Today the Indiana Department of Labor released the state’s results from the 2017 Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses report, which measures incidents of nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses on an annual basis. Indiana’s nonfatal occupational injury and illness rate remains at the lowest in state history for the second year in a row, with an estimated 3.5 injuries or illnesses per 100 full-time workers.
“The goal of the our agency and our partner trade groups, labor organizations, and safety programs statewide is for Hoosier employers to commit to protecting Indiana’s working men and women,” said Rick J. Ruble, commissioner of the Indiana Department of Labor. “The continuation of this historically low rate proves that they are answering that call,
” The 2017 rate, which is similar to the 2016 rate, is 8-percent lower than the historically 2015 low rate of 3.8. This is the sixth consecutive year Indiana’s injury and illness rate has been at or below 4.0. The injury and illness rate has decreased by 69 percent since the all-time high of 11.3 injuries or illnesses per 100 full-time workers in 1994.
The report also revealed that the Indiana construction industry saw a small drop in rate from 2.8 in 2016 and 2015, to a new rate of 2.6 on the 2017 report. Similarly, nonfatal incident rates in the transportation and warehouse industry decreased by 10.6 percent per 100 full-time workers in 2017, compared to the prior year.
However, the Hoosier agricultural industry experienced an increase of 25.3 percent in 2017, compared to 2016.
This article was first published by WorkersCompensation.com.
