It may come as no surprise, but employees working in private industry are less likely to suffer an injury or illness than those in state and local government. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (“BLS”) recently released Injuries, Illness, and Fatalities data reports that the private industry injury and illness rate declined from 3.2 recordable cases per 100 full-time equivalent workers in 2014 down to 3.0 in 2015.[1] On the other hand, state and local government’s numbers increased slightly. BLS compiles these rates through confidential reports that include information similar to the data that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires many employers to maintain on injuries and illnesses requiring medical treatment beyond first aid.

Need specifics? We’ve got the numbers:

Private Sector—2015 (2014 in parentheses):

• Transportation, warehousing: 4.5 (4.8)

• Manufacturing: 3.8 (4.0)

• Natural Resources, Mining: 3.7 (3.8)

• Construction: 3.5 (3.6)

• Wholesale Trade: 3.1 (2.9)

• Utilities: 2.2 (2.4)

• Educational Services: 2.1 (2.1)

• Health Care, Social Assistance: 4.3 (4.5)

• Leisure, Hospitality: 4.1 (3.6)

• Retail Trade: 3.5 (3.6)

• Information/Media: 1.3 (1.4)

• Financial Activities: 1.1 (1.2)

• Professional/ Business Services: 1.4 (1.5)

Public Sector—2015 (2014 in parentheses):

•  Local Government Heavy, Civil Engineering Construction : 8.0 (8.6)

• Local Government Transportation, Warehousing: 7.6 (7.5)

• Local Government Utilities: 6.2 (5.4)

• Local Justice, Safety Activities: 9.5 (9.5)

• State-run Nursing, Residential Care Facilities: 12.6 (12.6)

• State-run Hospitals: 8.1 (8.7)

[1] See Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities, United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshsum.htm.

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