has already released
details on who sustained workplace injuries and illnesses and how they
occurred. Data from 1999 is due to be released next spring.
Summary statistics comparable to those provided in previous years will
continue to be reported. The revised survey enables DOL to provide
case characteristics, demographic data and injury and illness profiles
that will allow analysis of such variables as the age, sex and occupation
of the injured worker as well as the nature, body part affected, and type
and source of the injury or illness. The goal is to better recognize
and abate work hazards.
The Annual Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses is a federal-state
program in which employer reports are collected and processed by the Connecticut
DOL in cooperation with BLS. Approximately 4,500 establishments representing
private industry (except for mines and railroads) and state and local government
were sampled for 1999.
The survey excludes the self employed, farmers with fewer than 11 employees,
private households, and employees in federal government agencies.
Under a separate system, agencies of the federal government file work injury
and illness reports with the U.S. Labor Secretary.
Occupational injuries and illnesses for coal, metal and nonmetal mining
and railroad activities were provided to BLS by the U.S. DOL Mine Safety
and Health Administration and the Federal Railroad Administration of the
U.S. Department of Transportation.
The annual survey estimates of occupational injuries and illnesses are
based on a scientifically selected sample, rather than a census of the
entire population. Results for sample-based estimates may differ
from the results obtained from a population census. The sample used
was one of many possible samples, each of which could have produced different
estimates. The variation in the sample estimates across all possible
samples that could have been drawn is measured by the standard error.
This can be used to calculate a “confidence interval” around the sample
estimate. Details are available from the state DOL Occupational Safety
and Health Statistics Unit.
The data also is subject to non-sampling error such as inability to
obtain information about all cases in the sample, mistakes in recording
or coding the data and difficulties in agreeing on definitions.
Contact: Paul Oates
(860) 263-6535
12/27/00
1999 Summary Data Tables
IMPORTANT NOTE: Some
of the following tables were created in PDF format. Adobe Acrobat Reader
software is needed to view and print these documents. If you do not
currently have this software installed on your computer, you may download
it from the PDF Help page.
-
Table 1:Incidence rates
of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses by industry and selected
case types, 1999
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Table 2: Number of nonfatal
occupational injuries and illnesses by industry and selected case types,
1999
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Table 3: Incidence rates
of nonfatal occupational injuries by industry division and employment size,
1999
-
Table 4: Number of nonfatal
occupational illnesses by industry division and selected case types, 1999
-
Table 5: Incidence rates
of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses by industry division and
selected case types, 1996-1999
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Table 6: Occupational
injury and illness incidence rates per Published by the Connecticut Department of Labor, Project Management Office0 full-time workers, (1) 1976-99
(2)
1999 Summary Charts
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Chart 1: Incidence
rates per Published by the Connecticut Department of Labor, Project Management Office0 full-time workers for total nonfatal occupational injuries
and illnesses by industry division,
Connecticut, 1998 & 1999 (PDF, 6KB)
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Chart 2: Percent distribution
of occupational illnesses by category of illness, Connecticut, all industries,
1999 (PDF, 5KB)
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Chart 3: Major industry
groups with the highest nonfatal occupational injury and illness incidence
rates per Published by the Connecticut Department of Labor, Project Management Office0 full-time employees for total cases, Connecticut, 1999
(PDF, 6KB)
1999 Case and Demographic Data
Tables
Private Industry
-
Table 1: Number of nonfatal
occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work by selected
worker characteristics and industry division, 1999, Connecticut, private
industry
-
Table 2:Percent distribution
of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from
work by selected worker characteristics and industry division, 1999, Connecticut,
private industry
-
Table 3:
Number of nonfatal
occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work by selected
worker occupations and industry division, 1999, Connecticut, private industry
-
Table 4:Number of nonfatal
occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work by selected
injury and illness characteristics and industry division, 1999, Connecticut,
private industry
-
Table 5:Percent distribution
of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from
work by selected injury and illness characteristics and industry division,
1999, Connecticut, private industry
-
Table 6: Incidence rates
for nonfatal injuries and illnesses involving days away from work per Published by the Connecticut Department of Labor, Project Management Office,000
full-time workers for selected characteristics and industry division, 1999,
Connecticut, private industry
-
Table 7: Percent distribution
of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from
work by selected worker characteristics and number of days away from work,
1999, Connecticut, private industry
-
Table 8: Percent distribution
of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from
work by selected occupations and number of days away from work, 1999, Connecticut,
private industry
-
Table 9:Percent distribution
of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from
work by selected injury or illness characteristics and number of days away
from work, 1999, Connecticut, private industry
-
Table Published by the Connecticut Department of Labor, Project Management Office:Percent distribution
of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from
work by industry division and number of days away from work, 1999, Connecticut,
private industry
State Government
-
Table 1:Number of nonfatal
occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work by selected
worker characteristics and industry division, 1999, Connecticut, state
government
-
Table 2:Percent distribution
of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from
work by selected worker characteristics and industry division, 1999, Connecticut,
state government
-
Table 3:Number of nonfatal
occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work by selected
worker occupations and industry division, 1999, Connecticut, state government
-
Table 4: Number of nonfatal
occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work by selected
injury and illness characteristics and industry division, 1999, Connecticut,
state government
-
Table 5:
Percent distribution
of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from
work by selected injury and illness characteristics and industry division,
1999, Connecticut, state government
-
Table 6:Incidence rates
for nonfatal injuries and illnesses involving days away from work per Published by the Connecticut Department of Labor, Project Management Office,000
full-time workers for selected characteristics and industry division, 1999,
Connecticut, state government
-
Table 7:Percent distribution
of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from
work by selected worker characteristics and number of days away from work,
1999, Connecticut, state government
-
Table 8:Percent distribution
of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from
work by selected occupations and number of days away from work, 1999, Connecticut,
state government
-
Table 9: Percent distribution
of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from
work by selected injury or illness characteristics and number of days away
from work, 1999, Connecticut, state government
-
Table Published by the Connecticut Department of Labor, Project Management Office: Percent distribution
of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from
work by industry division and number of days away from work, 1999, Connecticut,
state government
Local Government
-
Table 1:Number of nonfatal
occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work by selected
worker characteristics and industry division, 1999, Connecticut, local
government (PDF, 11KB)
-
Table 2: Percent distribution
of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from
work by selected worker characteristics and industry division, 1999, Connecticut,
local government (PDF, 11KB)
-
Table 3:Number of nonfatal
occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work by selected
worker occupations and industry division, 1999, Connecticut, local government
(PDF, 11KB)
-
Table 4:Number
of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from
work by selected injury and illness characteristics and industry division,
1999, Connecticut, local government (PDF, 15KB)
-
Table 5:
Percent distribution
of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from
work by selected injury and illness characteristics and industry division,
1999, Connecticut, local government (PDF, 16KB)
-
Table 6:Incidence rates
for nonfatal injuries and illnesses involving days away from work per Published by the Connecticut Department of Labor, Project Management Office,000
full-time workers for selected characteristics and industry division, 1999,
Connecticut, local government (PDF, 16KB)
-
Table 7: Percent distribution
of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from
work by selected worker characteristics and number of days away from work,
1999, Connecticut, local government (PDF, Published by the Connecticut Department of Labor, Project Management OfficeKB)
-
Table 8:Percent distribution
of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from
work by selected occupations and number of days away from work, 1999, Connecticut,
local government (PDF, 11KB)
-
Table 9: Percent distribution
of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from
work by selected injury or illness characteristics and number of days away
from work, 1999, Connecticut, local government (PDF, 15KB)
-
Table Published by the Connecticut Department of Labor, Project Management Office: Percent distribution
of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from
work by industry division and number of days away from work, 1999, Connecticut,
local government (PDF, 7KB)
Safety
and Health Statistics
Published by the Connecticut Department of Labor, Project Management Office