Truckers Had Most Work-Related Injuries in 1999

The number of serious workplace injuries and illnesses -- including those associated with repetitive motion -- decreased in 1999, but truck drivers once again had the most reported cases, the Labor Department reported.

Overall, about 1.7 million injuries at private businesses required time off from work in 1999. That included 141,100 cases involving truck drivers, followed by non-construction laborers, nursing aides and construction laborers.

Truck drivers also had the second highest number of work-related musculoskeletal disorders involving time away from work with 41,700, behind nursing aides and orderlies with 44,300. The median number of days missed for these drivers was eight.

Almost 25% of all injured workers had more than 5 years of service, suggesting that even the most experienced worker can be injured on the job.

Although the total number of injuries was down 1.6% from 1998, it was smaller than the average annual drops of 4% for the six years since 1993.

Labor Secretary Elaine Chao said there is a need to address injuries before they occur and that she would consider developing a new ergonomics rule.

arlier this month, President Bush signed into law a repeal of new workplace safety regulations passed in the final days of the Clinton administration. The trucking industry was against the rules, saying they were far too costly. Transport Topics

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