Baton Rouge, LA – The rate of work-related injuries and illnesses among Louisiana’s private sector employers improved in 2015 to the best level in 14 years, according to a federal Bureau of Labor Statistics survey.
The survey showed Louisiana improved to 1.9 incidents per 100 full-time workers, down from 2.0 in 2014. The national average was 3.0. Louisiana ranked first among 41 participating states, trailing only the District of Columbia for the rate of non-fatal, workplace-related injuries and illnesses. Louisiana has continuously been below the national average since the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration revised its record-keeping rules in 2002.
“Louisiana consistently ranks as one of the best in the nation for worker safety, an amazing statistic given the prevalence of high-risk occupations in our state,” said LWC Executive Director Ava Dejoie. “While I congratulate our Office of Workers’ Compensation Administration and our OSHA consultation team for their outstanding work, we recognize that the efforts to improve safety continue until we reach zero incidents.”
Workers’ compensation rates in Louisiana are set to decline for the fourth consecutive year, according to the Louisiana Department of Insurance. The National Council of Compensation Insurance has recommended a reduction of an additional 9.8 percent for 2017.
The state’s injury and illness rate showed improvement in multiple industry sectors. Among the leaders:
- Real estate and rental and leasing: Down 0.9 incidents per 100 full-time workers from 2014.
- Retail Trade – Down 0.6 incidents per 100 workers.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services – Down 0.5 incidents per 100 workers.
- Management of companies and enterprises: Down 0.4 incidents per 100 workers.
- Transportation and warehousing – Down 0.4 incidents per 100 workers.
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction – Down 0.3 incidents per 100 workers.
- Manufacturing – Down 0.3 incidents per 100 workers.
“The mission of the Louisiana Workforce Commission is to put people to work,” said Sheral Kellar, Director of Office of Workers’ Compensation Administration. “It is easier to accomplish our mission when we have a safe work environment for both the employee and the employer.”
Source: LWC