Minnesota's estimated workplace injury and illness rate for 2014 decreased to its lowest rate since measurement started in 1973. According to the annual Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, the state had an estimated 3.7 OSHA-recordable nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time-equivalent (FTE) workers in 2014. This is down from the estimated rate of 3.9 cases per 100 FTE workers in both 2013 and 2012, and below the previous low rate of 3.8 cases per 100 FTE workers in 2009.
The survey estimated the number of Minnesota's OSHA-recordable nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses to be 78,700 for 2014, down from 81,200 for 2013, but above the low mark of 75,400 cases in 2011.
"In the past decade, Minnesota has seen a 30 percent decrease in its rate of work-related injuries and illnesses," said Ken Peterson, Department of Labor and Industry commissioner. "While this is good news overall, there is still much work to do to improve workplace safety and health to ensure more workers go home safe and healthy each night."
Minnesota's employment covered by the survey increased from 2.58 million in 2013 to 2.63 million in 2014.
For the survey, DLI collects injury and illness records from randomly sampled Minnesota employers in the private and public sectors (excluding federal agencies). Approximately 4,800 employers participated in the 2014 survey. State agencies and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) compile the nationwide survey data, which is the primary source of workplace injury and illness statistics at the state and national levels.
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Nationally, an estimated 3,675,800 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses were reported in private- and public-sector workplaces for 2014, resulting in a rate of 3.2 cases per 100 FTE workers.
Other results from the Minnesota survey
The 2014 Minnesota survey estimated 38,400 injuries and illnesses resulting in days away from work, job transfer or restrictions after the day of injury. The rate of these cases was 1.8 per 100 FTE workers, unchanged from 2013.
An estimated 1.0 cases per 100 FTE workers in 2014 led to one or more days away from work after the day of injury, also unchanged from 2013.
The industry divisions with the highest total injury and illness rates were agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (5.5 cases per 100 FTE workers); transportation and warehousing (5.5); and health care and social assistance (5.3).
