Pennsylvania Workers Compensation Statistics

Pennsylvania Workers Compensation Statistics - 2006

The most recent statistics (2006) from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor reported the following work injury and illness statistics:

• There were 110,657 lost-time work injury and illness cases reported to the Bureau of Workers Compensation.
• There was an 8.2% increase in lost-time work injury and illnesses over 2005 (110,657 vs. 102,259).
• Fatalities increased to 133 from 122 in 2005 and 130 in 2004.
• 54.9% of the 133 fatalities came from Trade, Transportation, & Utilities, Manufacturing & Construction.
• Workers between the ages of 45-49 had the highest rate of work injury or illness - 12.4%, or 13,748 reported cases.
• Workers between the ages of 40-44 had the second highest rate of work injury or illness - 12.1%, or 13,408 reported cases.
• The median age for an injured worker was 41.2.
• The highest rate of fatalities was reported in the 40 to 44-year-old age group.
• Of all reported work injury or illness cases, 68%, or 75,202, were male.
• Of all reported work fatalities, 12 were female.
• Manufacturing, Education & Health, Services, Trade, Transportation & Utilities accounted for over 55.3% of lost-time work injury and illness cases.
• There were 24,101 cases from Trade, Transportation & Utilities (21.8%).
• There were 18,914 cases from Educational & Health Services (17.1%).
• There were 18,136 cases from Manufacturing (16.4%).
• Natural Resources & Mining had the highest injury and illness rate of all major industries.
• Sprains and strains accounted for 43.1% of all reported cases.
• Contusions, crushes, and bruises accounted for 14.4% of all reported cases.
• Injuries to the arms, wrists, hands, fingers, and shoulders accounted for over 32% of all reported cases.
• Back injuries alone accounted for over 17.1% of all reported cases.
• Head injuries accounted for 8.3% of all reported cases.
• Overexertion (lifting, pulling, pushing) accounted for 33.4% of all reported cases, making it the leading cause of injury in 2005.

Pennsylvania Workers Compensation Statistics - 2005

• There were 102,259 lost-time work injury and illness cases reported to the Bureau of Workers Compensation.
• There was a 9.3% increase in lost-time work injury and illnesses over 2004 (102,259 vs. 93,566).
• Fatalities decreased to 122 in 2005 from 130 in 2004.
• Workers between the ages of 45-49 had the highest rate of work injury or illness - 12.4% or 12,681 reported cases.
• Workers between the ages of 40-44 had the second highest rate of work injury or illness - 12.4% or 12,656 reported cases.
• The median age for an injured worker was 41.2.
• Of all reported work injury or illness cases, 65.3% or 66,752 were male.
• Of all reported work fatalities, 10 were female.
• Manufacturing, Education & Health, Services, Trade, Transportation & Utilities accounted for over 57.1% of lost-time work injury and illness cases.
• Natural Resources & Mining had the highest injury and illness rate of all major industries.
• Sprains and strains accounted for 43.5% of all reported cases.
• Contusions, crushes, and bruises accounted for 13.4% of all reported cases.
• Injuries to the arms, wrists, hands, fingers, and shoulders accounted for over 32% of all reported cases.
• Back injuries alone accounted for over 18.5% of all reported cases.
• Overexertion (lifting, pulling, pushing) accounted for 31.3% of all reported cases making it the leading cause of injury in 2005.

For additional statistics related to 2006 work-related injuries and illnesses in Pennsylvania, read Pennsylvania Department of Labor's 2006 Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation and Workplace Safety Annual Report. (Adobe Acrobat Required)