Cal/OSHA uses the survey data to “refine and strengthen workplace safety and health regulations.”
The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) released California’s 2014 Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illness, showing work-related injuries remain at their lowest level since 2002.
There were 460,000 reportable occupational injury and illness cases in 2014: 265,000 of those cases involved lost work-time (including job transfer and restriction from duty) and 140,000 cases involved days away from work.
“As a whole, the lower work-related injury and illness rates reflect California’s commitment to on-the-job health and safety,” said DIR Director Christine Baker, in a statement. “However, employers in industry sectors that have a disproportionate share of work-related injuries must focus on prevention to further protect the health and safety of employees.”
DIR reports the following key findings from the survey:
- Latino workers experience the highest incidence of occupational injuries for cases involving days away from work. In construction, manufacturing, mining and natural resources, three out of four workers injured on the job and reported days away from work were Latino.
- New hires and young workers in private industry have higher rates of injury with teenagers (ages 16 to 19 years old) losing more days away from work due to injury than all other age groups.
- The largest injury category involving days away from work are sprains, strains and tears.
Survey data is organized by private industry, state government and local government. DIR uses the demographic information to help refine and strengthen regulatory, outreach and education efforts.
