What Nonfatal Work Injuries in New Mexico Reveal About Job Safety
In 2022, Bureau of Labor Statistics data showed that private employers in New Mexico reported 12,400 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses. At first glance, the numbers might look encouraging: New Mexico’s total recordable cases (TRC) rate came in at 2.3 per 100 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers, below the national average of 2.7. But a closer look reveals a different story. Some jobs remain far more dangerous than others, and the workers most likely to get hurt are still the ones least protected.
While the average TRC rate may suggest progress, it doesn’t reflect the risks facing workers in New Mexico’s most hazardous sectors. Trade, transportation, and utilities industries, for example, reported a much higher incident rate of 3.4. These jobs—which include delivery drivers, warehouse workers, truckers, utility techs, and others who power the economy—also accounted for a large share of the state’s occupational injuries and illnesses.
Most of these aren’t minor scrapes. They’re injuries that take people off the job, sometimes for good. The most common injuries were strains, tears, and sprains. Slips, trips, falls, and lifting injuries were the most frequent causes.
Inexperience a Common Factor Among Injured Workers
Data from the New Mexico Workers’ Compensation Administration (WCA) reveals clear trends about who’s most at risk. Male workers between the ages of 25 and 35 filed the most indemnity claims—the claims that involve time off work, lost wages, or permanent restrictions. Construction, transportation, and maintenance jobs made up the bulk of those claims.
New employees were more likely to be injured than their experienced peers. That tracks with what we see in our cases: new hires often get thrown into fast-moving, high-risk roles without proper training or supervision. They’re expected to keep up, but they’re not taught how to stay safe.
Claims Going Down While Claim Intensity Rises
The WCA report shows that while fewer injuries are being reported overall, more of those injuries are serious. First Reports of Injury (FROIs) have declined for three straight years—likely a lingering effect of the pandemic and changes in the labor market. But when it comes to actual compensation claims (SROIs), the raw numbers are going up. More workers are needing wage replacement. And per-claim costs for those injuries are increasing.
Even more concerning is what happens in long-term injury cases. New Mexico has seen a rise in opioid prescriptions and costs linked to work injury claims—bucking national and regional trends, which are declining. Higher prescribed opioid use indicates lower qualities of life among injured workers. Many of these opioid claims stem from injuries that happened more than a decade ago, which suggests that chronic pain is a serious concern in these cases.
In short, workplace injuries don’t end when you clock out. It’s a reality that many people will have to live with for a long time.
When the Weather Turns Deadly
The WCA also found a clear link between environmental heat and workplace injury. When the temperature spikes, so does the injury rate. That’s not just a summer problem. Outdoor workers in oilfields, road construction, and agriculture face real risk from heat stress—and when employers don’t provide shade, rest, and hydration, that risk turns into hospitalization.
Big Employers, Bigger Injury Rates
Another notable trend? The biggest companies had the highest TRC rates. Employers with over 1,000 workers reported 4.0 injuries per 100 FTEs—nearly double the statewide average, and five times higher than the rate at small companies.
That tells us something important: size doesn’t equal safety. Large corporations have the resources to run effective safety programs. But when production and profit are prioritized over training and injury prevention, workers pay the price.
A Nonfatal Injury Can Still Ruin Your Life
The government calls them "nonfatal," but that doesn’t mean these injuries are minor. A back injury from lifting the wrong way can leave someone out of work for years. A fall from a ladder might require multiple surgeries. A crushed hand or traumatic brain injury can mean permanent disability.
Workers who survive these injuries are often left with pain, mounting bills, and no idea how they’ll support their families. And while insurance companies work hard to minimize payouts, our job is to make sure injured workers get what they’re truly owed.
Arnold & Itkin has helped plaintiffs secure:
- Full wage replacement
- Coverage for all necessary medical treatment
- Long-term care support
- Pain and suffering
- Financial security for their families
What Arnold & Itkin Does for Injured Workers
At Arnold & Itkin, we’ve represented hundreds of workers from high-risk industries—offshore oil workers, construction crews, drivers, rig hands, warehouse employees and more. We’ve recovered over $20 billion for clients hurt in preventable accidents, holding employers and insurers accountable when they refuse to do the right thing.
The data from New Mexico tells us the same thing we see nationwide: the people who do the hardest work face the highest risks. And when they’re hurt, they deserve real help—not excuses or delays.
