The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published the "Severe Injury Report: A Seven-Year Lookback" summarizing employer-reported inpatient hospitalizations, amputations, and eye losses from 2015 to 2021. This report provides valuable insights into the prevalence and nature of severe workplace injuries, helping identify areas for improvement in workplace safety.
KEY FINDINGS
- Over 1 million severe work-related injuries were reported in the seven-year period. This translates to an average of 4.6 severe injuries reported per 10,000 full-time workers each year.
- The rate of severe injuries remained relatively constant over the seven years. There was a slight decrease in the rate from 2019 to 2021, which may be attributed to increased awareness and safety efforts.
- Certain industries have significantly higher rates of severe injuries than others. The construction, healthcare and social assistance, and manufacturing industries accounted for nearly half of all reported severe injuries.
- Falls, slips, and trips were the leading cause of severe injuries, followed by struck-by and caught-in/between events. These types of injuries accounted for over 60% of all reported cases.
- Hospitalizations were the most common type of severe injury, followed by amputations and eye losses. Hospitalizations accounted for approximately 80% of all reported severe injuries.
The report's findings highlight the importance of continued focus on workplace safety. While the overall rate of severe injuries has remained stable, certain industries and types of injuries remain a significant concern.
Industries with High Rates of Severe Injuries:
- Construction: This industry had the highest rate of severe injuries, with a rate of 11.7 per 10,000 workers in 2021. Falls, slips, and trips were the leading cause of injuries in this industry.
- Healthcare and Social Assistance: This industry had the second-highest rate of severe injuries, with a rate of 7.7 per 10,000 workers in 2021. Patient handling and musculoskeletal disorders were the leading causes of injuries in this industry.
- Manufacturing: This industry had the third-highest rate of severe injuries, with a rate of 5.8 per 10,000 workers in 2021. Caught-in/between events and struck-by events were the leading causes of injuries in this industry.
TYPES OF SEVERE INJURIES
- Hospitalizations: Hospitalizations were the most common type of severe injury, accounting for approximately 80% of all reported cases. Falls, slips, and trips were the leading cause of hospitalizations.
- Amputations: Amputations accounted for approximately 16% of all reported severe injuries. Caught-in/between events and struck-by events were the leading causes of amputations.
- Eye Losses: Eye losses accounted for approximately 4% of all reported severe injuries. Struck-by events were the leading cause of eye losses.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Millions of workers are exposed to indoor and outdoor heat on the job. Although heat-related injuries and illnesses are preventable, thousands become sick every year from occupational heat exposure, and some lose their lives. Occupational risk factors for heat-related illness include heavy physical activity, warm or hot environmental conditions, lack of acclimatization, and wearing clothing that holds body heat.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that exposure to environmental heat caused 292 occupational deaths between 2015 and 2021. Workplace safety experts believe the actual number of heat-related injuries, illnesses, and fatalities may be higher due to underreporting or misdiagnosis.
WAREHOUSE INJURIES
Warehousing and Storage is a fast-paced, growing industry where several hazards may be present. Potential hazards include those associated with industrial trucks (forklifts), ergonomics, material handling, hazardous chemicals, slips/trips/falls, and robotics. From 2015 to 2021, employers in this industry reported 1,336 severe injuries, equal to approximately 190 injuries in this industry per year. While the type of injuries reported varied, nearly 20% of injuries reported in these seven years involved part of the worker’s body caught between a vehicle (such as a forklift) and another object.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The report provides several recommendations for improving workplace safety, including:
- Employers should implement comprehensive safety and health programs that address the specific hazards of their workplaces. These programs should include hazard identification, risk assessment, and implementation of controls to prevent injuries.
- Workers should receive training on how to recognize and avoid hazards in their workplaces. Training should be specific to the tasks and hazards they face.
- Employers should encourage workers to report all injuries and illnesses, even minor ones. This will help employers identify and address potential safety hazards.
- OSHA should continue to enforce safety and health standards and provide resources and guidance to employers and workers.
CONCLUSION
The OSHA report on severe injury provides valuable insights into the prevalence and nature of severe workplace injuries. By understanding the industries and types of injuries that are most common, employers and workers can take steps to prevent them. Continued focus on workplace safety is essential to reducing the number of severe injuries and illnesses that occur each year.
Additional resources
- OSHA Severe Injury Report: A Seven-Year Lookback: https://www.osha.gov/severeinjury
- OSHA Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements: https://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/entry-faq
- OSHA Fatality and Catastrophe Investigation Summaries: https://www.osha.gov/data/commonstats
....
Jon L. Gelman of Wayne, NJ, is the author of NJ Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thomson-Reuters) and co-author of the national treatise Modern Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thomson-Reuters). For over five decades, the Law Offices of Jon L Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com has represented injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational illnesses and diseases.
Blog: Workers ' Compensation
LinkedIn: JonGelman
LinkedIn Group: Injured Workers Law & Advocacy Group
Author: "Workers' Compensation Law" West-Thomson-Reuters
Mastodon:@gelman@mstdn.social
Recommended Citation: Gelman, Jon L., Analysis of the OSHA Report on Severe Injury: A Seven-Year Lookback, www.gelmans.com (12/10/2023), https://workers-compensation.blogspot.com/2023/12/analysis-of-osha-report-on-severe.html
© 2023 Jon L Gelman. All rights reserved.
Attorney Advertising
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
