Topeka, KS – The Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL), in conjunction with the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), recently released its 2015 nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses data through the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses. Workers in private industries reported an estimated 28,100 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in Kansas in 2015 which decreased from 32,600 cases in 2014.
The survey produces estimates of annual counts and incident rates on nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses of Kansas employers as well as case circumstances and worker characteristics for cases that involve days away from work. Data are collected from a sample of over 3,500 Kansas employers each year. Other statistics involving the private sector include:
- Nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses among private industry employers in Kansas had a rate of 3.0 cases per 100 equivalent full-time workers. This compares to the national number for 2015 at 3.0 cases per 100 equivalent full-time workers.
- Kansas had a total of 6,580 cases involving injuries and/or illnesses that required days away from work. The median number of days away from work was seven days and 24.9 percent of these cases involved 31 or more days away from work.
- The majority of cases, 47.1 percent, that involved days away from work for which the time of the incident was reported occurred between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. The 4 p.m. to midnight shift accounted for 19.8 percent and the midnight to 8 a.m. shift accounted for 14.7 percent of the cases.
- Workers aged 35-44 accounted for 22.3 percent of cases with days away from work, followed by the age groups of 45-54 with 22.0 percent and 55-64 with 20.1 percent.
- Men accounted for 61.6 percent of all days away from work cases in Kansas.
KDOL provides a variety of services to assist in reducing workplace injuries including free, confidential consultations for businesses. By using the consultation program, employers can identify potential hazards at their work sites, improve safety and health management practices and qualify for exemptions from routine Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspections.
For more information regarding this survey, please visit http://www.bls.gov/iif. You may also visit the KDOL Labor Market Information Services website.
Source: KDOL