Workplace accidents can and do happen all over the country, and Louisiana is no exception. However, citing evidence from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Louisiana Workforce Commission, New Orleans CityBusiness reports that the rate of workplace injuries in Louisiana is among the lowest in the country.
Of the 41 states that participated in the survey, Louisiana had the lowest incidence rate of non-fatal illness and injuries related to work activities. Only the District of Columbia’s rate was lower. The national average of non-fatal accidents and injuries reported in 2017 was 2.8 per 100 full-time equivalent workers. Louisiana’s was considerably lower at 1.9 incidents, a figure that held steady from the preceding year.
Louisiana also has a relatively low incidence of employees missing work due to injuries or illnesses related to job duties. In 2017, the national average was 89.4 cases per 10,000 full-time equivalent workers, while Louisiana’s incidence rate was 64.7. This also represents a decrease from Louisiana’s 2016 incidence rate of 64.7.
The most common injuries sustained by workers in Louisiana affect the lower extremities and include soft-tissue tears, strains and sprains. Frequently reported causes of these injuries include contact with equipment or other objects.
The survey showed decreases in work-related injuries and illnesses among multiple sectors of industry in Louisiana. The most improvement occurred in the information sector with a decrease in incidents of 0.8 percent per 100 FTE workers. The least amount of improvement was a 0.3 percent decrease per FTE workers affecting accommodation and food services, as well as health care and social assistance.
The information in this article is not intended as legal advice but provided for educational purposes only.
