Wyoming Occupational Injury Rates Decline

The rate of nonfatal occupational injury and illnesses in Wyoming is on the decline, according to a Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses conducted by the Wyoming Department of Employment, Research and Planning, under contract to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor.

The report indicated that the illness incidence rate fell from 5.8 per 100 full-time employees among private industry employers in 2005 to 4.8 per 100 employees in 2006. The highest incidence rates were in manufacturing-related industries.

Wood product manufacturing had the highest rate at 15.5 per 100 employees, yet the report indicated the number employees in this sector is relatively small. Private sector hospitals had the second highest injury and illness rate, with 11.2 per 100 employees, followed by food manufacturing at 11.1 per 100 employees, then nursing and residential care facilities at 10.5.

The rates among goods-producing industry sectors, including agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, mining, construction and manufacturing, declined by 2.6 cases, and the rate for service-providing industries fell by 0.2 cases per 100 full-time employees compared to the rates reported for 2005, the report indicated.

Six of the service-providing industries increased incidence rates compared to the previous year, including transportation and warehousing (8.0 rate); utilities (4.4 rate); information (2.7 rate); health care and social assistance (6.4 rate); arts, entertainment and recreation (3.8 rate); and other services except public administration (4.7 rate).

For more information, visit www.doe.state.wy.us.