Report: Private-sector workplace injuries in N.Y. lower than national average

Private-industry employers in New York state reported more than 140,000 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2018, for an incidence rate of 2.2 cases per 100 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers, according to the latest available figures released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

The BLS report, issued in January, noted that “New York was among 12 states and the District of Columbia that had an incidence rate of total recordable cases (TRC) significantly lower than the national rate of 2.8.”

In contrast, New York’s state and local-government sector reported 60,400 cases in 2018 for an incidence rate of 6.4 per 100 full-time workers. The national rate for state and local governments was 4.8.

The data is from the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII). The BLS report, which summarized the 2018 SOII findings stated, “Each year, approximately 200,000 employers report for establishments in private industry and the public sector (state and local government). In-scope cases include work-related injuries or illnesses to workers who require medical care beyond first aid.”

The study excludes all work-related fatalities, the self-employed, workers on farms with 10 or fewer employees, private-household workers, volunteers, and federal-government workers.

The New York industry sectors with the highest number of total cases were local government (46,100); education and health services (44,100); and trade, transportation, and utilities (32,400).

The natural resources and mining sector had the state’s highest private-industry incidence rate (4.7), while at the same time having the lowest total number of total recordable cases (1,100).

The lowest incidence rates were in the financial activities and professional and business service sectors (0.9 each).