Bureau of Labor Statistics Releases 2023-2024 Occupational Injury/Illness Data

Author, Jadyn Brandt, Client Communications Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has released the collected data of employer-reported workplace injuries and illnesses for 2023-2024.

What the Data Shows

In 2024, private industry employers reported 2.5 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses which is down 3.1% from 2023. These latest numbers are also the lowest number of employer-reported injuries and illnesses since 2003. And, no industry sectors saw an increase in reported cases.

In a two-year period (2023-2024), 1.8 million cases involved time away from work and on average resulted in a median of 8 days off of the job. 1.1 million resulted in cases that involved job transfer or restriction, with a median of 15 days of transfer or restriction reported.

Additionally, over the same two-year period, overexertion and repetitive motion were the most common causes of injury (i.e., 946,290 cases) that resulted in days away from work, job  restriction, or transfer (DART). Furthermore, 860,050 cases were attributed to contact incidents. Falls, slips, and trips were the third most common cause of DART cases, followed by exposure to harmful substances or environments, transportation incidents, and violent acts.

How to Respond

First, speak to your insurance broker. They can discuss the benefits of a strong return‑to‑work program and how it can help mitigate the impact of workers’ compensation claims. With a substantial portion of workplace incidents leading to time off or modified duties, businesses that provide structured pathways for employees to safely return to their roles can limit losses of productivity and maintain consistency in their workflows. Effective return‑to‑work strategies also strengthen employee morale and retention by demonstrating a commitment to worker well‑being.

Prioritizing protections against overexertion and strain injuries is essential, as we see these types of incidents causing the most disruption to normal work duties. Because these types of injuries frequently lead to restricted tasks or days away from work, preventing them can help reduce the costs associated with medical care, lost productivity, and temporary reassignment. Investment in ergonomic equipment and training can reduce the likelihood of preventable injuries and fosters a culture of safety.

Rancho Mesa Resources

In our RM365 HRAdvantage™ portal, we have a Fitness for Duty Certification form which is completed by a healthcare professional and used to assess if the employee can return to work without restrictions or if any modifications or restrictions are needed. We also have a Release and Return to Work Acknowledgement letter that can be customized to outline the  employee’s temporary or permanent modified duties. . These documents ensure both the employer and employee have the same expectations when they return to work.

While an employee is on modified duty, online safety training in the SafetyOne™ platform can be used as the employee fully recovers. These safety trainings can be used to teach proper ergonomics, mobility and stretch, lifting techniques and many others

Contact your client technology team with any questions about accessing Rancho Mesa’s safety resources.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics Updates Fatal Work Injuries Data

Author, Jadyn Brandt, Client Communications Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has released their Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Summary for 2023. This data highlights important safety trends across multiple industries and demographics, and can be helpful in determining what areas an employer should look to emphasize in their safety program.

According to the report, a total of 5,283 fatal work injuries were recorded in the United States in 2023; a 3.7% decrease from 2022. The report shared several key findings, which include:

• 1,942 occupational fatalities—or 36.8% of all deaths—were caused by transportation incidents.

• 740 fatalities were caused by violent acts, with the majority resulting from homicides.

• Opioids were found to be the source of 162 fatalities, and a contributor in an additional 144 drug-related fatalities.

Additionally, the report breaks down the annual fatalities by occupation and industry.

Since 2011, the construction industry has recorded the highest annual number of fatalities among all industry sectors and 2023 was no different. 1,075 construction deaths occurred in 2023. Slips, trips and falls were the most common types of fatalities, accounting for 39.2 percent (421) of all construction fatalities, followed by transportation incidents which accounted for 22.3 percent (240) of fatalities.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Human services organizations recorded significantly less workplace fatalities than the construction industry. However, the total number of fatalities within these types of human services organizations didn’t change from 2022 to 2023 with a total of 178 fatalities occurring in both years. Transportation incidents accounted for 37.6 percent (67) of fatalities within human services organizations, while violent acts were 16.3 percent (29) and falls, slips and trips were 13.5 percent (24) of fatalities.

Administrative and waste management and remediation services saw a total of 484 fatalities in 2023. Within that sector, the landscaping and grounds keeping occupation had the most fatalities (102), followed by tree trimmers and pruners (80). The report lists trees, logs, and limbs as the primary source of these deaths.

The risk of occupational fatalities can be mitigated through proper safety training and preparation. Rancho Mesa has a variety of training tools available for use across multiple industries which can be accessed through the SafetyOne™ platform, including driver training, slip, trip and fall safety, fall protection and workplace violence prevention training.

For more information about all the safety tools Rancho Mesa has to offer, contact your Client Technology Coordinator.

New Hires Pose Hidden Exposure

Author, Casey Craig, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Hiring is never an easy task, especially during a pandemic. Dealing with COVID-19 has made finding the right employees much more difficult for many business owners in the construction industry. Now is the perfect time to evaluate your hiring practices to ensure you don’t make a costly hiring mistakes that can affect your Experience Modification Rate (XMOD) and workers’ compensation premium long after the pandemic has passed.

It was not that long ago that our economy was thriving and we had an unemployment rate under 4% in California. Though, due to the shutdown, we have seen that number shoot up as high as 16.4% in April 2020 and settle back down to 11% by September 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). So, while many industries saw massive lay-offs, the construction industry has continued to thrive, at least for the time being. That means many employers are now actively looking for both skilled and non-skilled labor in order to complete existing projects and plan for future contracts that have been awarded. That’s great news for the 11% of the population who are unemployed, but employers should still be cautious about hiring just anyone without utilizing best practices to minimize risk.

In September 2020, Rancho Mesa partnered with Culture Works to offer the “Remote Recruiting & Company Culture Webinar” where they went into detail on the best practices for remote recruiting. Watch an archived version of the webinar to learn practical steps for recruiting employees in today’s economic climate.

Finding the right employee for the job may not be as easy as it used to be. Some skilled workers may not feel comfortable working on a job site, even while safety precautions are being observed. And, others may have been offered higher wages and more benefits at other companies who are also in need of workers. So, employers are really at a disadvantage. They may weigh the benefits and risks of hiring people who are less experienced or those who don’t take job site safety very seriously.

Now is the time to implement best practices when hiring to insulate your company from potential problems. This could mean implementing drug testing, pre-hire physicals, reach out to previous employers for recommendations, and updating your employee handbook to making sure these employees are aware of exactly what the job description is that they are being hired to do and the company’s expectations.

Experience on the job and a history of safety training are indicators that a new hire is a good risk. However, we know that employees over 45 have a 23% higher chance of having a sprain, strain or tear than employees under the age of 45. They also have a 27% higher chance of having a slip, trip or fall according to BLS. This does not mean that you shouldn’t hire workers over 45. It just means that to minimize risk, provide employees with appropriate training. Implement stretch and mobility programs for your workforce to do daily to reduce the exposure.

Rancho Mesa offers clients the Field Mobility & Stretch and ABLE Lifting training that is designed to reduce strains and cumulative trauma claims. Getting your employees prepared for the work day before they pick up their tools is vital in staying ahead of claims and boosts employee morale. The best way to handle workers’ compensation claims is to prevent them from happening.

Knowing your exposure is vital in staying ahead of industry trends. If you have further questions do not hesitate to contact me at (619) 438-6900 or ccraig@ranchomesa.com.