Survey Shows Slight Increase in Injury Rate

Minnesota’s estimated workplace injury and illness rate rose slightly in 2020 to 3.5 recordable cases per 100 full-time equivalent workers, from 3.2 in 2019. The Department of Labor and Industry said the annual Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses found 76,700 workers with recordable claims in 2020, compared to 73,600 the year before. “There were 17,400 illnesses in 2020 and, of these, 14,500 were respiratory illnesses, including 14,300 COVID-19 cases,” the department said in a statement. “In 2019, there were 400 respiratory cases and in 2018, 200.” Th...