Workers Compensation Insurance Statistics, Guide & Facts

Latest Workers Comp Statistics & Facts

Examining the latest available statistics and facts about workers compensation insurance across the United States provides interesting insight into the workplace, the workforce, and how and why people end up hurt on the job. Take a look here at some of the most telling data we've been able to gather.

Workplace Fatalities Statistics

The Bureau of Labor Statistics releases annual reports on workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities. For the latter, the most recent full report has data from 2014, and is published online by the BLS in this PDF. Here are some takeaways:

• 2014 had the highest number of fatal work injuries in the United States since 2008, with 4,821. The figure is 5% higher than the 2013 figure.
• Overall though, the trend is that workplace fatalities are way down. In the past 20+ years, the highest figure was in 1994, with 6,632. In 2,000, the figure dropped into the 5's, and has been more or less steadily dropping since.
• It's also important to look not only at overall numbers, but at the rate. In 2014, there were 3.4 fatal workplace injuries per 100,000 full-time workers. This number has also been going down over the years. In 2006, it was at 4.2.

So what types of accidents led to fatal occupational injuries?

• Roadway incidents represent the most, at 24%
• Other transportation incidents tally 17%
• Falls, slips and trips collectively account for 17%, with 14% being falls to lower level
• Violence by persons or animals is 16%, with 8% being homicides and 7% being classified as "other"
• Contact with objects and equipment is 15%, with 10% of that being struck by object or equipment
• Explore to harmful substances and environments is 8%
• Fires and explosions 3%

The data can then be further divided. For example, the transportation incidents category can be divided into roadway collision with other vehicles, other roadway collisions, pedestrian vehicular incidents, non-roadway incidents, aircraft incidents, water vehicle incidents, rail vehicle incidents.

Three more interesting notes:

1. While men work 57% of hours in the country, 92% of workplace fatal injuries were to men.
2. There's also an age disparity. The overall rate of 3.4 per 100,000 is less than 3.0 for all age groups under 45, then skyrockets to 10.7 for the 65 and older demographic.
3. The construction industry had the most fatal injuries, with 899. But the highest rate is the industry of agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, at 25.6 fatal injuries per 100,000 workers.

Workplace Injuries Statistics

Now let's move into the categories of nonfatal occupational injury and illness incidences. This is published in a separate report, and is also available from BLS.Gov. (PDF)

• In 2014, the overall rate was 3.2 per 100 full-time employees. This has been steadily decreasing as well. Just a decade ago, in 2003, the figure was 5.0.
• The trend is seen in businesses of all sizes, except small businesses of 1-10 employees, which is much more variable but also sees lower numbers of between 1.5 and 1.8 in the last five years.
• When dividing by sectors, private industry has the lowest rate, 3.2, followed by state government, 4.1, and then local government, 5.4.

A second published report from the BLS (PDF), based on the same data, also offers additional insight.

• 95.1% of injuries and illnesses are indeed injuries.
• The most common illnesses are skin diseases, hearing loss, respiratory conditions.
• The health care and social assistance field actually has the most nonfatal injuries and illnesses, with 575,000. This is followed by manufacturing, with 440.5k.
• But you have to consider the rate, and the number of employees in a field. The highest rate is the same industry which has the highest fatality rate, agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, here at 5.5 per 100. The next highest is transportation and warehousing at 4.8.
• Still surprisingly, health care and social assistance is third on this list, at 4.5.
• Meanwhile, while looking strictly at illnesses, manufacturing is by far the leader, with 35 per 10,000, followed again by agriculture, at 31.1, then again, health care and social assistance, at 27.6
• While private industry accounts for 86.3% of all employment, it accounts for 80.3% of workplace injuries and illnesses.
• Local government is 10.3% of employment, but 15.2% of workplace injuries.
• State government is 3.4% of employment, and 4.4% of workplace injuries.
• For local government, consider the types of employees who quality. The two highest local government injury rates are for fire protection, 12.1 per 100, and police protection, 10.6 per 100.

Most Common Types of Injuries Claimed by Workers Comp

It's also intriguing to look at some of the most common types of injuries. Keep in mind the categories for these injuries are sometimes rather broad or odd seeming, but that's how they're defined:

• Overexertion - This is always the number one workplace injury. One study found this accounts for 25% of all spending in the country on workers compensation claims.
• Slips, Trips and Falls- This is another broad category. But it is separate from "fall to lower level", which is described above as one of the leading forms of workplace fatal injury. Falls to lower level are also prominent as non-fatal injuries, but slips, trips and falls to same level are more prevalent.
• Bodily Reaction - Injuries which result from slipping or tripping, but not technically falling. Think about spraining your ankle or pulling a hamstring.
• Struck by or against object - Also separate categories, being struck by an object is more common, whereas struck against an object is also common.
• Highway Incidents - Vehicle accidents while conducting business. Roadway incidents and transpiration are a leading cause of workplace death, and are also prevalent here.
• Machinery Accidents - Machinery that malfunctions or otherwise injures a person when he or she is using it.
• Repetitive Motion - More of a chronic injury than a specific and highly dangerous incident, this can be everything from carpal tunnel to back pain.
• Assaults and Violence - Just as homicides were included in one of the leading causes of workplace fatal incidents, so are assaults a leading form of workplace injury.

How Workers Compensation Insurance is Different From One State to the Next

Workers comp insurance is different in different states. Each state has the power to set its own regulations, and this has a large impact on both the employer who may need to obtain workers compensation, and the employee who may be looking to file a claim or be protected.

One of the chief ways in which workers comp changes in different states is the number of employees which acts as the minimum size before an employer must legally obtain workers compensation insurance. In some states, there's no minimum number, meaning every business must have it.

Other states fine-tune their laws based upon prominent industries in their region. For example, when signing up for Florida workers comp insurance, you'll see that they have specific guidelines for the agricultural industry, and specifically reference temporary and seasonal employees as well.

Meanwhile for Tennessee workers compensation, they have guidelines based around the coal mining industry. Both states wisely adapt their regulations based upon what's actually taking place within their borders.

Getting Started with an Online Workers Comp Insurance Quote

Work with a provider who wants to help you protect yourself and your business, while still helping you find a great deal. Look into getting a no hassle, no obligation free workers comp quote online, before making any commitment.

Keep in mind that your requirements or needs will vary depending on what state or states your business is located in. Also keep in mind all of those above statistics, injuries and even fatalities on the job are more common than we'd like to think, and workers comp insurance coverage plays an important role in many industries today.