California’s nonfatal worker injuries, illnesses remain low

California’s overall incidence rate of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses remained steady at 3.7 cases per 100 workers for full-time employees, the lowest rate in over a decade, according to data from California’s Department of Industrial Relations.

This rate is slightly lower than the 3.8 cases per 100 workers reported last year.

California reported over 466,000 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2016. 78% of these injuries and illnesses occurred in private industry and 22% in state and local government sectors, the department said Wednesday in a statement.

The industry with the highest rate of days away from work in 2016 were cleaning and maintenance workers with 284 cases per 10,000 workers. Workers that perform installation and repairs had the second-highest rate at 252 cases, and construction had the third-highest rate at 243 cases, according to the department.

“California continues to use research like this survey to refine and strengthen workplace safety and health regulations, training materials, and outreach and education efforts for employers and workers,” Christine Baker, San Francisco-based DIR director, said in a statement.