New data show warehouse injuries in New York skyrocketing as jobs in the sector continue to grow

Presented by NELP, in association with New Yorkers for a Fair Economy, ALIGN, RWDSU, and Teamsters Joint Council 16.

New 2023 Bureau of Labor Statistics data on workplace injuries were released a few weeks ago, revealing a dramatic increase in already high rates of injury for New York State warehouse workers.[i] We have previously called attention to the injury crisis for New York State warehouse workers in other publications, here and here. Here are some takeaways from the new data:

• Total warehouse worker injuries in New York State increased 30 percent from 2022 to 2023 to a rate of 11.5 per 100 full time workers. This is the equivalent of more than one injury for every 9 warehouse workers each year. (See Figure 1).
• Warehouse injuries have more than tripled between 2017 and 2023 (Figure 1).
• Injuries are getting more serious. In 2023, more than 90 percent of injuries require missed days of work or job transfer. In 2017, only 60 percent of the injuries were that serious. The number of injuries in this most serious category has quadrupled between 2017 and 2023 (Figure 1).
• New York State warehouse workers are injured at a rate which is more than double the national average (Figure 2).

At the same time, the number of New Yorkers working in warehousing jobs has been steadily increasing, growing 14 percent between 2022 and 2023 as compared to 5 percent job growth in the private sector overall in the state.[ii] These jobs rank among the most dangerous jobs in New York State.

Workers, unions, and advocates in New York have developed innovative new legislation to address this crisis. This legislation, the Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Act (S5081 – Ramos/ A8907 – Bronson) which would require worksite evaluations to address injury hazards, has been passed by the New York State legislature and is currently awaiting Governor Kathy Hochul’s signature. If she does not sign the bill by the end of the year, it will have to be passed again in the legislature next session.

Figure 1. Total injuries have tripled and the most serious injuries have more than quadrupled since 2017

Figure 2. New York State’s injury rate is more than double the national average

[i] Except where noted, the source for all data mentioned is the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Survey on Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, 2017-2023.

[ii] U.S. Census Bureau, Quarterly Workforce Indicators, 2022-2023.