When it comes to workplace safety, not all industries are created equal. In fact, some industries can be significantly more dangerous than others. While workplaces have generally become safer since the creation of safety regulations and enforcement agencies, some work environments can be inherently risky regardless of protective measures.

The consequences of occupational injuries can extend beyond the person who gets injured. The nonprofit National Safety Council determined that the cost of work injuries was $163.9 billion in 2020, a figure that includes workers’ compensation, medical expenses, and productivity loss from missed days of work.

The Rankings

Westfield used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to rank the 25 jobs with the highest rates of nonfatal occupational injuries that involved days away from work, which can indicate a more serious illness or injury. All data is from 2020, the most recent available, and includes all workers nationally, regardless of sector or industry.

#25. Physical therapist assistants

• Injury and illness rate: 376.3 per 10,000 full-time workers
• Total injury and illness cases: 2,310
• Median days out: 11

#24. Registered nurses

• Injury and illness rate: 385.3 per 10,000 full-time workers
• Total injury and illness cases: 90,170
• Median days out: 13

#23. Medical and health services managers

• Injury and illness rate: 386.5 per 10,000 full-time workers
• Total injury and illness cases: 13,750
• Median days out: 12

#22. Recreational therapists

• Injury and illness rate: 392.7 per 10,000 full-time workers
• Total injury and illness cases: 540
• Median days out: 12

#21. Pest control workers

• Injury and illness rate: 394.0 per 10,000 full-time workers
• Total injury and illness cases: 2,830
• Median days out: 14

#20. Respiratory therapists

• Injury and illness rate: 395.9 per 10,000 full-time workers
• Total injury and illness cases: 4,220
• Median days out: 15

#19. Animal caretakers

• Injury and illness rate: 419.7 per 10,000 full-time workers
• Total injury and illness cases: 5,440
• Median days out: 3

#18. Maids and housekeeping workers

• Injury and illness rate: 423.2 per 10,000 full-time workers
• Total injury and illness cases: 24,120
• Median days out: 11

#17. Occupational therapy assistants

• Injury and illness rate: 444.2 per 10,000 full-time workers
• Total injury and illness cases: 1,320
• Median days out: 12

#16. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors

• Injury and illness rate: 460.1 per 10,000 full-time workers
• Total injury and illness cases: 390
• Median days out: 95

#15. Refuse and recyclable material collectors

• Injury and illness rate: 476.8 per 10,000 full-time workers
• Total injury and illness cases: 4,650
• Median days out: 19

#14. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

• Injury and illness rate: 484.6 per 10,000 full-time workers
• Total injury and illness cases: 2,380
• Median days out: 14

#13. Bus drivers, transit, and intercity workers

• Injury and illness rate: 491.1 per 10,000 full-time workers
• Total injury and illness cases: 7,300
• Median days out: 46

#12. Firefighters

• Injury and illness rate: 539.0 per 10,000 full-time workers
• Total injury and illness cases: 17,890
• Median days out: 14

#11. Health information technologists, medical registrars, surgical assistants, health care practitioners, and technical workers

• Injury and illness rate: 567.9 per 10,000 full-time workers
• Total injury and illness cases: 3,270
• Median days out: 14

#10. Licensed practical and vocational nurses

• Injury and illness rate: 588.4 per 10,000 full-time workers
• Total injury and illness cases: 30,960
• Median days out: 12

#9. Police and sheriff patrol officers

• Injury and illness rate: 685.3 per 10,000 full-time workers
• Total injury and illness cases: 38,930
• Median days out: 11

#8. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers

• Injury and illness rate: 714.4 per 10,000 full-time workers
• Total injury and illness cases: 5,110
• Median days out: 22

#7. Correctional officers and jailers

• Injury and illness rate: 799.4 per 10,000 full-time workers
• Total injury and illness cases: 27,630
• Median days out: 14

#6. Orderlies

• Injury and illness rate: 849.0 per 10,000 full-time workers
• Total injury and illness cases: 2,780
• Median days out: 11

#5. Occupational therapy aides

• Injury and illness rate: 904.4 per 10,000 full-time workers
• Total injury and illness cases: 350
• Median days out: 14

#4. Psychiatric technicians

• Injury and illness rate: 1,000.6 per 10,000 full-time workers
• Total injury and illness cases: 6,840
• Median days out: 6

#3. Nursing assistants

• Injury and illness rate: 1,014.4 per 10,000 full-time workers
• Total injury and illness cases: 103,300
• Median days out: 12

#2. Psychiatric aides

• Injury and illness rate: 1,383.7 per 10,000 full-time workers
• Total injury and illness cases: 5,360
• Median days out: 10

#1. Dietetic technicians

• Injury and illness rate: 3,092.9 per 10,000 full-time workers
• Total injury and illness cases: 6,550
• Median days out: 10

Additional Key Findings

In 2020, there were 1.4 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses that caused a worker to miss at least one day of work, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a 28.5% increase from the previous year. It is important to note that this data includes cases where a worker was infected with COVID-19 while performing work-related duties.

There were 428,700 employer-reported respiratory illness cases in 2020 — an increase from 10,800 in 2019. The increase may be attributable to the coronavirus pandemic and mandated quarantine protocols for potential exposure.

Overall, “exposure to harmful substances or environments” was the leading cause of work-related injuries and illnesses that lead to days off work in 2020. The year before, it had been the sixth-ranked cause.

Despite the surge in cases, 2020 workers’ compensation premiums for private carriers and state funds dropped by 9.8% (from 2019 levels) to $42.5 billion, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Even with the increased risk from COVID-19, the overall risk of workplace injury dropped due to the high number of layoffs.

Unsurprisingly, the health care industry experienced a 249% increase in workplace injuries and illnesses in 2020. Though this may be considered an exceptionally hazardous year for health care workers, the industry is often among the most dangerous because of the nature of the work itself.

How Workers’ Compensation From Westfield Can Help

At Westfield, we understand that your business is at its best when every employee is operating at full capacity. That’s why our workers’ compensation coverage includes a comprehensive suite of dynamic programs that get injured workers back to work fast — all while helping them navigate each step of the process. See how our workers’ compensation insurance and available programs can offer an extra layer of protection for your business and employees.