WASH. WORKERS CONTINUE SAFETY TREND

Washington workers suffered slightly fewer injuries and illnesses in 2000 than they did in the previous year, according to survey results released by the Washington Department of Labor and Industries. The continuing drop in the numbers means that Washington workplaces were almost 25 percent safer in 2000 than they were in the early 1990s. Despite the continuing improvement, however, Washington workers still suffer job-related injuries and illnesses at a higher rate than the national average. The survey showed that 8.3 out of every 100 full-time workers in Washington suffered a job-related injury or illness in 2000. This rate was as high as 11.3 in 1992. Since that time, there has been a continuous trend of steady improvement. The national rate—which includes only private-sector employees—was 6.1 per 100 full-time workers in 2000. Washington’s private-sector rate was 8.5. per 100 full-time workers. Overall, 3.5 per 100 Washington workers were seriously enough injured or became ill enough to require time off from work or modified duties to recover. All major industries except the finance, insurance and real estate reported improved numbers in 2000. In construction, for instance, the injury and illness rate dropped from 15.0 in 1999 to 14.4 in 2000.