Private Sector Results – Lowest
Ever Recorded
Oregon workers employed in the private sector during calendar
year 1996 suffered work-related injuries and illnesses at a rate
of 7.8 for every 100 full-time employees. The 1996 total cases
incidence rate of 7.8 is the lowest ever recorded by the
private sector in Oregon. It is 17.9 percent lower than the average
rate of 9.5 for the period 1987-1996.
The 1996 lost workday cases incidence rate fell to 3.8, the lowest since the start of the survey in 1972. The rate of nonfatal cases without lost workdays decreased to 4.0, the lowest ever recorded. Compared to the 10-year average, the 1996 lost workday cases incidence rate decreased 19.1 percent while the rate of nonfatal cases without lost workdays decreased 18.4 percent
.Of the 80,777 total recordable cases in 1996, 48.8 percent resulted in lost worktime. An estimated 893,241 workdays were lost in Oregon’s private sector during 1996. This represents a 0.7 percent decrease from the 899,963 workdays lost in 1995.
Industry lost workday cases rates
The record low private sector lost workday cases incidence rate
of 3.8 is a 7.3 percent drop from the previous record low of
4.1. Four industry divisions – manufacturing, wholesale
trade, services, and finance, insurance, and real estate –
posted record low rates in 1996. Transportation and public utilities
matched its record low rate set in 1995. All other industries,
except construction, reported decreased or unchanged rates from
those of 1995.
The highest lost workday cases
incidence rate of the industry divisions, 6.0, was recorded by
the construction industry. The lowest rate was 0.6 in finance,
insurance and real estate, a 62.5 percent decrease from the 1995
rate of 1.6. Services and manufacturing also
reported large rate decreases in 1996. The lost workday cases
rate decreased 15.6 percent to 2.7 for services and 10.2 percent
for manufacturing.
Public Sector Results – Lowest
Ever Recorded
During 1996, the public sector reported a total cases incidence
rate of 5.9, a record low in Oregon. This new rate is a 15.7
percent decrease from the rate of 7.0 set in 1995. State government
recorded a total cases rate of 5.7, down 3.4 percent from the
1995 rate of 5.9. Local government registered a record low rate
of 6.0, a 20.0 percent decrease from the 1995 rate of 7.5.
The 1996 public sector lost workday cases incidence rate of 2.6 is 16.1 percent below the 1995 rate of 3.1, and a record low. The 1996 rate consists of the state government lost workday cases rate of 2.2, and the local government rate of 2.7. The public sector logged an estimated 8,936 total recordable cases in 1996. Of these, 3,872 (43.3 percent) resulted in lost workdays. Lost workdays were estimated to be 69,618, down 15.3 percent from 82,170 days in 1995.
National Survey Results
The total cases incidence rate for the private sector nationwide
was 7.4 in 1996, down 8.6 percent from 8.1 in 1995. The lost
workday cases incidence rate decreased 5.6 percent to 3.4, while
the incidence rate for nonfatal cases without lost workdays fell
6.8 percent to 4.1. At 4.0, the 1996 Oregon rate for cases without
lost workdays was 2.4 percent below the national rate. However,
the Oregon lost workday cases incidence rate and total cases
incidence rate exceed the national rates by 11.8 percent and
5.4 percent respectively.
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. To be consistent with other years, data from 1992 and 1993 were re-estimated using the Oregon Estimation System. Some industry rates may vary from those published earlier.
For further information, or to order the 1996 Oregon Occupational Injury and Illness publication, please call the Oregon Department of Consumer & Business Services, Research & Analysis Section at (503) 378-8254.
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