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Workplace injuries, illnesses increase slightly in Texas

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Worker injuries and illnesses in Texas increased slightly in 2018, with sprains, strains and tears causing the majority of recordable workplace injuries, according to a report released Thursday by the Texas Department of Workers Compensation.

Private employers recorded 177,977 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in the state in 2018, reported the DWC based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Of these, nearly 30% were serious injuries that required days away from work, with a median of nine days away for these types of injuries in 2018.

In 2018, 51,250 nonfatal injuries required days away from work, a slight uptick from 2017, which reported 48,490 of such injuries, said the report. The service-producing industry reported the highest number of days away from work due to injuries and illnesses, with a rate of 58.6 incidents per 10,000 full-time equivalent workers, followed by the goods-producing industry, which includes mining, manufacturing and construction. Injury and illness rates declined for employers engaged in business and financial operations; architecture and engineering; health care support; and installation, maintenance, and repair, according to the report.

Occupations in arts, design, entertainment, sports and media experienced the greatest number of median days away from work at 175, an increase of seven days from 2017.

Of the injuries and illnesses recorded in 2018, 17,440 were due to sprains, strains and tears, followed by soreness and pain (7,610 cases), fractures (5,970) and cuts, lacerations and punctures (4,180).

Two age groups also reported statistically significant increases across all industry sectors, according to the Texas DWC, with injuries sustained by workers increasing from 1,340 in 2017 to 1,810 in 2018 for workers aged 16 to 19, increased from 8,190 in 2017 to 9,670 in 2018 for workers aged 55 to 64.

 

 

 

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