Chart: Non-fatal occupational injuries and illnesses requiring days away from work

In private industry, the number of injuries and illness cases involving days away from work decreased 11 percent to 964,990 cases—a decline from 1,078,140 in 2008. This is the first time the number of cases has been below 1 million since data have been collected.

In private industry, 18 percent (172,820 cases) of all occupational injuries and illnesses occurred in health care and social assistance.

From 2008 to 2009, the number of injury and illness cases within the transportation and warehousing industry (90,700 in 2009) decreased 13 percent. Half of the injury and illness cases in this industry were the result of overexertion or contact with objects or equipment.

In 2009, the incidence rate—defined as the number of injury and illness cases per 10,000 full-time workers—in private industry decreased 6 percent to 106 cases—a decline from 113 in 2008.

The incidence rate for transportation and warehousing decreased 8 percent to 227 cases per 10,000 full-time workers, but remained the highest incidence rate of all industry sectors.

This data is from the Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities program. To learn more, see "Nonfatal Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Requiring Days Away from Work, 2009", news release USDL-10-1546.