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Ohio Workplace Injury Statistics from the BWC

Mar 29, 2022 Workers' Compensation

If you’ve been injured on the job in Ohio, you are not alone. Each year, more than 100,000 Ohio residents suffer job-related injuries and illnesses according to the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC). In this article, Columbus workers’ compensation lawyer James Malek highlights some more notable workplace injury statistics from the Ohio BWC.

Ohio BWC Survey of Occupational Illnesses and Injuries (SOII)

The Ohio BWC publishes an annual Survey of Occupational Illnesses and Injuries (SOII) that contains data on workplace injuries in the state. The most recent SOII contains data from 2019. Here are some of the most noteworthy facts and figures from the 2019 SOII Summary Report:

1. 2.6 Percent of Workers Got Injured or Sick on the Job

According to the Ohio BWC, 2.6 percent of workers got injured or sick on the job in 2019. This includes workers in the public and private sectors, and it amounts to approximately 110,500 reported cases throughout the year. Of these reported cases, roughly a third (32.7 percent) resulted in the worker missing at least one day from work. This represents “approximately[] a four (4) percent increase in the number of cases involving days away from work . . . in comparison to the previous year.”

2. Healthcare Has the Highest Rate of Job-Related Injuries and Illnesses

The 2019 SOII Summary Report indicates that healthcare and social assistance had the highest rate of job-related injuries and illness out of all private industry sectors. Transportation and warehousing, retail trade, and manufacturing had above-average rates of job-related injuries and illnesses as well:

  • Healthcare and Social Assistance – 3.7 recordable cases per 100 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers
  • Transportation and Warehousing – 3.5 recordable cases per 100 FTE workers
  • Retail Trade – 3.2 recordable cases per 100 FTE workers
  • Manufacturing – 2.8 recordable cases per 100 FTE workers

3. Injury Rates Declined in Some Industries and Increased in Others

While the Ohio BWC reports that the total number of recordable cases decreased from 2018 to 2019, some industries saw increases while others saw declines:

  • Industries with Declining Injury and Illness Rates – Arts, Entertainment and Recreation; Construction; Manufacturing; Wholesale Trade
  • Industries with Increasing Injury and Illness Rates – Education Services; Healthcare and Social Assistance; Mining; Retail Trade; Transportation

4. Nearly a Third of All Job-Related Injuries are Sprains, Strains and Tears

The Ohio BWC’s data indicate that nearly a third of all reported job-related injuries (32.8 percent) in 2019 were sprains, strains and tears. Fractures were the next most-common injury (12.7 percent), followed by soreness and pain (10.7 percent), bruises and contusions (9.3 percent), and cuts and lacerations (8.1 percent).

5. Slips, Trips and Falls are the Most Common Job-Related Accidents Resulting in Time Missed from Work

Slips, trips and falls accounted for 27.9 percent of all reported workplace injuries resulting in days missed from work in 2019. This was followed closely by overexertion (25.0 percent) and contact with objects (24.6 percent). Vehicle collisions accounted for 9.5 percent of all reported workplace injuries in Ohio in 2019.

Do You Need a Columbus Workers’ Compensation Lawyer?

If you have been injured or gotten sick on the job in Ohio, you may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. To discuss your legal rights with a Columbus workers’ compensation lawyer in confidence, please call 888-444-7440 or request a free consultation online today.

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