Recordkeeping changes affect the Occupational Injury and Illness data

The BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses provides estimates of the number and frequency (incidence rates) of workplace injuries and illnesses based on logs kept by private industry employers during the year. These records reflect not only the year’s injury and illness experience, but also the employer’s understanding of which cases are work related under recordkeeping guidelines promulgated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Department of Labor. Effective January 1, 2002, OSHA revised its requirements for recording occupational injuries and illnesses. Details about the revised requirements, including a summary of the revisions and a comparison between the old and new requirements, are available from the OSHA Internet site at www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/index.html or from OSHA’s Office of Public Affairs at 202-693-1999.

Due to the revised requirements, the estimates from the 2002 survey are not comparable with those from prior years. The survey was not designed to be able to determine the impact of the revision on the estimates of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses.

Additional detail is provided in the release at www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/osh/os/osnr0018.pdf.

Last Modified Date: August 14, 2007