1997 Lost-Worktime Injuries: Characteristics and Resulting Time Away from Work — 1999-04-22

A total of 1.8 million injuries and illnesses that required recuperation away from work beyond the day of the incident were reported in private industry workplaces during 1997, according to a survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U. S. Department of Labor. Such cases have declined in all occupations from 1993 through 1997. (Table A presents the number of injuries and illnesses requiring recuperation away from work in the past 5 years for the 10 occupations that accounted for nearly one-third of such cases in 1997.) Truck drivers experienced the largest number of injuries and illnesses with time away from work in all 5 years. Although the overall number of these injuries and illnesses declined by nearly 50,000 cases from 1996 to 1997, injuries and illnesses for three occupations--construction laborers, carpenters, and welders and cutters--increased. Table A.