Injury Stats

Safety level

Everyone, Everywhere is Affected

No business in Nova Scotia is immune to the human and economic impact of workplace injuries.

From cities to rural communities, office towers to shop floors, factories to fishing boats, workplace injuries are all too common.

These statistics paint a grim picture of what is happening in Nova Scotia’s workplaces. The sprains and strains that account for over half of all workplace injuries, the industries with the highest injury rates, and the costs that result.

View Injury Stats by:

Nature of Injury

2020 %
Sprains/Strains 3,150 63.3%
Fractures/Dislocations 474 9.5%
Contusion/Crushing/Bruise 260 5.2%
Inflamed Joint/Tendon/Muscle 79 1.6%
Cut/ Laceration/Puncture 215 4.3%
All Other 356 7.2%
Other traumatic injuries and disorders 101 2.0%
Burns 44 0.9%
Digestive system diseases and disorders
41 0.8%
Concussions, Intracranial Injuries 257 5.2% 
Total 4,977 100.0%

Industry Type

Injury
Frequency
Time Loss
Claims 2020*
Health/Social Services 2.81% 1,629
Manufacturing 1.60% 516
Retail Trade 1.11% 479
Construction 1.82% 480
Wholesale Trade 1.00% 247
Government Services 1.82% 476
Accommodation/Food/Beverages 1.18% 196
Business Services 0.56% 68
Transportation/Storage 2.81% 239
Communication/Utilities 1.15% 173
Other Services 1.29% 98
Fishing/Trapping 1.52% 86
Real Estate/Insurance Agents 1.05% 43
Educational Services 1.90% 162
Agricultural Related Services 1.33% 41
Mining/ Quarries/Oil Wells 1.66% 21
Logging/Forestry 1.43% 19
Finance/Insurance 0.00% 0
Unknown 0.00% 4
Total 4,977

Part of Body

2020 %
Back 1,334 26.8%
Shoulder(s) 541 10.9%
Leg(s) 455 9.1%
Multiple Parts 328 6.6%
All Other 385 7.7%
Fingers 254 5.1%
Ankle 254 5.1%
Arm(s) (above wrist) 211 4.2%
Cranial region, including skull 244 4.9%
Wrist 195 3.9%
Hand (does not include fingers) 132 2.7%
Foot (does not include toes) 117 2.4%
Neck 102 2.0%
Chest 109 2.2%
Pelvic Region 106 2.1%
Total 4,977 100.0%