New numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that warehouse injuries are on the rise in New York, as advocates await action from Gov. Kathy Hochul on legislation that would impose more safety oversight at warehouses.
The numbers were analyzed in a report released on Thursday by the National Employment Law Project. According to the report, warehouse workers were injured at a rate of 11.5 out of 100 last year, compared to 8.8 out of 100 in 2022. That equates to one injury per nine workers in New York in 2023, and a 30% increase in injuries year over year. The latest numbers represent a stark increase compared to six years prior, when the rate of injury was just 3.6 out of 100 full-time workers. According to the report, warehouse workers in New York were injured at twice the national rate last year.
The report, which was released in partnership with the New Yorkers for a Fair Economy Coalition, also found that the number of serious injuries has increased. In 2017, only 60% of injuries required warehouse workers to miss days or require a transfer. By 2023, 90% of injuries did. “This is absolutely a five alarm fire for New York state,” said Irene Tung, senior researcher and policy analyst at NELP.
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