Workplace injuries decline in Illinois

Posted on December 2, 2018
In Illinois, the health care and social assistance industry reported the most injuries, followed by manufacturing, transportation and warehousing and construction. (Photo courtesy Pixabay)

 

By Illinois Radio Network/Greg Bishop

SPRINGFIELD – On-the-job injuries in Illinois declined 3 percent in 2017 from the previous year, according to a report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

There were 108,200 nonfatal injuries in the private sector in Illinois in 2017, down from 111,600 in 2016, according to the report. More than a third of the injuries in 2017 required employees to take time off work.

Safer work environments are one reason for the decline, said Ron Rascia, general counsel, secretary and ethics officer of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission

“I think that workplaces necessarily are made to be safer these days,” he said.

In Illinois, the health care and social assistance industry reported the most injuries (21,300), followed by manufacturing (18,100), transportation and warehousing (10,900) and construction (5,300) industries.

The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission gets funding for its $31 million operating budget through the underwriting of workers’ comp policies by insurance companies and the payments from insured entities when an injury claim is filed, Rascia said.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…