by Stacey Barnhart

Private Sector Results - New Record Low
Oregon workers employed in the private sector during calendar year 2001 suffered work-related injuries and illnesses at a rate of 6.2 for every 100 full-time employees. The 2001 total cases incidence rate of 6.2 is the lowest rate ever recorded by the private sector in Oregon. The 2001 rate is 20.5 percent lower than the average rate of 7.8 for the period 1992-2001.

The 2001 lost workday cases incidence rate increased slightly to 3.2. The rate of nonfatal cases without lost workdays decreased to 3.0, the lowest rate ever recorded. Compared to the 10-year average, the 2001 lost workday cases incidence rate decreased 15.8 percent while the rate of nonfatal cases without lost workdays decreased 25.0 percent.

Of the 69,245 total recordable cases in 2001, 51.2 percent resulted in lost worktime. An estimated 862,087 workdays were lost in Oregon’s private sector during 2001. This represents a 3.4 percent increase from the 834,058 workdays lost in 2000.

Industry lost workday cases rates
The private sector lost workday cases incidence rate of 3.2 slightly rose from the record low rate of 3.1 recorded in 2000. Three industry divisions—construction, manufacturing, and wholesale trade—posted record lows in 2001.

The highest lost workday cases incidence rate of the industry divisions, 5.1, was recorded by the transportation and public utilities division. Finance, insurance, and real estate reported the lowest rate of 0.9, while mining had the largest percentage decrease, dropping 28.1 percent. Agriculture, forestry, and fishing; retail trade; and services, all reported increased rates from 2000.

Public Sector Results
The public sector reported a total cases incidence rate of 6.1 in 2001. This rate represents a 7.0 percent increase from the record low rate of 5.7 set in 2000. State government matched the record low total cases rate of 4.3 in 2000. Local government registered a rate of 6.7, up 6.3 percent from the 2000 rate of 6.3.

The 2001 public sector lost workday cases incidence rate of 2.9 is 20.8 percent higher than the 2000 rate of 2.4. The 2001 rate consists of the state government lost workday cases rate of 1.9, and the local government rate of 3.2. The public sector logged an estimated 10,228 total recordable cases in 2001. Of these, 4,819 (47.1 percent) resulted in lost workdays. Lost workdays were estimated to be 123,733, up 56.7 percent from 78,959 days in 2000.

National Survey Results
The total cases incidence rate for the private sector nationwide was 5.7 in 2001, down 6.6 percent from 6.1 in 2000, and a new record low. The lost workday cases incidence rate decreased 6.7 percent to 2.8, the lowest rate ever recorded. The incidence rate for nonfatal cases without lost workdays fell 9.4 percent to 2.9. The Oregon total cases incidence rate and lost workday cases incidence rate exceeded the national rates by 8.8 and 14.3 percent, respectively. The Oregon cases without lost workdays incidence rate was 3.4 percent higher than the national figure. One reason Oregon rates are higher than national rates is the higher proportion of the Oregon workforce in hazardous industries.

Data in this summary are based upon the annual Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) survey which collects data from a scientifically selected sample of employer establishments across the state. This should be distinguished from the data collected from workers’ compensation claims submitted to the department by insurers.

For further information, please call the Oregon Department of Consumer & Business Services, Research & Analysis Section at (503) 378-8254.

If you have questions about the information contained in this document, please contact by e-mail or phone: Stacey Barnhart, (503) 947-7367, Research Analyst, Research & Analysis Section, Information Management Division

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), all IMD publications are available in alternative formats by calling (503) 378-4100 (V/TTY). The information in IMD publications is in the public domain and may be reprinted without permission.

This document was originally published in March 2003
[Printed form 440-2081 (03/03/IMD)]