Workplace Injuries by Industry

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the standard used by U.S. federal statistical agencies to classify business establishments. Each code identifies the primary economic activity of an establishment. OSHA uses NAICS codes in injury reporting to categorize employers by industry sector, enabling analysis of which industries have the highest injury rates. The codes range from 2 to 6 digits, with more digits indicating greater specificity. For example, NAICS 23 is "Construction," 238 is "Specialty Trade Contractors," and 2381 is "Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors."

Animal slaughter and processing (NAICS 3116) historically has the highest amputation rate of any industry sector, due to the prevalence of band saws, knives, and meat-cutting machinery. Fabricated metal product manufacturing, sawmills, and other food processing sectors also have elevated amputation rates. Amputations typically involve fingers and hands from machinery with unguarded points of operation — a violation OSHA consistently identifies in high-hazard manufacturing. OSHA's machine guarding standard (29 CFR 1910.212) requires that all machinery be guarded to protect workers from moving parts.

Report the injury to your employer immediately — most states have time limits for filing workers' compensation claims, and delays can jeopardize your benefits. Seek medical treatment from an authorized healthcare provider (your employer's workers' comp insurer may specify approved providers). Document everything: take photos of the scene, note witnesses, and keep copies of all medical records and correspondence. If you believe your employer is not reporting the injury or is retaliating against you for reporting it, contact OSHA at 1-800-321-OSHA. Workers have the right to report injuries without retaliation, and OSHA's anti-retaliation provisions protect workers who exercise this right.

OSHA uses industry injury and illness data to target enforcement resources through National Emphasis Programs (NEPs), which focus inspection resources on high-hazard industries or specific hazards. Industries with disproportionately high injury rates become targets for programmed inspections — facilities in those industries can be scheduled for inspections even without a complaint or reported incident. OSHA also uses data to develop new standards, evaluate existing standards, and publish industry-specific guidance. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) provides comprehensive industry injury rate statistics annually.