Minnesota’s workplace injury and illness rate dropped to the lowest rate since the measurement started in 1973, according to the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, which is released each year by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry.
The rate of injury fell to 3.2 OSHA-recordable nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time workers in 2019. Overall, the survey estimated that Minnesota had 73,000 workers with OSHA-recordable injuries out of approximately 2.87 million total employees.
“Though it’s reassuring to see the rate of injuries and illnesses has continued to decline, there’s still more work to be done to ensure every worker has the chance to leave their workday in the same condition in which they arrived,” said Roslyn Robertson, Department of Labor and Industry temporary commissioner. “Employers in Minnesota are required to provide a safe and healthful workplace for their employees and we are gratified by those that do so.”
Work Injury Stats From The Report
Here’s a look at some of the injuries findings reported in the most recent Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses:
- The construction industry had the highest rate of injury and illness, with 4.8 cases per 100 full-time equivalent workers.
- The second and third highest industries for injuries and illnesses were transportation and warehousing (4.4) and local government (4.4).
- Sprains, strains and tears were the most common type of injury that resulted in missed days of work (34%).
- The second highest cause for time away from work was for soreness and pain (19%).
- The spine/back was the most commonly injured body part, accounting for 20% of injuries.
- The hands (11%) and knees (11%) were tied for the second most commonly injured body part.
- The average time missed from work as a result of a work-related injury or illness was six days.
- The most common event that led to an injury or illness was overexertion (36%), followed by slip and falls (30%) and contacting an object (19%).
It’s great news that injuries hit an all-time low in 2019, and it will certainly be interesting to see what happens with the 2020 data. More individuals are working from home, so you would assume claims would fall, but it’s worth noting that you can still receive workers’ compensation if you suffer an injury while working from home.
It will also be fascinating to see how the coronavirus factors into the claims data. Considering that front-line workers are allowed to file for compensation if they contract the virus because it is presumed that they came in contact with the disease while working, we’d expect the healthcare industry to be one of the leading industries for workplace injuries and illnesses in 2020. Hopefully we continue to trend in the right direction, but it seems likely that the coronavirus will skew the data in the short-term.
If you or someone you know has been injured or become sick as a result of a workplace accident, know that you are not alone and you have options. To learn about your compensation options or to get the ball rolling on your claim, reach out to the team of injury lawyers at Hey Workers today.
