Data from many different sources on the nature and prevalence of work-related injuries, illnesses and deaths can be found in a publication, "Worker Health Chartbook 2000," released by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
The Chartbook provides current statistics on number and types of occupational injuries, illnesses and deaths by year, as well as incidence rates and trends over time.
The statistics are presented in charts, tables and graphs with accompanying text summaries.
The data are grouped according to subject matter, including an overview chapter, individual chapters for fatal and non-fatal injuries and illnesses, and a chapter focusing on mining, the industry with the highest rate of fatal work-related injuries in the United States.
The data comes from many different systems administered by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, NIOSH and other government agencies for monitoring the incidence of occupational injuries, illnesses and deaths.
"For the first time, the Chartbook offers a handy working reference that puts volumes of data at users'' fingertips," said NIOSH Director Linda Rosenstock. "Also by illustrating the fragmentary nature of occupational injury and illness surveillance and showing current gaps in information, the Chartbook presents compelling evidence for the need to improve, coordinated and expand existing surveillance systems.
NIOSH said the Chartbook is designed to be used by anyone interested in occupational safety and health, including occupational safety and health practitioners, legislators and policymakers, health care providers, educators, researchers, workers and employers.
Among the statistics and trends reported in the Chartbook are these:
Occupational injury fatality rates decreased by 43 percent between 1980 and 1995, from 7.5 to 4.3 deaths per 100,000 workers.
In 1997, fatal occupational injuries claimed 6,238 workers or about 17 workers per day. Motor vehicle-related incidents were the leading cause of fatal workplace injury, excluding incidents that occurred while driving to and from work, and homicides were the second leading cause.
The rate of nonfatal work-related injuries declined steadily in the 1990s. Rates in the agriculture, construction, manufacturing and transportation industries were above the average nonfatal occupational injury rate of 6.6 injures per 100 full-time workers in all industries.
Copies of "Worker Health Chartbook 2000" are available electronically on NIOSH''s Web site at www.cdc.gov/niosh/00-127pd.html.
by Virginia Sutcliffe