N.Y. private-industry workplace injury rate is below U.S. average

In 2020, private-industry employers in New York state reported 129,000 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses, according to figures from the latest Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in January. 

The state’s private-industry incidence rate of total recordable cases (TRC) was 2.2 cases per 100 full-time equivalent workers, placing it “significantly lower than the national rate of 2.7,” according to BLS Chief Regional Economist Martin Kohli.

Some additional findings from the 2020 Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses include: 

• The 2.2 private-industry TRC rate remained unchanged from the figure recorded in 2019. 

• Two industry sectors — education and health services and trade, transportation, and utilities — accounted for 68 percent of New York’s occupational injuries and illnesses during the year, while representing 45 percent of private-industry employment.

• Of the 129,000 private-industry incidents reported, 90,100 were severe, resulting in days away from work, job transfer, or restriction.

• Larger organizations had markedly higher TRC rates than smaller firms. Private-industry employers of at least 1,000 employees had an incidence rate of 3.5, while firms of fewer than 11 employees recorded a rate of 0.6.

• New York’s state and local-government sector reported 60,300 incidents in 2020, resulting in a TRC rate of 5.8.

The full BLS survey release and additional data from the report can be accessed at: https://www.bls.gov/regions/new-york-new-jersey/news-release/workplaceinjuriesandillnesses_newyork.htm