How Many People File Workers Comp Cases?
How Many People File Workers Comp Cases?
Every year new technologies are developed to help keep workers safer and healthier – which should also help reduce the number of workers compensation claims. Stricter environmental guidelines and tougher OSHA regulations are also aimed at preventing harm to workers and decreasing related workers compensation claims.
In this article our experienced Orange County Workers Compensation lawyers take a look at the data to see if better technologies and stricter safety and environmental laws have made a difference.
Statistics on How Many People File for Workers Comp
California’s Department of Industrial Relations announced this year that data collected through the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses showed that the overall rate of workplace injuries and illnesses was the lowest it has been in the last 10 years.
The California Workers Comp Bureau also reports that the rate of nonfatal occupational injury and illness cases they are handling has dropped steadily.
In 2002, the earliest year included in the study, the injury and illness rate for California workers was 6 cases per every 100 full time workers. In 2007 the total number or recorder workers compensation cases dropped to 4.8 per every 100 full time workers in California.
In 2015 the rate fell further to 3.8 workers compensation cases per 100 full-time employees, and then lowered slightly more to 3.7 in 2016.
What Type of Workers File for Workers Comp the Most?
In terms of numbers, the Labor Bureau has stated that approximately 466,600 nonfatal injuries and illnesses were caused in 2016 in the workplace. Of these, 78%, were employees who worked in the private sector, while 22% of the nonfatal cases were state and local government employees.
Occupations with Most Workers Comp Cases
Cleaning and maintenance workers (inside buildings and outside) have injuries causing the highest rate of cases involving days away from work – with a rate of 284.2 cases per 10,000 workers. Installation and repair workers also suffer 251.9 cases per 10,000 workers – followed by and construction and extraction occupations that have workers comp rates of 242.7 per 10,000 workers.
Surprisingly, protective service and public safety occupations – including firefighters, police officers, corrections workers and private security guards are “in the middle” – with an average rate of 80.6 nonfatal injuries & illnesses per 10,000 workers.
Occupations with Least Workers Comp Cases
Computer and mathematical jobs experience the lowest rate of days away from work due to workplace injury, with only 5.2 cases of days off work per 10,000 workers. And employees in legal occupations had the second-lowest rate, with only 10.6 cases of days off work per 10,000 employees.
Best Orange County Workers Comp Lawyers
No matter what profession you are in, our experienced Orange County workers comp lawyers have decades of experience helping disabled workers in your occupation. We have helped thousands of injured men and women in Orange County and across Southern California obtain the workers comp benefits they deserve. Call us for a free consultation and see how our skilled and compassionate workers comp lawyers can help you.
