Workplace injuries in the US have saw a significant drop in 2023.
The new figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics show there were 2.6 non-fatal cases, a decrease of 8.4 percent.
Private industry employers reported 2.6 million nonfatal cases, marking a notable improvement. The drop was primarily due to a dramatic reduction in workplace illnesses, particularly respiratory-related cases.
Key Findings in Workplace Injuries and Illnesses
- Overall Incidents: Total nonfatal cases in private industries were down by 8.4%, from 2022 to 2023.
- Illness Reduction: Workplace illnesses fell by 56.6%, totaling 200,100 cases. This is the lowest recorded number since 2019.
- Respiratory Illnesses: Cases dropped significantly, with a 72.6% reduction to 100,200 in 2023, partly due to declining COVID-19-related cases.
The BLS data is based on the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), which collects and estimates injury and illness statistics in the workplace.
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Decrease in Total Recordable Cases (TRC)
In 2023, the incidence rate of total recordable cases (TRC) was 2.4 cases per 100 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers, compared to 2.7 in 2022—the lowest rate since data collection began in 2003. Here’s how these rates break down:
- Injury Rate: Recorded at 2.2 cases per 100 FTE workers, down from 2.3 in 2022.
- Illness Rate: Dropped to 19.0 cases per 10,000 FTE workers, from 45.2 in the previous year.
- Respiratory Illness Rate: 9.5 cases per 10,000 FTE workers in 2023, significantly lower than 35.8 in 2022.
Cases with Days Away from Work (DAFW)
The number of cases requiring time away from work fell by 20.1%, totaling 946,500 incidents.
These cases accounted for 62% of all incidents involving Days Away from Work, Job Restriction, or Transfer (DART):
- DAFW Rate: Reduced to 0.9 cases per 100 FTE workers, down from 1.2 in 2022.
- Job Transfer or Restriction (DJTR): Cases dropped to 581,000, making up 38% of all DART cases with an incidence rate of 0.6 cases per 100 FTE workers.
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Injury and Illness Trends by Industry
The private sector saw notable declines in injuries and illnesses across various industries in 2023:
- Healthcare and Social Assistance: Cases dropped to 562,500, from 665,300 in 2022, with a TRC rate of 3.6 per 100 FTE workers.
- Manufacturing: Declined to 355,800 cases, from 396,800 in the prior year.
- Retail Trade: Reported 353,900 cases, down by 68,800 from 2022.
- Transportation and Warehousing: Decreased cases and incidence rates in 2023, mirroring trends across sectors.
No private industries experienced increases in both total cases and incidence rates, highlighting a general improvement in workplace safety.
Respiratory Illness Rates by Sector
Certain industries that experienced high respiratory illness rates in 2022 saw significant decreases in 2023:
- Health Care and Social Assistance: Dropped to 44.1 cases per 10,000 FTE workers, down from 134.8.
- Retail Trade: Decreased to 9.1 cases per 10,000 FTE workers, from 67.3.
- Educational Services: Recorded 7.8 cases per 10,000 FTE workers, where previous data was unavailable for 2022.
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Mixed Trends in Workplace Injuries
While most sectors saw a decline in injury rates, certain areas reported increases in injury cases:
- Health Care and Social Assistance: Injury cases rose by 27,800, totaling 471,600 cases in 2023.
- Accommodation and Food Services: Experienced a rise in injury numbers.
- Manufacturing: Injury cases declined by 21,400, down to 326,400 cases.
Industry-Specific Highlights
- Food and Beverage Stores: Injury cases increased by 6.5% to 78,200, though illness cases saw a sharp drop of 78.7%.
- General Freight Trucking: Injury rate dropped from 3.2 to 2.9 cases per 100 FTE workers.
- Food Manufacturing: Recorded 61,400 cases with an injury rate reduction from 4.6 to 3.6 per 100 FTE workers.
- Couriers and Messengers: Accounted for 29% of the total cases in the transportation and warehousing sector.
Additional Data and Future Releases
This release is the first in a two-part series on occupational safety statistics. A second report, set for December 2024, will detail fatal work injuries in the U.S.
Looking Forward: Workplace Safety Gains and Goals
The 2023 data highlights a significant improvement in workplace safety, especially with a dramatic reduction in respiratory illness cases.
Employers across industries are taking steps to enhance safety measures, and data indicates these efforts are having a positive impact. T
he upcoming report on fatal work injuries will provide a fuller picture of workplace safety across the U.S., offering valuable insights for continued improvements in occupational health standards.
