The 2015 Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation and Workplace Safety Annual Report – Work Injuries By Industry, Part 2

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania recently released the 2015 Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation and Workplace Safety Annual Report (the “Report”). This blog outlines the Report’s data on work injuries and their occurrence by industry. This blog will address the trade, transportation, and utilities industry, along with the information industry, financial services industry, and professional and business services industry.

*With the exception of financial activities industry, 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 financial activities industry is a sprain or strain to the upper extremities caused by a fall on the same level.

*The oldest median age of an injured worker is in the financial services industry, where the most frequent cause of a work-related injury is a fall. 

Trade, Transportation & Utilities: 41,855 Injuries

• Most frequent type of injury: sprains and strains: 17,509 injuries, 41.8%.
• Body part affected most often: upper extremities: 14,947 injuries, 35.7%.
• Most frequent cause of injury: overexertion: 12,879 injuries, 30.8%.
• Median age of injured workers: 41.9.
• County with the most injured workers: Allegheny.
• Lackawanna County: 398 injuries
• Luzerne County: 691 injuries
• Wayne County: 63 injuries
• Wyoming County: 43 injuries

Information: 1,684 Injuries

• Most frequent type of injury: sprains and strains: 726 injuries, 43.1%.
• Body part affected most often: upper extremities: 506 injuries, 30.0%.
• Most frequent cause of injury: overexertion: 397 injuries, 23.6%.
• Median age of injured workers: 44.4.
• County with the most injured workers: Allegheny.
• Lackawanna County: 6 injuries
• Luzerne County: 21 injuries
• Wayne County: 1 injury
• Wyoming County: 0 injuries

Financial Activities: 3,628 Injuries

• Most frequent type of injury: sprains and strains: 1,263 injuries, 34.8%.
• Body part affected most often: upper extremities: 1,176 injuries, 32.4%.
• Most frequent cause of injury: fall on same level: 818 injuries, 22.5%.
• Median age of injured workers: 46.8
• County with the most injured workers: Allegheny.
• Lackawanna County: 38 injuries
• Luzerne County: 25 injuries
• Wayne County: 5 injuries
• Wyoming County: 3 injuries

Professional & Business Services: 12,115 Injuries

• Most frequent type of injury: sprains and strains: 4,420 injuries, 36.5%.
• Body part affected most often: upper extremities: 4,584 injuries, 37.8%.
• Most frequent cause of injury: overexertion: 2,911 injuries, 24.0%.
• Median age of injured workers: 38.5.
• County with the most injured workers: Bucks.
• Lackawanna County: 130 injuries
• Luzerne County: 289 injuries
• Wayne County: 10 injuries
• Wyoming County: 2 injuries

Since James Powell, Sr., founded Powell Law in 1906, our attorneys have represented all types of workers in workers’ compensation cases. Powell Law’s decades of experience make it the clear and obvious choice for representation in workers’ compensation matters in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and surrounding areas. Contact Powell Law at (570) 961-0777. The consultation is FREE!