Every year, the Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers’ Compensation and Department of Labor & Industry compiles reports of fatal and non-fatal injuries and illnesses involving workers across the state. The most recent statistics available are from 2011.
The lawyers of Shor & Levin, P.C., present the following information based on these statistics to help you put your own work injury or illness into context.
For more information about the legal aspects of a workplace injury or illness, including your right to workers’ compensation benefits, please contact us. We provide free case reviews.
BY THE DECADE
As you can see, PA workplaces have gradually become safer through the years:
| Year | 2011 | 2001 | 1991 | 1981 | 1971 |
| Reported non-fatal cases | 83,144 | 90,405 | 145,667 | 141,266 | 94,000 |
| Reported fatalities | 110 | 134 | 183 | 272 | 583 |
BY THE INDUSTRY
Reported injuries in 2011:
| Industry | Injuries |
| Trade, Transportation & Utilities | 18,773 |
| Educational & Health Services | 18,473 |
| Manufacturing | 10,887 |
| Professional & Business Services | 8,079 |
| Public Administration | 7,513 |
| Construction | 6,247 |
| Leisure & Hospitality Services | 5,437 |
| Financial Activities | 2,439 |
| Other Services | 2,403 |
| Information | 995 |
| Natural Resources & Mining | 835 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Hunting & Fishing | 654 |
BY THE INJURY OR ILLNESS
The most commonly reported injuries and illnesses in 2011 (totals and percentage of total)
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| Injury/illness type | Cases | Pct. |
| Sprain & Strain | 37,478 | 45.1 |
| Contusion, Crushing & Bruise | 12,520 | 15.1 |
| Cut, Laceration & Puncture | 8,551 | 10.3 |
| Fracture | 5,620 | 6.8 |
| Occupational Disease | 1,911 | 2.3 |
| Burns (Heat & Chemical) | 1,586 | 1.9 |
| Amputation & Loss of Use | 362 | 0.4 |
BY THE CAUSE
The most commonly reported causes of injuries in the workplace in 2011 (totals and percentage of total)
| Cause | Cases | Pct. |
| Overexertion | 24,948 | 30.0 |
| Struck By | 12,915 | 15.5 |
| Fall on Same Level | 10,804 | 13.0 |
| Bodily Reaction | 9,142 | 11.0 |
| Struck Against | 6,511 | 7.8 |
| Fall from Elevation | 3,453 | 4.2 |
| Caught In, Under or Between | 3,338 | 4.0 |
| Highway Motor Accident | 2,952 | 3.6 |
BY THE BODY PART
Parts of the body most commonly affected by workplace injuries in 2011 (totals and percentage of total)
Body Systems
| Body Part | Cases | Pct. |
| Upper Extremities (shoulder, arm, wrist, hand, finger) |
27,364 | 32.9 |
| Lower Extremities (hip, leg, knee, ankle, foot, toe) |
20,106 | 24.2 |
| Trunk (back, chest, abdomen) | 18,906 | 22.7 |
| Head (eye, face, skull) | 7,091 | 8.5 |
| Multiple Parts | 6,956 | 8.4 |
| Neck | 2,058 | 2.5 |
| 565 | 0.7 |