In 2020, nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported by U.S. private industry employers dropped 5.7% compared with the year prior, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

The decline was largely propelled by a reduction in injury cases, as reported illness cases more than quadrupled, according to law firm Schmidt & Clark, LLP, which reported a 4,000% increase in employer-reported respiratory illness cases during 2020.

Nursing assistants had the highest number of cases involving days away from work (DAFW) during 2020, with a total of 96,470, Schmidt & Clark reported, noting this was a 248.7% increase from 2019. In 2020, 33.2% of all cases involving DAWF were categorized as "other diseases due to viruses not elsewhere classified," which includes reported COVID-related illnesses.

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Steve Hallo

Steve Hallo is managing editor of PropertyCasualty360.com. He can be reached at [email protected]

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