Pennsylvania workplace injury statistics

When you review Pennsylvania workplace injury statistics, the results are alarming. The Keystone State consistently rates above the national averages when it comes to nonfatal occupational illnesses and injuries. Whether workplace accidents result in injury or exposure to harmful substances, injured workers need to be aware of their rights when they require workers’ compensation benefits.

Pennsylvania Workplace Injury Statistics: Common Types of Workplace Accidents

According to the 2023 Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation and Workplace Safety Annual Report, there were 162,194 reports of injuries and illnesses, which was on decline from 2022 by over 5,000 reported cases. Furthermore, $2.9 billion in wage and medical benefits were dispersed statewide to injured employees.

While these may seem like favorable numbers for Pennsylvania workers, the compensation you receive ultimately depends on the severity of your injury.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the most commonly reported fatal workplace injuries and accidents in Pennsylvania in 2023 included:

• Transportation incidents: 30 percent
• Falls, slips, trips: 25 percent
• Contact incidents: 17 percent
• Violent acts: 14 percent
• All others: 14 percent

Fatal Work Injuries by Industry

With a robust job market, Pennsylvania workers are at risk for occupational injury and illness. Of the above incidents, specific sectors saw higher levels of injury and fatality. Industries with the highest level of workplace fatality include:

• Trade, transportation, and utilities: 29 percent
• Construction: 18 percent
• Manufacturing: 17 percent
• Transportation and warehousing: 17 percent

Highest Fatalities By Demographic Characteristics

Certain groups of people are more likely to suffer fatal workplace injuries. In 2023, the following groups had the highest reports of fatal work injuries.

• Sex: Men (89 percent)
• Age: 55 to 64 years (25 percent) and 35 to 44 years (20 percent)
• Race or ethnic origin: White, non-Hispanic (71 percent) and Hispanic or Latino (15 percent)

Common Workplace Injuries in Pennsylvania

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), collects data across the United States to compare occupational diseases and hazards in workers’ compensation claims. According to 2022 data, Pennsylvania reported more than 115,000 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses. There were also 183 fatal injuries in that same year.

Some of the most common types of workplace injuries in Pennsylvania and across the United States, according to the National Safety Council, include:

• Overexertion and bodily reaction: 1,001,440 claims
• Contact with objects and equipment: 780,690 cases
• Falls, slips, and trips: 674,100 cases
• Exposure to harmful substances or environments: 658,240 cases

Of these injuries, the most common types of injury that have lead workers to miss wages include:

• Sprains, strains, and tears
• Overall soreness and pain from repetitive motion injuries
• Cuts, lacerations, and punctures

Other commonly reported injuries include:

• Back and neck injuries
• Head injuries
• Musculoskeletal disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome and hernias

Most Common Occupational Illnesses by Industry

As noted, certain industries see more illness and injury than others. Workers’ injury statistics also show that some occupations are more susceptible to certain illnesses.

• Medical professionals, including nurses and blood processors: Tuberculosis and hepatitis
• Firefighters: Heart and lung disease
• Mining workers: Pneumoconiosis and silicosis
• Healthcare professionals, industrial/manufacturing workers, agricultural workers: Chemical poisoning (lead, arsenic, mercury)

In addition, occupational hearing loss is one of the most commonly reported conditions with a high incidence rate that leads to lost wages, long-term medical expenses, heart problems, cognitive decline, and diminished mental health. The CDC estimates that 22 million workers are exposed to hazardous noise yearly.

Most Common Workers’ Compensation Claims

Not all workers’ compensation claims are clear-cut, but some may be more common than you think. Workers’ compensation insurance providers cited the following as the most common claims:

• Concussions at work: 0.6 percent
• Crushing hazards: 0.9 percent
• Broken bones: 1.4 percent
• Foreign object entering body: 2.8 percent
• Burns and electrocution: 3.1 percent
• Puncture injuries: 5.5 percent
• Sprains: 8.9 percent
• Lacerations: 11.8 percent
• Bruises (minor to severe): 20.8 percent
• Strains: 30.1 percent

OSHA Violations Leading Causes of Unsafe Conditions, Work Injuries in Pennsylvania

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reported the top 10 most frequently cited violations in 2023 for workplace safety included:

• Fall protection: General Industry
• Hazard communication: General Industry
• Control of hazardous energy: General Industry
• Ladders: Construction Industry
• Respiratory protection: General Industry
• Powered industrial trucks: General Industry
• Fall protection training: Construction Industry
• Scaffolding: Construction Industry
• Eye and face protection: Construction Industry
• Machine guarding: General Industry

As OSHA makes strides to keep employees’ well-being at the forefront, national averages on workplace injuries and deaths have continued to decline. This includes decreased workplace fatalities from about 38 worker deaths a day in 1970 to 15 a day in 2023, and workplace injuries and illnesses decreasing from 10.9 incidents per 100 workers in 1972 to 2.4 per 100 in 2023.

You have legal options if your employer knowingly does not abide by Pennsylvania law in both the public and private sectors. Munley Law provides legal guidance to injured workers and their families seeking Pennsylvania workers’ compensation benefits for serious injuries. 

Suffering from Work Injuries in Pennsylvania? Call Munley Law.

Work injury statistics are alarming, but when a work injury or occupational illness impacts your family, you may feel unable to move forward. At Munley Law, we help injured workers file workers’ compensation claims to secure the benefits they rightfully deserve.

Further, if a loved one died in a work-related fatality, we help the dependents collect death benefits.

Whether you suffered a physical injury lifting heavy objects at work or had pre-existing conditions exacerbated by your work conditions, we can help. To speak with a workers’ compensation lawyer today, call Munley Law.