Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses is a Federal/State program in which employer report forms are collected from private and public industry employers. State agencies collect and process the survey data and prepare estimates using standardized procedures established by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor to insure uniformity and consistency between states. The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Research and Analysis Section, in cooperation with the BLS, processes survey reports from approximately 5,400 private industry establishments annually.
National public sector estimates covering nearly 19 million State and local government workers are available for the first time from the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses for the reference year 2008. Data were collected from State and local government establishments in all States in order to produce national public sector estimates. Response from these establishments is required by State law in some States, particularly those that have OSHA-designated State plans that cover State and local government. In other States, participation in the Survey is voluntary for State and local government establishments. (There are currently 24 States operating an occupational safety and health program that includes State and local government workers.)
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 implemented regulations requiring most private industry employers to maintain records and prepare reports on work-related injuries and illnesses. The BLS was given the responsibility to develop a comprehensive statistical system for work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths in private industry. In 1972, the BLS, in cooperation with many state governments, designed an annual survey to estimate the number and frequency of work-related injuries and illnesses by detailed industry for the Nation and for States participating in the survey. The survey information is valuable to the safety community to assist with allocating prevention resources.
In 1992, the survey information on nonfatal incidents involving days away from work was expanded to describe the occupation and other demographic information of workers who incur the work-related injuries and illnesses, the nature of the conditions and how they occurred, and the time away from work. The survey reports incidence rates of injury and illness cases that allow for comparison among industries and establishments of varying sizes. Measures of injuries and illnesses are expressed as a constant to allow for a common statistical base across industries regardless of employment size of establishment. The rates are useful to evaluate the safety performance of a particular industry over time or to compare an industry’s safety record between states.
The Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses uses the 2002 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) to classify businesses by industry type. NAICS recognizes hundreds of new businesses in the United States economy, especially in the service-providing sector. NAICS classifies establishments into a detailed industry based on the production processes and provided services.
The Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses measures nonfatal injuries and illnesses only. The survey excludes the self-employed, farms with fewer than 11 employees, private households, and Federal government agencies. The goods-producing sectors consist of the following industry sectors: agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting (NAICS sector 11); mining (NAICS sector 21); construction (NAICS sector 23); and manufacturing (NAICS sector 31-33). The service-providing sectors include the following industry sectors: wholesale trade (NAICS sector 42); retail trade (NAICS sector 44-45); transportation and warehousing (NAICS sector 48-49); utilities (NAICS sector 22); information (NAICS sector 51); finance and insurance (NAICS sector 52); real estate and rental and leasing (NAICS sector 53); professional, scientific, and technical services (NAICS sector 54); management of companies and enterprises (NAICS sector 55); administrative and support and waste management and remediation services (NAICS sector 56); educational services (NAICS sector 61); health care and social assistance (NAICS sector 62); arts, entertainment, and recreation (NAICS sector 71); accommodation and food services (NAICS sector 72); other services (except public administration) (NAICS sector 81); and public administration (NAICS sector 92).
The BLS grouped related sectors into major industry sectors to help standardize the industry aggregations above the NAICS level. There are three goods-producing major industry sectors. Natural resources and mining is the aggregate of sector 11 (agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting) and sector 21 (mining). Construction is the aggregate of sector 23 (construction). Manufacturing is the aggregate for sector 31-33 (manufacturing). There are eight service-providing major industry sectors. Trade, transportation, and utilities is the aggregate for sector 42 (wholesale trade), sector 44-45 (retail trade), sector 48-49 (transportation and warehousing), and sector 22 (utilities). Information is the aggregate for sector 51 (information). Financial activities is the aggregate for sector 52 (finance and insurance) and sector 53 (real estate and rental and leasing). Professional and business services is the aggregate of sector 54 (professional, scientific, and technical services), sector 55 (management of companies and enterprises), and sector 56 (administrative and support and waste management and remediation services). Education and health services is the aggregate of sector 61 (educational services) and sector 62 (health care and social assistance). Leisure and hospitality is the aggregate for sector 71 (arts, entertainment, and recreation) and sector 72 (accommodation and food services). Other services is the aggregate for sector 81 (other services, except public administration). Public administration is the aggregate for sector 92 (public administration). The BLS has generated estimates of injuries and illnesses for many of the 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, and 6-digit private sector industries as defined in the 2002 North American Industry Classification Manual, as well as for major industry sectors, total of all goods-producing sectors, and total of all service-providing sectors.
The Mine Safety and Health Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor provides occupational injury and illness data for coal, metal, and nonmetal mining. This agency did not adopt the revised OSHA recordkeeping requirements effective January 1, 2002, so estimates for these industries are not comparable with estimates for other industries. The Federal Railroad Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation provides data for rail transportation.
The incidence rates and numbers of injury and illness cases are based on logs and records kept by employers throughout the calendar year..Information from the logs is used by the survey to develop estimates of the numbers and incidence rates of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses. The BLS survey collects the number of hours worked to be used to determine industry and case characteristics incidence rates. The survey records reflect the year’s occupational injuries and illnesses as well as the employer’s comprehension of which cases are work related using the record-keeping guidelines of the U.S. Department of Labor. Changes in the level of economic activity, working conditions and work practices, worker experience and training, and the number of hours worked can have an effect on the number of injuries and illnesses reported in a given year.
The BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses provides information on characteristics, such as occupations, age, sex, race, and length of service, of occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work. The survey also includes data concerning the circumstances of the injury or illness, including nature of the injury or illness, part of body affected, event or exposure, and primary and secondary sources of the injury or illness.
Nonfatal occupational injuries are defined as involving one or more of the following: loss of consciousness, restriction of work or motion, transfer to another job, or medical treatment (other than first aid). An occupational injury is an injury, such as a cut, fracture, sprain, strain, amputation, etc., that results from a work event or from a single instantaneous exposure in the work environment. An occupational illness is defined as any abnormal condition or disorder, other than one resulting from an occupational injury, caused by exposure to factors associated with employment. Occupational illnesses include acute and chronic illnesses or diseases that may be caused by inhalation, absorption, ingestion, or direct contact. The revised recordkeeping guidelines no longer provide categories to separately record cases such as disorders associated with repeated trauma or disorders due to physical agents. These illness cases are now being recorded in the all other illnesses category.
Cases with days away from work, job transfer, or restriction involved recuperation away from work, transfer to another job, restricted duties at work, or a combination of these actions. Other recordable cases did not result in time away from work. There are two types of cases with days away from work, job transfer or restriction. The first type requires at least one day away from work, with or without job transfer or restricted work activity. The second type requires only job transfer or restriction. Job transfer or restriction cases may involve shortened work hours, a temporary job change, or temporary restrictions on certain duties of a worker’s regular job. Incidence rates denote the number of injuries and/or illnesses per a specified number of full-time workers.
The survey estimates for the characteristics of cases with days away from work are based on a scientifically selected probability sample instead of a census of the entire private industry population. Private industry establishments were selected to represent themselves and other establishments of the same industry and employment size that were not selected to participate in the survey for the reporting year. Selected establishments that were anticipated to have large numbers of days away from work cases were given instructions prior to the survey on how to sample the cases to minimize the burden of their response.
A standard error is calculated to determine the precision of each injury and illness estimate. The standard error defines a confidence interval (range) around the estimate. The approximate 95 percent confidence interval is the estimate plus or minus two times the standard error. The standard error can be expressed as the relative standard error, or percent of the estimate. At the 95 percent confidence level, one can be 95 percent confident that the actual incidence rate falls within the confidence interval.
The survey can be used as an indicator of the magnitude of occupational safety and health problems. The statistics can help determine which industries need to improve safety programs and to assess the effectiveness of the Occupational Safety and Health Act in reducing work related injuries and illnesses. Labor and management can use the estimates obtained in the survey to evaluate safety programs. Other users include insurance carriers involved in workers’ compensation, industrial hygienists, manufacturers of safety equipment, researchers, and others concerned with job safety and health.
Summary Data
Summary data presents numbers and incidence rates of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses in Missouri industry. Data are presented for industries and industry sectors classified by NAICS codes. Numbers and incidence rates of occupational injuries and illnesses are presented for different types of cases: total recordable cases; total cases with days away from work, job transfer or restriction; cases with days away from work; cases with job transfer or restriction; and other recordable cases. Incidence rates and numbers of occupational illnesses are presented by category of illness.
Nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses in private industry
There were a total of 70,000 nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses in Missouri private industry in 2008. This was a statistically significant decrease from the 87,900 cases in 2007. The incidence rate (number of injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time workers) for total recordable cases of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses in Missouri private industry in 2008 was 3.6. This was also a statistically significant decrease from the 2007 rate of 4.6.
Goods-producing industries
Private industry goods-producing industries, such as natural resources, construction, and manufacturing, as a whole had an incidence rate of 5.2 cases per 100 equivalent full-time workers in 2008. This was a statistically significant decrease from the 2007 rate of 6.0. The incidence rates for mining and manufacturing also had statistically significant decreases in 2008 from 2007. Mining (NAICS 21) had an incidence rate of 3.0 for 2008, which was a decrease from the 2007 rate of 3.9. Manufacturing (NAICS 31-33) had an incidence rate of 5.3 for 2008, which was a decrease from the 2007 rate of 6.6.
Service-providing industries
Private industry service-providing industries, such as retail trade, transportation, health care, and leisure and hospitality, as a whole had an incidence rate of 3.1 per 100 equivalent full-time workers in 2008. This was a statistically significant decrease from the 2007 rate of 4.1. There were several service-providing sectors that had statistically significant decreases in their incidence rates in 2008 from 2007. Transportation and warehousing (NAICS 48-49) had an incidence rate of 4.6 for 2008, which was a decrease from the 2007 rate of 7.4. Utilities (NAICS 22) had an incidence rate of 6.0 for 2008, which was a decrease from the 2007 rate of 8.3. Finance and insurance (NAICS 52) had an incidence rate of 0.6 for 2008, which was a decrease from the 2007 rate of 1.4. Health care and social assistance (NAICS 62) had an incidence rate of 5.0 for 2008, which was a decrease from the 2007 rate of 6.3. Arts, entertainment, and recreation (NAICS 71) had an incidence rate of 4.8 for 2008, which was a decrease from the 2007 rate of 6.0. Accommodation and food services (NAICS 72) had an incidence rate of 2.6 for 2008, which was a decrease from the 2007 rate of 5.0.
State and local government
Statistical data from public sector (state and local government) employers in Missouri was collected for the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses for the first time for 2008. There were a total of 17,000 nonfatal occupational injury and illness recordable cases in Missouri State and local government in 2008. The incidence rate for total recordable cases of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses in Missouri state and local government was 5.2 in 2008. The incidence rate for state government was 6.7 and the incidence rate for local government was 4.6.
Case and demographic data
The most serious nonfatal occupational injury and illness cases involve lost work time. There were 15,520 nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work in Missouri private industry in 2008. This number declined significantly from 19,490 cases in 2007. The incidence rate for private industry was 79.5, which was also a decrease from 2007. The incidence rate represents the number of injuries and illnesses per 10,000 full-time workers. There were 500 nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work in Missouri state government. The incidence rate for state government was 49.8. There were 1,900 nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work in local government in 2008. The incidence rate for local government was 85.0.
Injuries and illnesses with days away from work
There were 5,150 nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses with days away from work in the private industry goods-producing sector. This was a significant decline from the 5,900 cases in 2007. The incidence rate for the private industry goods-producing sector was 120.3 in 2008. There were no injuries or illnesses with days away from work in goods-producing industries in Missouri state government or local government in 2008. The private industry service-providing sector had 10,370 nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses with days away from work in 2008, significantly reduced from 13,590 cases in 2007. The 2008 incidence rate for the private industry service-providing sector was 68.1, also a decrease from 2007. Missouri state government had 470 nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses with days away from work in the service-providing sector. The incidence rate for 2008 for state government service-providing sector was 48.6. Missouri local government had 1,560 nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses with days away from work in the service-providing sector. The incidence rate for 2008 for local government service-providing sector was 71.5.
Women’s share of injuries and illnesses with days away from work
Women accounted for 39.6 percent of the nonfatal occupational injury and illness cases involving days away from work in private industry in 2008. Women accounted for 36.0 percent of the nonfatal occupational injury and illness cases involving days away from work in state government and 46.8 percent of the cases in local government in 2008.
Age of workers
Workers who were 35 to 44 years old accounted for the largest share (25.6 percent) of the nonfatal occupational injury and illness cases with days away from work in private industry in 2008. Workers who were 35 to 44 years old also accounted for the largest share (32.0 percent) of the nonfatal occupational injury and illness cases with days away from work in Missouri state government in 2008. Workers who were 45 to 54 years old accounted for the largest share (37.4 percent) of the nonfatal occupational injury and illness cases with days away from work in Missouri local government.
Length of service
Workers with one to five years of service accounted for the largest share (34.7 percent) of the nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses with days away from work in private industry in 2008. Workers with more than five years of service accounted for the largest share (48.0 percent) of the nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses with days away from work in Missouri state government in 2008. Workers with more than five years of service accounted for the largest share (65.3 percent) of the nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses with days away from work in local government in 2008.
Characteristics accounting for the largest shares of injuries and illnesses involving days away from work
Four characteristics are used to describe the event that caused an occupational injury or illness – nature of injury or illness, part of body affected, source of injury or illness, and event or exposure. Sprains and/or strains was the nature (physical characteristics) of the injury or illness with the largest share (30.3 percent) of the nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work in 2008 in private industry. Sprains and/or strains was the nature with the largest share of the cases in state government and local government (24.0 percent and 39.5 percent, respectively). The body part affected with the largest share (28.8 percent) of all nonfatal occupational injury and illness cases in private industry in 2008 was the trunk. The part of body affected with the largest share (24.0 percent) of cases in state government was upper extremities. The part of body affected with the largest share (37.4 percent) of the cases in local government was the trunk. Floor, ground surfaces was the source of injury or illness with the largest share (24.0 percent) of all nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work in 2008 in private industry. A person, other than the worker, was the source of injury or illness with the largest share (30.0 percent) of the cases in state government; health care patients accounted for 26.0 percent of the cases. Floor, ground surfaces was the source of injury or illness with the largest share (33.2 percent) of the nonfatal injuries and illnesses involving days away from work in local government. Contact with an object or equipment had the largest share (28.6 percent) of events or exposures of injuries or illnesses in private industry. Assault, violent act (by person) was the event or exposure with the largest share (28.0 percent) in state government. Overexertion was the event or exposure accounting for the largest share (27.4 percent) of the events in local government.