5 Key Findings from WCRI’s Overview of Workers’ Compensation Claims Composition

A recent FlashReport released by the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) presented a detailed overview of workers’ compensation injuries occurring between 2017 and 2022. Broken down by age, injury type, tenure, and industry, these findings can provide key indicators to help workers’ compensation stakeholders with their claims monitoring efforts.

“Workers’ compensation laws in most states mandate that employers ‘take the employee as they are’ at the time of hiring, and as such, it is critical for employers to recognize that aggravations of pre-existing conditions are largely compensable,” said Dan Clayton, Senior Claims Manager at Safety National. “The combination of these rules reinforces the importance of employers having not only a thorough hiring process, but also a robust safety training program. Risk management actions such as providing employees with proper ergonomics are some of the most powerful tools available to mitigate injuries.”

We examine some of the report’s key findings.

1. Males accounted for roughly 58% of all injuries.

While the majority of workplace injuries were attributed to males, the numbers varied substantially based on the industry. In construction, males made up 95% of total injuries, followed by 74% in transportation and utilities, and 71% in public safety. Most of the increase across industries is likely due to the dominance of men in those industries. For comparison, female-dominated sectors, such as healthcare and clerical industries, saw an 80% and 66% accountability rate, respectively.

2. Half of all injuries occurred during the first two years of employment.

Short-tenured employees not only experience more frequent injuries, but they are also more likely to sustain an injury that results in an emergency room visit. In fact, a third of all injuries were shown to have occurred within the first year of tenure. Restaurants, construction, and agriculture all experienced higher rates of injuries within the first two years. With higher wages, increasing indemnity payments, and accelerated job turnover rates, the impact of short-tenured employees on workers’ compensation programs should not go unnoticed.

3. Retirement-age employees made up 21% of all workplace injuries.

Employees 55 and over are at an increased risk of severity when injured as noted by an increase in the length of time away from work (more than seven days) in this study. Currently comprising nearly 23.4% of the current workforce, these workers require careful ergonomic strategies that are unique to their needs, which is essential in injury prevention. As enticing pay and benefits continue to fuel this age group’s return to the workforce, it is likely that their rate of injury will continue to increase.

4. Two-thirds of injuries were sprains, strains, lacerations, or contusions.

Of the sprains and strains injuries, 12.7% involved the back and neck, while 24.5% included other body parts. Lacerations and contusions made up 15.4% of injuries, and hand lacerations accounted for 10.2%. While this group makes up an astounding 62.7% of all injuries, it is important to note that these occur more frequently as less severe injuries. For example, neurologic spine pain, fractures, and inflammation represented a much greater percentage of lost time versus all other claims.

5. Nearly three out of every four injuries were from five core industries.

Wholesale and retail trade accounted for 21% of total injuries, followed by 17% in manufacturing, 13% in services, 11% in healthcare and social assistance, and 10% in transportation, warehousing, and utilities. While construction and mining only accounted for 7% of total injuries, they contributed the highest share of medical and indemnity costs per claim. Some of the most common hazards, like slippery floors, can contribute to more frequent slips, trips, and falls in these industries, along with manual material handling injuries and workplace violence incidents.