Detailed nonfatal data starting in 2023-2024
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has transitioned from an annual to a biennial (every two years) publication schedule. The final publication of a single year of cases involving days away from work estimates was for reference year 2020. The most recent BLS detailed data cover 2023 and 2024 for Days Away from Work (DAFW), Days of Job Transfer or Restriction (DJTR), and Days Away from Work, Job Restriction, or Transfer (DART) cases.
New event categories starting in 2023
The BLS has updated the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System starting with the 2023 data year. The update includes changes to how injury and illness events are classified. This change is considered a data break, therefore, comparing counts to previous years is often unavailable and, when available, should be done with caution. Currently, 2024 fatality data are using the new classification categories, while the most recent nonfatal 2023-2024 data use the previous classification categories.
Starting in 2023, the definition changed from Overexertion and bodily reaction to Overexertion, repetitive motion and bodily conditions. Comparison across years should be made with caution.
Overexertion, repetitive motion and bodily conditions injuries and illnesses resulted in the most DART cases and the second most DAFW cases during 2023 and 2024. In 2024, 12 workers died and in 2023-2024, 946,290 DART cases (including 492,140 DAFW cases) were reported. This category includes several types of injury events:
- Overexertion while moving or manipulating external object(s) applies to injuries that are the result of excessive physical effort directed at an outside source, either as a single or cumulative exposure.
- Repetitive microtasks applies to injuries or conditions resulting from motions (often micro tasks) that impose stress or strain on some part of the body due to the repetitive nature of the task.
- Bodily position and motion applies to injuries or conditions resulting from a single or prolonged instance(s) of free bodily motion or the assumption of a physical position without other incident, which impose stress or strain upon some part of the body.
- Bodily conditions applies to injuries or illnesses that are the direct result of the physical condition of the worker with no outside injury component.
- Multiple types of overexertions, bodily motion and position applies to a combination of at least two separate, sequential events from the overexertion involving external objects, repetitive microtasks, bodily position and motion and bodily conditions during a single or prolonged episode.
This infographic provides an overview of the nonfatal trends. The data on nonfatal cases cover occupational injuries and illnesses and come from the BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) for 2011-2024. From 2011 through 2020, annual estimates are available for the number of DAFW cases (with or without days of restricted work activity). Starting in 2021, biennial estimates are available for DAFW, DJTR and DART cases. This page highlights both DAFW and DART estimates. The latest estimate period available reflects cases occurring in 2023 and 2024. Because DAFW data transitioned from annual reporting to biennial reporting in 2021, care should be used when comparing trends. In addition, starting in 2023 the definition changed from Overexertion and bodily reaction to Overexertion, repetitive motion and bodily conditions. Explore the data details tab for additional information on demographics, industry, occupation, days lost and historic trends.