WORKERS COMPENSATION INSURANCE
Workers compensation insurance provides for the cost of medical care and rehabilitation for injured workers and lost wages and death benefits for the dependents of persons killed in work-related accidents. Workers compensation systems vary from state to state. Workers compensation combined ratios are expressed in two ways. Calendar year results reflect claim payments and changes in reserves for accidents that happened in that year or earlier. Accident year results only include losses from a particular year.
WORKERS COMPENSATION INSURANCE, 2002-2011
($000)
| Combined ratio (1) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Net premiums written (2) |
Annual percent change |
Calendar year (3) |
Annual point change (4) | Accident year (5) |
Annual point change |
| 2002 | $30,735,382 | 13.9% | 110.5 | -10.2 pts. | 106 | -19 pts. |
| 2003 | 32,941,961 | 7.2 | 109.7 | -0.8 | 97 | -9 |
| 2004 | 36,688,888 | 11.4 | 106.0 | -3.6 | 88 | -9 |
| 2005 | 39,788,398 | 8.4 | 101.9 | -4.2 | 87 | -1 |
| 2006 | 41,735,186 | 4.9 | 96.5 | -5.4 | 86 | -1 |
| 2007 | 40,582,828 | -2.8 | 100.6 | 4.1 | 98 | 12 |
| 2008 | 36,523,030 | -10.0 | 101.0 | 0.4 | 104 | 6 |
| 2009 | 32,009,874 | -12.4 | 108.0 | 7.0 | 109 | 5 |
| 2010 | 31,483,471 | -1.6 | 115.9 | 7.9 | 116 | 7 |
| 2011 | 35,666,609 | 13.3 | 117.2 | 1.3 | 114 (6) | -2 |
- After dividends to policyholders. A drop in the combined ratio represents an improvement; an increase represents a deterioration.
- After reinsurance transactions, excluding state funds.
- Calendar year data are from SNL Financial.
- Calculated from unrounded data.
- Accident year data are from the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI).
- Estimated by NCCI.
Source: SNL Financial LC; National Council on Compensation Insurance.
TOP TEN OCCUPATIONS WITH THE LARGEST NUMBER OF INJURIES AND ILLNESSES, 2011 (1)
| Rank | Occupation | Number | Percent of total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Laborers (nonconstruction) | 53,660 | 5.9% |
| 2 | Truckdrivers, heavy | 42,210 | 4.6 |
| 3 | Nursing assistants | 40,300 | 4.4 |
| 4 | Production workers | 26,340 | 2.9 |
| 5 | Truckdrivers, light | 25,380 | 2.8 |
| 6 | Janitors and cleaners | 24,450 | 2.7 |
| 7 | Retail salespersons | 23,430 | 2.6 |
| 8 | Registered nurses | 22,150 | 2.4 |
| 9 | Stock clerks and order fillers | 21,260 | 2.3 |
| 10 | Maintenance, general | 21,230 | 2.3 |
| Total, top ten |
300,410 | 33.1% | |
| Total, all occupations | 908,310 | 100.0% |
- Nonfatal injuries and illnesses involving days off from work for private industries; excludes farms with fewer than 11 employees.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
CAUSES OF WORKPLACE DEATHS
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the highest rate of workplace fatalities in 2011 was among fishing workers, with 121 deaths per 100,000 full-time employees, followed by logging workers, aircraft pilots and flight engineers, and refuse and recyclable material collector. The all-industry average was 3.5 deaths per 100,000 workers.
WORKPLACE DEATHS BY CAUSE, 2011 (1)
| 2011 Fatalities | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cause | Number | Percent of total |
| All transportation (includes vehicle crashes) | 1,898 | 41% |
| Vehicle crashes (2) | 1,075 | 23 |
| Assaults and violence (includes homicides) | 780 | 17 |
| Homicides | 458 | 10 |
| Contact with objects and equipment | 708 | 15 |
| Falls | 666 | 14 |
| Exposure to harmful substances or environments | 401 | 9 |
| Fires and explosions | 143 | 3 |
| Total workplace fatalities | 4,609 | 100% |
- From intentional and unintentional sources.
- Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicles.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries.
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