Employer-reported Nonfatal Workplace Injuries and Illnesses Down 8.4%

Private industry employers reported an 8.4% decrease in nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2023 compared to 2022, according to the most recent data available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. There were 2.6 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported in 2023. The decrease was driven by a 56.6% drop in illnesses in 2023; there were only 200,100 illness cases in 2023, the lowest number since 2019.

The incidence rate of total recordable cases was 2.4 cases per 100 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers. This is down 2.7 cases per 100 FTE workers from 2022. This figure represents the lowest recordable cases rate since 2003.

Private industry employers reported a decrease in illnesses from 45.2 cases per 10,000 FTE workers in 2022 to 19 cases in 2023. This was due to a 72.6% decrease in respiratory illness cases, down to 100,200 cases in 2023.

In 2023, there were a total of 946,500 nonfatal injuries and illnesses involving days away from work. This is a little over 20% lower than in 2022.

Injuries in the health care and social assistance industries increased in 2023 by 27,800 cases for a total of 471,600 cases. The following industries also had increases in injury cases during 2023:

• Accommodation and food services
• Arts, entertainment and recreation
• Utilities

The two sectors that had a decrease in injuries were manufacturing and wholesale trade. Manufacturing injury cases decreased to 326,400 from almost 350,000 in 2022. Wholesale trade fell to 127,000 cases from 138,900 in 2022.

In 2023, there were 581,000 cases involving days of job transfer or restriction, which accounted for 38% of days away, restricted or transferred (DART) cases and occurred at a rate of 0.6 cases per 100 FTE workers.

The private industry injury rate was down in 2023, but the total injury cases of 2,368,900 in 2023 were essentially unchanged from 2022. Additionally, no private industry sectors experienced increases in total cases incidence rates in 2023.

Employer Takeaways

While these numbers are largely encouraging, employers should stay vigilant when it comes to protecting workers’ health and safety. Employers should continue to invest in workplace health and safety initiatives.   

For more information on workplace injuries and illnesses, contact us today.