News Release
OPA
News Release: [03/27/2003]
Contact Name: Sue Hensley
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676
Statement of Labor Secretary Elaine L.
Chao on Loss of Workdays Due to Injury and Illness
WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao released the
following statement today about the 2001 Lost Workday Injury and Illness data
released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
“Today’s
announcement brings some detail to the good news that we first announced in
December 2002, that overall workplace injuries and illnesses requiring time
away from work have continued their steady decline for the tenth consecutive
year. The detailed information that the Bureau of Labor Statistics has
collected will help us better target our outreach and enforcement efforts in those
industries that have more work to do to bring their injury and illness rates
down.
“I am
pleased to see that the number of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) injuries and
illnesses that resulted in days away from work showed a significant decline of
9.6 percent, greater than the overall decline of 7.6 percent for all lost
workday injuries.
“However,
truck drivers, laborers, nurses and nursing aides, and other employees continue
to suffer high rates of injuries and illnesses in their workplaces. We must find
ways to reduce the hazards that these workers experience and make their
workplaces safer and healthier.
“While
we have recorded some successes in our fight to drive down injury and illness
rates, we still have much to do. There are too many hardworking people who are
injured on the job every day. Our goal is to continue and accelerate this
decline so that workers can count on going to safe, healthful, hazard-free
workplaces every day.”
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