Six Facts on Workplace Accidents & Injuries

Odds of winning the lottery: 1 in 135,145,920 (multi-state, mega-millions jackpot)
Lifetime odds of dying from an unintentional injury: 1 in 32 (National Safety Council Odds of Dying)

1. Two percent (170,000) of women in the Canadian workforce suffer an on-the-job injury in a typical year, compared to five percent (460,000) of the male workforce there.
2. The three occupations with the overall greatest number of injuries and illnesses are laborer/material mover, heavy equipment/tractor-trailer driver and nursing aide/ orderly/attendant.
3. In the US, the four occupations with the most work-related fatalities are fishing, logging, aircraft piloting/flight engineering and structural iron and steel work.
4. Six percent fewer fatal work injuries were reported in the US in 2007 than in 2006 (5,488 versus 5,840).
5. Workplace homicides across the US were up 13 percent in 2007 versus 2006.
6. Strains and sprains, most often involving the back, account for about 43 percent of the injuries and illnesses in private industry that require recuperation away from work.