The Bureau of Labour Statistics has reported annually on the number of days-away-from-work injuries and illnesses in private industry and the rate of such incidents since the early 1970s. The 1996 national survey marks the fifth year that BLS has collected additional detailed information on such cases in the form of worker and case characteristics data, including workdays lost, summarised in this release. The number and frequency (incidence rates) of these cases are based on logs and other records kept by private industry 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 Labour. 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. The survey continues to measure the number of new work-related illness cases which are recognised, diagnosed, and reported each year. In 1996, 94,700 of the 1.9 million cases with days away from work were classified as illnesses. Some conditions, e.g., long-term latent illnesses caused by exposure to carcinogens, often are difficult to relate to the workplace and are not adequately recognised and reported. These long-term latent illnesses are believed to be understated in the survey. In contrast, the overwhelming majority of the reported new illnesses are those which are easier to directly relate to workplace activity (e.g., contact dermatitis or carpal tunnel syndrome). The Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses is a Federal/State program (50/50 funded) in which employer reports are collected from about 165,000 private industry establishments and processed by state agencies co-operating with the Bureau of Labour Statistics. Occupational injury and illness data for coal, metal, and nonmetal mining and for railroad activities were provided by the Department of Labour's Mine Safety and Health Administration and the Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration. The survey excludes all fatalities at work and work-related nonfatal injuries and illnesses to the self employed; workers on farms with fewer than 11 employees; private household workers; and employees in federal, state, and local government agencies. The survey estimates of the characteristics of cases with days away from work are based on a scientifically selected probability sample, rather than a census of the entire population. Two levels of sampling were used. First, establishments were selected to represent themselves and, in many instances, other establishments of like industry and workforce size that were not selected that survey year. Then, sampled establishments projected to have large numbers of days away from work cases were instructed before the survey began on how to sample those cases to minimise the burden of their response. (A)
Abstract