According to a recent report issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), workplace injury and illness rates among private- and public-sector workers in the U.S. remained unchanged in 2011, compared to 2010, marking the third consecutive year they have stayed relatively steady. In the private sector, 2011 saw 3.5 injuries or illnesses per 100 workers – identical to the 2010 rate, and just 0.1 percentage point lower than the rate in 2009. Among state and local government employees, the 2011 rate of on-the-job injuries and illnesses was 5.7 per every 100 workers – again, identical to the 2010 rate, and just 0.1 percentage point less than the 2009 rate. Although the fact that the injury and illness rates did not increase is good news, workplace injuries and occupational illnesses remain a serious problem among workers in Oklahoma and across the United States. If you have suffered a serious injury or illness at work in Oklahoma, our skilled workers’ compensation attorneys at Oklahoma Legal Center can help.
OSHA Safety Inspections and Consultations
The Department of Labor was pleased with the report’s finding that injury and illness rates decreased in industries where the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) emphasized safety inspections and consultations. “OSHA is pleased that, in 2011, the work-related injury rate decreased among private-sector workers employed in the manufacturing, construction and service sectors, which is the focus of most of OSHA’s activities,” a Department of Labor spokesperson said in a statement. The Department also noted that the injury rate increased among workers in areas where OSHA has limited jurisdiction, including agriculture, employers with less than 10 workers, and state and local governments. Overall however, 2011 marks the first time since at least 2003 that the rate of workplace injuries in the private sector did not decline, and the first time since 2007 that the public-sector rate did not decline.
Contact Our Workers’ Comp Attorneys for Legal Help
The workplace injury and illness figures reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics are based on the results of the agency’s annual Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses. Every year, approximately 280,000 employers are asked to submit confidential information about the health of their workers, which they are required to keep a record of in their OSHA Form 300 logs. Unfortunately, because log information is derived from workers voluntarily reporting on-the-job injuries and illnesses, the accuracy of the BLS data is often challenged by safety advocates who believe that many workplace accidents, injuries and illnesses go unreported. If you have suffered a serious injury or illness on the job in Oklahoma, contact our experienced workers’ compensation lawyers at Oklahoma Legal Center to explore your compensation options.