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Workplace heat-related illnesses increase by at least sevenfold on days when temperatures exceed 90°F compared with days with temperatures between 75°F and 80°F, according to research published Wednesday by the Workers Compensation Research Institute. The Waltham, Massachusetts-based WCRI used 2013 to 2022 workers compensation claim data from insurers, state funds and self-insured employers across 31 U.S. states, accounting for 80%…

There were 5,283 fatal work injuries recorded in the United States in 2023, a 3.7% decrease from the previous year, with deaths among Black workers declining the most at 10.2%, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Thursday. Transportation incidents were the most frequent cause of death, accounting for 36.8% of all occupational fatalities in 2023. As in years past,…

Costs associated with catastrophic workplace injuries represent less that 0.1% of workers compensation claims but account for up to 2% of all costs to insurers, according to a report released Thursday by the National Council on Compensation Insurance. Boca Raton, Florida-based NCCI worked with nine state ratings agencies to study so-called “mega claims,” examining 11,330 of them from accident years…

For the eighth time since 2020, federal workplace safety inspectors have cited a Lake Zurich, Illinois roofing contractor for exposing workers to falls from elevation, the leading cause of fatal and serious injuries among people employed in the construction industry. Inspectors with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration observed employees of Fino Exterior Inc. working atop…