BLS: State, local government employee injury rate tops private sector

Employees of state and local governments have a higher injury rate than workers in private industry, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report released Feb. 24.

In 2008, state and local employees experienced an incidence rate of 170 nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses per 10,000 full-time workers. The rate for private industry was 113.

Other report highlights:

• Of the 227,680 on-the-job injuries and illnesses that occurred among state and local employees in 2008, 50 percent occurred in service occupations -- more than double the percentage that occurred among service workers in private industry (22 percent).
• Local government workers accounted for 15 percent of the 1.4 million days away from work cases reported by state, local and private industry combined -- nearly double their 9 percent share of employment.
• Falls on the same level occurred among local government workers at a rate of 36 per 10,000 full-time workers -- more than twice that of private industry (17 percent).