CompFact:

Dogs and cats and insects, oh my!

In Minnesota, workplace injuries caused by animals and insects make up a small

percentage of total claims — less than a tenth of a percent of paid indemnity
claims from 1996 through 2000. These injuries include bites, contracted infections
and allergies caused by pets, laboratory animals, wild animals or insects. Figures
CF1 and CF2 (below) show the occupations most affected by animal- and insect-
caused injuries.

Note: Postal carriers — an occupation glaringly absent from the lists below — are covered by the federal
workers’ compensation system and are not in the Minnesota claims database.

Figure CF1
Occupations with the largest number of indemnity
claims caused by animal or insect, Minnesota, 1996-2000
Number of
Occupation claims
1. Animal caretakers -- nonfarm 26
2. Health technologist and laboratory technicians 25
3. Laborers -- nonconstruction 17
4. Driver/sales workers 14
5. Police and detectives -- public service 13

Figure CF2
Occupations with the largest percentage of indemnity
claims caused by animal or insect, Minnesota, 1996-2000
Percentage of
claims within
Occupation occupation
1. Animal caretakers -- nonfarm 24%
2. Veterinarians 21
3. Outdoor guides 13
4. Financial managers 5
5. Protective service occupations, security guards 4
Source: DLI workers' compensation claims database.

August 2002 • COMPACT • 7