Rate of Virginia Workplace Injuries Up in 2010

The rate of workplace injuries increased in 2010 in Virginia, but still remains below the national rate.

The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk said a state Department of Labor and Industry report released last Thursday shows that there were 3.3 nonfatal injuries or illnesses per 100 full-time workers. That’s up from a rate of 3.1 in 2009.

The rates for public and private workers in Virginia were lower than the nationwide rates. The rate for private workers was 3.1, compare to the national average of 3.5. The rate for government workers was 4.1, compared with 5.7 nationwide.

The transportation industry experienced the highest rate in Virginia, at 5.5, in the private sector.