Ep. 586 Bureau of Labor Statistics Releases 2023-2024 Occupational Injury/Illness Data

Rancho Mesa’s Alyssa Burley and Client Technology Specialist, Brenda Colby sit down to talk about the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ recently released occupational injury and illness data for 2023-2024.

Show Notes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to Rancho Mesa's Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠

Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Alyssa Burley

Guest: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Brenda Colby

Editor: Jadyn Brandt

Music: "Home" by JHS Pedals, “Breaking News Intro” by nem0production

© Copyright 2025. Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc. All rights reserved.

Transcript

Alyssa Burley: You’re listening to Rancho Mesa’s StudioOne™ podcast, where each week we break down complex insurance and safety topics to help your business thrive.  I’m your host, Alyssa Burley, and I’m joined by Brenda Colby, Client Technology Specialist with Rancho Mesa, and we’re going to talk about the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ recently released occupational injury and illness data for 2023-2024.

Brenda, welcome to the show.

Brenda Colby: Happy to be here, Alyssa.

AB: Well, we’re happy you’re here.

So, with the BLS releasing their most recent data on occupational injuries and illnesses, employers have some new insight on areas to focus on in order to prevent future incidents. So, let’s first talk about what the data shows. Brenda, will you break down some of the numbers for us?

BC: Absolutely. So in 2024, private industry employers reported 2.5 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses. And that’s a big number, but it’s actually down 3.1 percent from 2023. And there’s more positive news: This is also the lowest number of employer-reported injuries and illnesses since 2003.

AB: That’s great news. It’s a trend that we hope continues. So, what does the data tell us about specific injury types?

BC: Well, the bureau also looked at cases over a two-year period from 2023 to 2024. And 1.8 million cases involved time away from work and on average resulted in a median of 8 days off of the job. And 1.1 million resulted in cases that involved job transfer or restriction, with a median of 15 days of transfer or restriction reported. And, over the same two-year period, overexertion and repetitive motion were the most common causes of injury that resulted in days away from work, job transfer, or restriction.

AB: Okay, so even though we’re seeing fewer injuries overall, the injuries we are seeing are causing employees to still be away from work for one-and-half to three weeks. Brenda, what can employers do to mitigate losses and help prevent the most common causes of workplace injury?

BC: Well 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, maintain consistency, and strengthen employee morale.

Also, 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.

AB: Right, and investing in ergonomic equipment and training can also help reduce the likelihood of preventable injuries. Now that we’ve looked at the data and how employers can respond, let’s talk about the ways Rancho Mesa can help. Will you talk about some of the resources we offer our clients to help get their employees back to work safely?

BC: 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 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. And while an employee is on modified duty, online safety trainings 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. And, professional development trainings can also be utilized in the RM365 HRAdvantage portal.

AB: Okay, so Brenda, if listeners have questions about using the SafetyOne platform or the HR portal, what’s the best way to get in contact with you?

BC: As always, clients can contact me at bcolby@ranchomesa.com or call me directly at (619) 486-6562.

AB: Brenda, thank you for joining me in StudioOne.

BC: Thanks for having me.

AB: Thanks for tuning in to our latest episode produced by StudioOne. If you enjoyed what you heard, please share this episode and subscribe. For more insights like this, visit us at ranchomesa.com and subscribe to our weekly newsletter.