Latest Federal Labor Statistics Show Favorable Industry Incident Trend
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Last week, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the federal government’s clearinghouse for all labor-related data, released its anticipated 2018 workplace injury and illness information. One of the metrics the BLS outlines is incident rates, which represents the number of lost day injuries/illnesses, restricted duty day injuries/illnesses and medical case injuries/illnesses. This year’s ready mixed concrete industry specific incident rate remains unchanged from 2017 at 3.9. (The incidence rates represent the number of injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time workers and were calculated as (N/EH) x 200,000, where N = number of injuries and illnesses, EH = total hours worked by all employees during the calendar year and 200,000 = base for 100 equivalent full-time workers working 40 hours per week, 50 weeks per year.)
Overall, the data shows a steady downward trend as the industry continues to stress safe and healthy work practices, along with added emphasis on training and education. NRMCA, for example, conducts safety courses, safety webinars and is constantly publishing updated safety related training materials. In addition, NRMCA recently launched ThinkFirst, an industry-wide focus dedicated to creating and enhancing a steadfast culture of safe work practices by emphasizing thoughtful and strategic actions throughout operational tasks. Safe operations require an industry’s workforce to ThinkFirst.
Year Incident Rate
2009 5.5
2010 5.0
2011 5.8
2012 4.8
2013 4.4
2014 6.3
2015 4.0
2016 4.1
2017 3.9
2018 3.9
As well, continuing the industry’s downward trend and increase in safety awareness, the total cases with days away from work, job restriction or transfer dropped from 2.7 in 2017 to 2.6 in 2018.
Click here for more information on the BLS and workplace injury/illness data. You may also contact Kevin Walgenback at kwalgenbach@nrmca.org.
