The 2015 Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation and Workplace Safety Annual Report – Work Injuries By Industry, Part 1

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania recently released the 2015 Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation and Workplace Safety Annual Report (the “Report”). This blog summarizes the Report’s data on work injuries and their occurrence by industry. Because federal employees, maritime workers, and railroad workers in interstate commerce are covered under their respective federal workers’ compensation programs, their injuries and illnesses are not included in the statistics of the Report.

*With the exception of agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting, the predominant injury type, injury cause, and affected body part in the industries covered in this blog is a sprain or strain to the upper extremities caused by overexertion.

*The predominant injury type, injury cause, and affected body part of the agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting industry is a sprain or strain to the upper extremities as a result of being struck by a flying or falling object.

*With the exception of leisure and hospitality workers, agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting industry workers have the youngest median age of those injured.

Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting: 942 Injuries

• Most frequent type of injury: sprains and strains: 298 injuries, 31.6%.
• Body part affected most often: upper extremities: 316 injuries, 33.5%.
• Most frequent cause of injury: struck by: 218 injuries, 23.1%.
• Median age of injured workers: 37.1.
• County with the most injured workers: Chester.
• Lackawanna County: 0 injuries
• Luzerne County: 1 injury
• Wayne County: 1 injury
• Wyoming County: 9 injuries

Mining: 1,075 Injuries

• Most frequent type of injury: sprains and strains: 421 injuries, 39.2%.
• Body part affected most often: upper extremities: 364 injuries, 33.9%.
• Most frequent cause of injury: overexertion: 267 injuries, 24.8%.
• Median age of injured workers: 39.6.
• County with the most injured workers: Bedford.
• Lackawanna County: 2 injuries
• Luzerne County: 18 injuries
• Wayne County: 0 injuries
• Wyoming County: 2 injuries

Construction: 10,149 Injuries

• Most frequent type of injury: sprains and strains: 3,614 injuries, 35.6%.
• Body part affected most often: upper extremities: 3,728 injuries, 36.7%.
• Most frequent cause of injury: overexertion: 2,374 injuries, 23.4%.
• Median age of injured workers: 41.4.
• County with the most injured workers: Philadelphia.
• Lackawanna County: 59 injuries
• Luzerne County: 121 injuries
• Wayne County: 13 injuries
• Wyoming County: 8 injuries

Manufacturing: 22,291 Injuries

• Most frequent type of injury: sprains and strains: 8,308 injuries, 37.3%.
• Body part affected most often: upper extremities: 10,366 injuries, 46.5%.
• Most frequent cause of injury: overexertion: 6,702 injuries, 30.1%.
• Median age of injured workers: 44.6.
• County with the most injured workers: Berks.
• Lackawanna County: 338 injuries
• Luzerne County: 413 injuries
• Wayne County: 17 injuries
• Wyoming County: 10 injuries

Accidents happen in the workplace. Other circumstances may also arise in the workplace causing worker injury. At Powell Law, we effectively assist clients throughout the entire workers’ compensation claims process. Powell Law has litigated Pennsylvania workers compensation actions and obtained benefits for injured Pennsylvania workers in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area for over a century. Consult an experienced Pennsylvania workers’ compensation attorney. Contact Powell Law at (570) 961-0777. The consultation is FREE!