U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today issued the following statement on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses showing a continued decline in nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses:
"From 2003 to 2007, the total number of injuries and illnesses with days away from work declined 11.9 percent, which demonstrates that a comprehensive strategy of targeted enforcement coupled with an emphasis on prevention through compliance assistance is most effective. In addition, it's noteworthy that the ergonomic injury rate declined 9 percent from 2006 to 2007."
The survey shows that both the rate and the number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses requiring days away from work decreased from 2006 to 2007. The number of days away from work cases in 2007 decreased by 2 percent compared to 2006.