Definition

Non-fatal occupational injuries and illnesses reported by employers that occurred on or off an employer's premises.

Numerator

Estimated number of cases of work-related injuries and illnesses during a calendar year and injuries and illnesses involving days away from work during a calendar year.

Denominator

Estimated total full-time equivalents (FTEs) worked during a calendar year. An FTE is the number of working hours that represents one full-time employee during a specific time period. For example, two individuals working half time can equal 1 FTE.

Data Interpretation Issues

The Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) provides estimates on nonfatal work-related injuries and illnesses in NJ. SOII is a function of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and uses a probability sample and not a census of all employers. It is based on injury and illness data maintained by employers and is subject to sampling error. Employers do not always record all relevant events in the workplace that may result in days away from work, restricted work, or medical treatment beyond first aid. Also, employees often seek medical care from their personal health care providers resulting in employers being unaware of work-related conditions. Some conditions also have long latency periods and are diagnosed long after an employee leaves their place of employment. In regards to days away from work, employers may vary in their use of restricted work activity to reduce lost workdays among their employees with work-related conditions, thus avoiding cases with days away from work.

Why Is This Important?

Every year, millions of workers suffer a serious job-related injury or illness. Workplace injuries and illnesses can not only cause physical pain and suffering but also loss of employment and wages, burdensome debt, inability to maintain a previous standard of living, loss of home ownership, or even bankruptcy.

How Are We Doing?

In New Jersey (NJ), there have been over 1.8 million non-fatal work-related injuries and illnesses reported by employers between 2000 and 2019. NJ annual incidence rates decreased from 4,900 in 2000 to 2,500 injuries per 100,000 FTEs in 2019. NJ annual rates were lower than the US rates which ranged from 2,800-6,100 cases per 100,000 FTEs from 2000-2017 (2018 and 2019 US data not available). Between 2000 and 2019, in NJ, there were over 300,000 estimated cases involving more than 10 days away from work. The incidence rate for cases involving full days away from work beyond the day of the incident was 1,000 cases per 100,000 FTEs in 2019.

Available Services

Additional information on the prevention of occupational injuries can be obtained from: NJ Department of Health Occupational Health Surveillance Unit PO Box 369 Trenton, NJ 08625-0369 Phone: (609) 826-4984 Fax: (609) 826-4983 [http://www.state.nj.us/health/workplacehealthandsafety/occupational-health-surveillance/]

Health Program Information

The Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) provides statistics on nonfatal work-related injuries and illnesses in New Jersey. The Survey, conducted by the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, is designed to provide an essential tool for promoting efforts to make New Jersey's workplaces safer and healthier: [http://www.bls.gov/respondents/iif/]

Data Notes

US data not available for 2018 and 2019.

Data Source

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics

Data Notes

US data not available for 2018 and 2019.

Data Source

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics