Public Sector Injuries Down in Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Department of Labor is reporting a decrease in the illness and injury rate among public sector employers in the state.

The agency reported that Oklahoma has seen a 44 percent decrease over the past 15 years following a targeted enforcement program on public sector employers, who have an incidence rate above the state’s average.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics says public sector employees in the U.S. have more work-related injuries and illnesses than the private sector.

The average incident rate from the bureau’s national survey is 5.2 injuries per 100 workers. The Oklahoma Labor Department says the state’s rate dropped from 4.3 in 2013 to 4.0 in 2014. The average rate for municipal employers in Oklahoma was 8.5, while the average for county government was 4.4.