Workers' comp report shows spike in new hire injuries
Sprains, strains, lacerations and contusions make up most of the injuries reported during the study period.
The number of new hires getting hurt on the job increased from 2017 to 2022, according to the latest flash report from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI).
Focusing on 8.4 million non-COVID-19 claims across 31 states, the data showed an upward trend in workplace injuries beginning before the pandemic and accelerating during the pandemic years, with more than half of all injuries happening the first two years of employment and another third occurring in one year or less.
Meanwhile, five industries accounted for nearly three out of the four workplace injuries including wholesale and retail trade making up 21% of the injuries; manufacturing at 17%; services at 13%; health care and social assistance at 11%; and transportation, warehousing and utilities at 10% of the reported injuries.
The WCRI said sprains, strains, lacerations and contusions accounted for nearly two-thirds of all injuries. Meanwhile, the relative frequency of non-spine sprains and strains increased in the distribution of injury types, with spinal injuries, hand lacerations and inflammations decreasing.
“There were differences in injury types by age, gender, and industry,” the WCRI said. “Upper extremity fractures were concentrated in construction and manufacturing, while upper extremity neurologic injuries were more common among clerical, professional, and manufacturing workers, compared with the overall claim population.”
Work-related injuries occurred more frequently in workers under 25 and over 55, according to the report.
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