Indiana’s nonfatal occupational injury and illness rate for private industry workers for 2008 reached a historic low, but it remains above the national average.

For the first time, the rate dipped below the five cases per 100 full-time workers threshold, coming in at 4.9, according to a report released today by the Indiana Department of Labor.

Indiana’s 2008 rate surpassed the state’s 2007 rate of 5.2.

The national average for private industry workers is 3.9 cases per 100 workers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ study of 42 states.

Department of Labor officials attribute Indiana’s high number of manufacturing jobs as a reason for being above the national average.

The manufacturing industry had the highest numbers of injured and ill workers with 30,800, nearly twice as many as the next highest industry, health care and social assistance, with 16,000 cases.

All major industries, except agriculture, experienced their lowest occupational injury and illness rate ever, the news release stated.

The construction industry’s rate of 4.6 is 19 percent lower than in 2007, marking the largest rate drop of any industry, according to the release.

Forestry and fishing had the highest rate of 7.6, which is down from the 2007 mark of 8.4. Other industries above the national and state average include health care and social assistance (6.4) and the arts, entertainment and recreation industry (5.8).

As for public-sector workers, including state and local government, Indiana’s nonfatal occupational injury and illness rate remain unchanged from the 2007 rate of 5.7, which is below the national average of 6.3.

Department of Labor officials credited several factors for the reduction in the private-industry rate, including enforcement efforts of the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration and enhanced relationships with the business community, the release stated.

Proactive safety and health partnerships on major construction projects and employers and employees working to ensure a safe and healthy workplace also contributed to the decline in cases.

“The 2008 Bureau of Labor Statics’ Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses’ findings are encouraging news for all Hoosier workers, organized labor and the business community,” Commissioner of Labor Lori A. Torres said in the release.

In her release, Torres pointed out that industry in Indiana has not seen a reduction in worker injuries or illnesses for the prior three years.

A separate report on Indiana work-related fatalities for 2008 was released in August and was the second-lowest on record, according to Department of Labor officials.