The part of the body most affected by work incidents was the trunk, including the shoulder and back, which accounted for 35 percent of all cases. Overall injuries to the trunk decreased by 4 percent from 2004. Of these injuries or illnesses to the trunk, those involving the back accounted for 63 percent.

The rate of workplace injuries and illnesses in private industry that required recuperation away from work declined 4 percent in 2005, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. There were a total of 1.2 million injuries and illnesses requiring days away from work in 2005, relatively unchanged from 2004. A 2 percent increase in the number of hours worked in 2005 contributed to the decline in the rate. Median days away from work—-a key measure of the severity of the injury or illness—-was 7 days for all cases in 2005, as it was in 2004.

In 2005, there were 135.7 of these injuries and illnesses per 10,000 full-time- equivalent workers in private industry. This rate declined for workers in both the goods- producing and service-providing industries. Goods-producing industries had 394,090 injuries and illnesses and a rate of 176.9 per 10,000 workers. There were 840,580 injuries and illnesses and a rate of 122.4 in service-providing industries.

As was the case in previous years, more than 4 out of 10 of injuries and illnesses were sprains or strains, most involving overexertion or falls on the same level. More than a third of the sprains and strains occurred in the trade, transportation and utilities industry. Three occupations—laborers and freight, stock, and material movers; heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers; and nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants—accounted for 20 percent of all sprains and strains. These occupations also had the highest numbers of injuries and illnesses, accounting for 17 percent of the total days-away-from-work cases.

Key Findings:
- Sprains and strains was the leading nature of injury and illness in every major industry sector. There was a decrease of 4 percent in these injuries from 2004, led by the manufacturing sector, which experienced an 8 percent decline. Sprains and strains declined by 7 percent in goods-producing industries and by 3 percent in service-providing industries. Trade, transportation, and utilities reported 172,380 sprains and strains, 34 percent of the total in 2005.

- The incidence rate for carpal tunnel syndrome decreased by nearly 14 percent.

- The part of the body most affected by work incidents was the trunk, including the shoulder and back, which accounted for 35 percent of all cases. Overall injuries to the trunk decreased by 4 percent from 2004. Of these injuries or illnesses to the trunk, those involving the back accounted for 63 percent.

- Floors, walkways, and ground surfaces accounted for 19 percent of all sources of injury or illness. Worker motion or position accounted for 15 percent.

- Of the injuries and illnesses with days away from work for which the time of the incident was reported, the four hours from 8:00 A.M. to noon accounted for 36 percent of the cases. The hours from noon to 4:00 P.M. accounted for 28 percent.

- In those cases where employers reported how long the employee had been on the job before the incident occurred, workers on the job from two to four hours incurred 27 percent of injuries and illnesses with days away from work in 2005. Employees on the job for more than eight hours accounted for 12 percent.

- Eighty-seven percent of injuries and illnesses occurred on Monday through Friday. The exception to this pattern was the leisure and hospitality sector, where 16 percent of injuries and illnesses occurred on Saturday.

Demographic characteristics:
Demographic characteristics include gender, age, race or ethnic origin, and length of service with the employer at the time of the incident (see tables 1, 2, and 8). Following are some key findings for 2005. - Men accounted for 66 percent of all days-away-from-work cases, which was higher than their employment share (54 percent) and their share of the hours worked (59 percent) among private wage and salary workers.

- Injuries and illnesses to Asian workers fell by 18 percent from 2004. White workers had a decrease of 4 percent, while injuries to black and Hispanic workers remained virtually unchanged. Race or ethnicity was unreported in 30 percent of days-away- from-work cases, the same as in 2004.

- Workers who were 20 to 44 years old accounted for 60 percent of injured workers, which is consistent with their share of hours worked. Workers who were 16 to 19 years old or 65 and older had increases in the numbers of injuries and illnesses with days away from work, 9 and 13 percent respectively.

- The number of days away from work rose with the age of the worker from a median of three days for workers 14- and 15-years old to a median of 12 days for workers 65 and older.

By Occupation:
- Light and delivery services truck drivers had 32,740 incidents, mostly in the trade, transportation, and utilities sector. Men accounted for 90 percent of the cases. Vehicles and containers were the most frequent sources of injury for these drivers. Overexertion was the leading event or exposure. The median number of days away from work was 10 days.