RJ and Makay

For the first time, the number of injuries and illnesses requiring days away from work was at a higher rate among public workers than those in the private sector, reported the U.S. government. The rate among local and state government workers was 180 to 185 cases per 10,000 full-time workers compared to 106 cases for private companies.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that the overall number of reported nonfatal occupational injury and illness cases requiring days away from work to recuperate fell by 9% to 1,238,490 cases in 2009 for private industry, state government and local government. The total incidence rate decreased by 5% in 2009 to 117 per 10,000 full-time workers.