Today’s issue of WorkCompRecap features the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ recent release of the results of its Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), which found that private industry employers reported 2.8 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2022, up 7.5% from 2021.
The BLS noted that the increase is driven by the rise in both injuries, (up 4.5%) and illnesses (up 26.1%), with the increase in illnesses driven by a rise in respiratory illness cases, up 35.4% to 365,000 cases in 2022. This came after a decrease in respiratory illnesses in 2021 compared to 2020. This year’s release is also the first publication of a new biennial (2-year) case and demographic data series for days of job transfer or restriction (DJTR) and days away from work, job restriction, or transfer (DART). The report examines case characteristics across various factors, including occupation, event or exposure, occupation by event or exposure, and age group.