Baton Rouge, LA – Non-fatal work-related injuries and illnesses in Louisiana’s private sector fell to the lowest level in more than a decade in 2012, the latest federal Bureau of Labor Statistics survey shows.
Louisiana ranked second in the nation for the rate of non-fatal work-related injuries and illnesses. Louisiana’s rate dropped to an estimated 2.3 incidents per 100 full-time workers, down from 2.5 the previous year. The national average for the year was 3.4.
“Private sector employers are doing the right things to make Louisiana safer for workers,” said Curt Eysink, executive director of the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
Soon, safety improvement may save Louisiana employers money. The National Council on Compensation Insurance in October filed documents with the state Department of Insurance suggesting that workers’ compensation rates be reduced by 5.1 percent overall in 2014 because workers’ compensation claims fell in 2011.
Louisiana’s injury and illness incident rate improved in multiple industry sectors, according to the latest BLS survey. The most improved sector was administrative and support, and waste management and remediation services, which reduced its rate by 1.2 from the previous year. Other industry sectors with notable over-the-year improvements included:
- Real estate and rental and leasing, down 0.9 incidents per 100 full-time workers;
- Mining, down 0.7;
- Information, down 0.7;
- Health care and social assistance, down 0.7;
- Management of companies and enterprises, down 0.6;
- Accommodation and food services, down 0.4.
Source: LWC