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Wisconsin’s Work Injury Rate
As compared to the rest of the country, Wisconsin has a fairly high work injury rate. In 2012, the total number of recordable, nonfatal work injury cases was 4.1 per every 100 full-time workers, compared to the national average of 3.4 per every 100 full-time workers. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.
Related: Liability in a Construction Accident Case
Wisconsin’s economy is heavily dependent on its manufacturing industry, which includes paper manufacturing, materials manufacturing, and machinery manufacturing. In addition, food processing and production (beer and dairy products like cheese, milk and butter) also make up a sizeable portion of the state’s economy.
Paper Manufacturing in Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s paper industry is an anchor industry for the state. In fact, Wisconsin ranks in the top 3 in the U.S. for paper production; this includes paper mills and paper product production. Wisconsin’s largest cities are Milwaukee, Madison, and Green Bay. However, much of the state’s paper manufacturing occurs in much smaller cities and towns. There are multiple paper mills located throughout Wisconsin, including: Brokaw, Nekoosa, Rhinelander, Rothschild, Stevens Point, and Wisconsin Rapids.
At 3.6, the work injury rate (nonfatal) for paper manufacturing is more in line with the national average. However, the injury rate for paper product manufacturing and paperboard container manufacturing is slightly higher, at 4.1 and 4.6 respectively.
Related: Work Accidents & Burn Injuries
Metals & Machinery Manufacturing in Wisconsin
In addition to paper, Wisconsin’s economy is driven by other manufacturing industries, such as heavy equipment manufacturing. For instance, Caterpillar machinery operates in Wisconsin. Caterpillar produces machinery for the construction, mining and transportation industries: excavators, rollers, dump trucks, and bulldozers.
The work injury rate for Wisconsin’s machinery manufacturing industry is 5.0, and the work injury rate for the construction machinery manufacturing industry is 6.0. These numbers underscore the dangerousness of the machinery manufacturing industry in Wisconsin.
Fatal Work Accidents in Wisconsin (2008-2012)
According to the most recent data from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development and the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2012, there were 114 fatal work accidents. When comparing data from 2008 to 2012, the annual average is 94; that’s almost 2 workers per week.
| Year | Total Number of Fatal Work Accidents |
| 2012 | 114 |
| 2011 | 92 |
| 2010 | 93 |
| 2009 | 94 |
| 2008 | 77 |
| Average | 94 |
3 Common Types of Work Accidents in Wisconsin (2012 Data)
| Type of Accident | Total Number |
| Transportation accidents (highway, non-highway) | 37 |
| Contact with objects (struck by object or equipment) | 26 |
| Falls (lower level, same level) | 16 |
Related: Workplace Fall Accidents & Injuries
Work Accident Law Firm
Our work accident lawyers are licensed in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Illinois and West Virginia, and also accept matters in other states on a case by case basis. If you would like a free case assessment, please call Click To Call. Our lawyers may handle your case by obtaining special admission in your state or may work with local counsel in your area.
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