Job-Related Injuries, Illness Data Released

April 21, 2000
Musculoskeletal disorder "keep hanging on as a leading cause of workplace injuries and illnesses, according to Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman.

In a statement yesterday Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Alexis M. Herman said work-related musculoskeletal disorders "keep hanging on as a leading cause of workplace injuries and illnesses, like the proverbial junkyard dog that bites a leg and wont let go."

Her comments come after job-related injuries and illnesses data was released. According to the DOL, nearly 600,000 musculoskeletal disorders were reported in 1998.

"That's more than one-third of all injuries and illnesses that resulted in a lost workday, a ratio that has remained the same since 1992," Herman commented.

At the same time, total lost workday injuries and illnesses continued to decline, with 100,000 fewer workers suffering an occupational injury or illness in 1998 than in 1997.

Despite this progress, 1.7 million workers suffered injuries that caused them to take time away from work.

"We must continue to reduce occupational injuries and illnesses; we must resolve to send every worker home whole and healthy every day," said Herman.

More information about injury and illness data can be found at the DOL Web site at www.dol.gov.

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EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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