North Carolina workplace injury rate: lower than national average

It is not exactly breaking news to note that the federal government often moves slowly. A few days ago, the U.S. Department of Labor released a report on North Carolina workplace injuries in 2016. While some might dismiss the data as dated, the numbers help us to understand where our state stands in relation to other states on some important safety matters.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics report says there were more than 71,000 nonfatal workplace injuries reported in North Carolina private industry in 2016. When analysts divide the number of workers statewide by the number of injuries, they arrive at an injury rate of 2.5 per 100,000 full-time workers.

That incidence rate is significantly lower than the national average of 2.9, the bureau pointed out.

Of the 71,500 injury and illness cases reported statewide in 2016, more than 37,000 were serious, requiring the employee to miss days of work or need a job transfer or restriction on job duties.

About 18,600 North Carolina private industry workers had to miss work due to injuries or illness and about 19,000 required job restrictions or had to be transferred.

So private industry employees were safer than the national average, but what about state workers and local government employees? They, too, sustained fewer work-related injuries and illnesses, the Bureau of Labor Statistics says.

The injury rate for state and local government workers was 3.6 cases per 100,000 full-time workers. The national average is significantly higher with a rate of 4.7.

It’s clear that North Carolina is making strides on workplace safety. Unfortunately, some workers here are still denied deserved and earned workers’ compensation benefits.

A skilled Charlotte work comp attorney can help you fight for the medical care and wage replacement you need. Contact Ayers, Whitlow & Dressler for more information.