Number of Job Injuries and Illnesses Decrease in Texas in 2007

Texans are working safer and staying healthier, according to a report by the Texas Department of Insurance.

AUSTIN, TX - Employers in private industry in Texas reported a total of 69,320 nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work for 2007, according to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses. This was a 4.6 percent decrease from the 72,660 cases reported in 2006.

The Survey of Occupational Injury and Illnesses for 2007 revealed that there were 94.3 injuries and illnesses per 10,000 full-time equivalent employees in Texas. This rate was 9.7 percent lower than the rate of 104.4 in 2006 and is lower than the national rate for 2007 of 122.

The median days away from work for Texas in 2007 was 9, which is higher than the 8 days for 2006 and higher than the nationally reported median days of 7.

The annual BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses is conducted in cooperation with the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation (TDI-DWC). The TDI-DWC collects survey data in order to assist employers, safety professionals, and policymakers in identifying occupational safety and health issues in the state.

This is the third release in 2008 reporting on 2007 data from the BLS workplace safety and health statistical series. The first release, in August 2008, covered work-related fatalities from the 2007 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. In October 2008, BLS reported that there were 252,784 nonfatal injuries and illnesses in Texas, in 2007. The data are based on the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses with a sample of approximately 10,000 Texas employers. This release covers the circumstances of the injuries and illnesses, as well as the characteristics, of the employees involved in the 69,320 of those cases that required days away from work.

There were a few notable shifts from 2003 to 2007 for nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses numbers and rates.

• The number of cases with days away from work for 2007 was slightly lower (.02 percent) than 2005, but reflected substantial decreases (6.4 percent) from 2004 and (15.6 percent) from 2003.

• Although Texas experienced a rate increase in 2006, the 2007 injury and illness rate for cases with days away from work has been remarkably reduced by 25 percent from 2003. The 2007 rate also shows a considerable decline of 14.3 percent from 2004 and 6.5 percent from 2005.

To see the full report, complete with data tables, go to http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/news/2008/news2008197.html