Work Related Injury, Illness Decrease in Texas for 2nd Year in a Row

December 23, 2009

Work related injuries and illnesses decreased in 2008 for the second year in a row, according to the Texas Department of Insurance Division of Workers’ Compensation (TDI-DWC).

The division reported 234,559 total cases of nonfatal injuries and illnesses in Texas in 2008, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.

Private industry employers in Texas reported a total of 64,700 nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work for 2008. This is a 6.7 percent decrease from the 69,320 cases reported in 2007.

The survey revealed that there were 84.6 injuries and illnesses per 10,000 full-time equivalent workers in Texas. This rate was 9.7 percent lower than the rate of 94.3 in 2007 and is lower than the national rate of 113.

The median for days away from work – a key measure of severity of injuries and illnesses – for Texas in 2008 was 8, which is lower than the median of 9 days away from work for 2007 and the same as the median for days away from work reported nationally.

The annual BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses is conducted in cooperation with the TDI-DWC.

The 2008 industry, demographic, occupation, and case characteristics specific data, charts and tables, may be found online at http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/wc/safety/sis/index.html.

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor; Texas Department of Insurance Division of Workers’ Compensation

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