STRAINS, SPRAINS LEAD WORK INJURIES

According to the 2001 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Annual Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, conducted in cooperation with the Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission (TWCC), strains and sprains were the leading nature of lost-time injuries in every major industry division in Texas. Many of these strains and sprains were to the back, which was the body part most affected by work incidents in most industries. The BLS Annual Survey also examines the events leading to injuries and illnesses. The event attributing to the highest number of lost time occupational injuries and illnesses was overexertion followed by contact with objects and equipment. Regarding occupation groups, truck drivers had the highest number of lost-time injuries and illnesses, followed by construction laborers. The study found that in 2001, the median number of lost workdays for all cases in Texas decreased to nine days from 10 days in 2000. The most severe natures of injury were carpal tunnel syndrome (39 median days), fractures (28 days), and amputations (28 days). The most severely affected body parts were the knee (18 days), and neck (15 days). The leading event, with a median of 23 lost workdays, was repetitive motion, followed by assaults and violent acts (21 days).

Topics Texas