Nursing and Residential Care Facilities Revealed as Michigan’s Most Dangerous Industry

Photo by Jsme MILA 

Article courtesy of EDGE Fall Protection, LLC 

• Nursing and residential care facilities top the danger list with 29.2 injuries per 100 workers.

• Performing arts and sports rank second with 11.8 injuries per 100 workers.

• Management ranks as the safest industry in Michigan with just 0.2 injuries per 100 workers.

A new study by EDGE Fall Protection, LLC has identified the most dangerous industries for Michigan workers based on non-fatal injury rates across different sectors. The data reveals striking differences in workplace safety between various occupations, with healthcare facilities presenting the highest risks.

Nursing and residential care facilities,

stand out as the most hazardous workplace with a staggering 29.2 injuries per 100 full-time workers. Workers in these healthcare settings face numerous hazards including patient handling injuries, workplace violence, and exposure to infectious diseases.

Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries rank second with 11.8 injuries per 100 workers. Injuries such as falls and collisions are common in this sector.

Couriers and messengers experience 7.4 injuries per 100 workers, placing third on the list. Correctional institutions also rank third with a rate of 7.4 injuries per 100 workers. Delivery personnel face daily traffic hazards while meeting tight deadlines and handling packages of varying weights.

Foundries rank fourth with 7.3 injuries per 100 workers. Working with heavy components and powerful machinery creates numerous opportunities for injuries despite increasing automation. Workers in this sector often perform physically demanding tasks repeatedly throughout their shifts.

Coating, engraving, heat treating, and allied activities complete the top five with 6.6 injuries per 100 workers. Sharp cutting tools, hot surfaces, and high-speed processing equipment add to injury risks.

Michigan’s most dangerous industries by injury rate

At the opposite end of the spectrum, management of companies and enterprises proves to be the safest working environment in Michigan with just 0.2 injuries per 100 workers. Office-based environments with minimal physical requirements contribute to this sector’s excellent safety record as most work involves computer-based tasks in climate-controlled settings.

Insurance carriers and related activities ranks as the second safest industry with only 0.3 injuries per 100 workers.

Professional, scientific, and technical services ranks third safest with 0.6 injuries per 100 workers. The controlled indoor environment and lighter lifting requirements contribute to the lower rate of injury in this sector.

Michigan’s safest industries by injury rate

Michael McCarty, Chief Safety Officer from EDGE Fall Protection, LLC commented: “The vast disparity between the most and least dangerous industries underscores the importance of industry-specific safety measures. Some sectors experience injury rates over 500 times higher than others, so targeted approaches to workplace safety remain essential for protecting American workers.

“These numbers tell a clear story about where worker safety needs the most attention. Healthcare workers caring for our most vulnerable populations face injury rates that should alert everyone to how dangerous these professions really are. The difference between the safest and most dangerous industries shows that targeted, sector-specific safety protocols make a measurable difference in protecting workers.”

Source:

https://www.bls.gov/iif/state-data.htm#MI (2024 latest data available)