Tar Heel State’s Workplace Injury and Illness Rate Remains at A Historic Low

Tar Heel State’s Workplace Injury and Illness Rate Remains at A Historic Low – By Erin Wilson, Director of Communications
New figures released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Labor, show the nonfatal workplace injury and illness rate for North Carolina’s private industry remains at a historic low for 2022 with a rate of 2.2 cases per 100 full-time workers. This is significantly lower than the national rate of 2.7. These data are estimates from the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) compiled by the BLS. The rate accounts for growth and contraction in total hours worked in industry, which is an important factor in a state like North Carolina that has experienced significant growth. “I am proud to see the state of North Carolina’s injury and illness rate is significantly lower than the national rate,” Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson said. “I want to commend the employers and employees for their hard work and dedication to workplace safety and health. I will continue to do everything I can as Labor Commissioner to push the importance of safety and health at the workplace and get these injury and
illness rates lowered.”

The 2022 rate for North Carolina’s local government and state government sectors did not significantly change between 2021 and 2022. In North Carolina, the rates for private industry construction and manufacturing also remained statistically unchanged from 2021 to 2022. As a State-Plan state, North Carolina’s Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Division will continue its focus on hazardous industries, such as construction and manufacturing, through its special emphasis programs, by providing free safety training and education, conducting free safety and health consultative visits, and establishing partnerships and alliances with industries. Click here to read the full newsletter from NCDOL.