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Case and Demographic Characteristics Data from the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses: Explanatory Note

Originally Posted: April 28, 2004

The Bureau of Labor Statistics collects detailed information about nonfatal injury and illness cases that result in days away from work. This detailed information includes demographic characteristics of occupation, sex, age, race or ethnic background, and length of service and the case characteristics of nature of the injury and illness, the part of body affected, the source of injury or illness, and the event or exposure leading to the incident.

Cases of days away from work are derived from logs and other records kept by employers throughout 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 current recordkeeping guidelines of the U. S. Department of Labor. The number of injuries and illnesses reported in a given year also can be influenced by changes in the level of economic activity, working conditions and work practices, worker experience and training, and the number of hours worked.

Estimates are produced for all case and demographic characteristics as well as industry. The number of hours worked is used to compute incidence rates by industry and case characteristics. However, because this survey does not collect hours worked or employment for demographic characteristics, no rates are computed for those variables.

There are two other annual BLS releases on work-related safety and health. Information about work-related fatalities is available from the National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. The Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) summary release presents the overall level and rate of nonfatal injuries and illnesses, by case type and industry.

Additional information:
For more detailed information on this program, contact the Office of Safety, Health, and Working Conditions, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Room 3180, Washington, DC 20212.

Telephone: (202) 691-6170
E-mail: oshstaff@bls.gov
Internet: http://www.bls.gov/iif/home.htm

 

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