Safety and Health Statistics - Field Definitions
A 1-digit code that identifies the type of estimate: Incidence rate of nonfatal injuries
and illnesses per 10,000 full-time workers (3); Injury and illness cases (6); or Median days
lost (7).
A 1-digit code that describes the type of estimate detail. The case types are defined as
follows: Industry division or selected characteristic by detailed nature of condition (N);
Industry division or selected characteristic by detailed part of body affected (P); Industry
division or selected characteristic by detailed source of injury/illness (S); Industry division
or selected characteristic by detailed event or exposure (E); Industry division or selected
characteristic by detailed occupation (O); Selected injury/illness characteristic by detailed
industry (3); Industry division or length of absence by age group (A); Industry division or
length of absence by gender (G); Industry division or length of absence by race (R); Industry
division or length of absence by length of service (L).
A 2-digit code that identifies the broad industry division, injury and illness classification,
or demographic characteristic, or number of days involved in the injury/illness resulting in days
away from work.
A Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code as described in the Standard Industrial
Classification (SIC) manual, 1987 Edition.
represent the number of injuries and/or illnesses per 10,000 full-time workers and were calculated as: (N/EH) X 20,000,000 where:
N = number of injuries and/or illnesses
EH = total hours worked by all employees during the calendar year
20,000,000 = base for 10,000 full-time equivalent workers (working 40 hours per week, 50 weeks per year).
The principal physical characteristic of a disabling condition, such as sprain/strain,
cut/laceration, or carpal tunnel syndrome, as described in the BLS Occupational Injury and
Illness Classification Manual.
That which is directly linked to the nature of injury or illness cited, for example, back
sprain, finger cut, or wrist and carpal tunnel syndrome, as described in the BLS
Occupational Injury and Illness Classification Manual.
The object, substance, exposure, or bodily motion that directly produced or inflicted the
disabling condition cited, for example a toxic substance, as described in the BLS Occupational
Injury and Illness Classification Manual.
The age group of the employee experiencing an injury or illness resulting in days away from work:
Under 14; 14-15; 16-19; 20-24; 25-29; 30-34; 35-39; 40-44; 45-49; 50-54; 55-59; 60-64; and 65 and
over.
The gender, male or female, of the employee experiencing an injury or illness resulting in days
away from work.
The length of service of the employee exeriencing an injury or illness resulting in days away
from work: Less than 3 months; 3-11 months, 1-5 years; More than 5 years.
The race of the employee experiencing an injury or illness resulting in days away from work:
White, non-Hispanic; Black, non-Hispanic; Hispanic; Asian or Pacific Islander; and American Indian
or Alaskan Native.
The manner in which the injury or illness was produced or inflicted, for example, overexertion
while lifting or fall from ladder, as described in the BLS Occupational Injury and
Illness Classification Manual.
The measure used to summarize the varying lengths of absences from work among the cases with
days away from work. Half the cases involved more days and half involved less days than a
specified median.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics developed the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification
System (OIICS) for identification of facts related to an occupational injury, illness, or
fatality.
The BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illness and the National Census of Fatal
Occupational Injuries include estimates by age, race, occupation, gender, and length of
service of the affected worker.
The BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illness and the National Census of Fatal
Occupational Injuries use the BLS Occupational Coding Manual (March 1993) that was derived from
the 1990 Alphabetical Index of Occupations developed by the Bureau of the Census.
Last Modified Date: March 12, 2004
United States Department of Labor
