Massachusetts injury and illness rates remain lower than the national rate
Since 1992, The Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics have conducted periodic surveys in a combined to collect uniform data on the frequency and number of injury and illnesses. The purpose of the survey is to “… the number of non-fatal injuries and illnesses that occurred in the private sector workforce for every 100 equivalent full-time employees (FTEs).
Massachusetts Incidence Rate v. U.S. Rate
According to the most recent survey data published in the WCAC’s Annual Report on The State of the Massachusetts Workers’ Compensation System, the rate of injury and illness in Massachusetts continues to remaining to consistently lower than the national rate.
During the year 2013 (the latest survey year available), there were 3.0 million non-fatal injuries and illnesses in the U.S., translating into an incidence rate of 3.3 cases per FTEs. Comparatively, in Massachusetts there were 66,500 non-fatal occupational injuries and illnesses. Calculating the incidence rate, the Commonwealth has a rate of 2.9 cases per 100 FTEs. The graph below further illustrates the difference between the Massachusetts and U.S. rates:
The New England Incidence Rate v. U.S. Rate
With an Incidence Rate of 2.9 per 100 FTEs, Massachusetts boasts the lowest incidence rate of work-related injuries or illnesses in New England. The graph below charts how Massachusetts fares in comparison with the five other New England states as well as how all six of the New England states fare in comparison with the national incidence rate over a six-year period.
The Top Ten Occupations with the highest frequency of Injuries & Illnesses
The occupations with the highest frequency of injuries and illnesses in Massachusetts is based upon survey data from 2013, the last date for which complete information is available. According to the survey numbers, the nursing profession has the highest frequency of injuries and illnesses followed more traditionally manual occupations such as laborers, delivery service drivers and movers.
In fact, Nursing Assistants rather than Registered Nurses suffered the highest number of injuries or illnesses which required days away from work. The following is a list of the top ten occupations followed by a charted illustrating the number per occupation.
Occupation List & Chart
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Nursing Assistants
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Registered Nurses
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Laborers and Freight Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
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Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
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Light Truck or Delivery Services Drivers
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Janitors or Cleaners
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Stock Clerks and Order Fillers
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Retail Salespersons
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Plumbers, Pipefitters and Steamfitters
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Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
The Ten Industries in Mass. with the highest incidence of Non-Fatal Injuries and Illnesses
Perhaps, surprisingly, the “natural resources and mining” industry, rather than construction, is the industry with the highest incidence rates of injury and illnesses in the Commonwealth. The following graph takes a look at the ten industries in Massachusetts which have logged the most incidents of non-fatal injury and illnesses over a six-year period.
Industry Sector List & Chart
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Natural resources and mining
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Construction
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Manufacturing
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Trade, transportation, and utilities
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Information
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Financial activities
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Professional and business services
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Education and health services
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Leisure and hospitality
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Other services
