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Monday, April 28, 2008
Actual Workplace Injury Rates
With all the "news" about OSHA not doing their job properly, and the need for OSHA reform, I've wondered why no one has taken a look at the actual numbers. What have the real-life results been? There will always be problem areas that need attention, but overall has the approach to safety that has been taken by OSHA resulted in an increase or decrease in the number injuries?
The following is summarized from the Bureau of Labor Statistics web site. 2006 is the most recent year for which data is available.
WORKPLACE INJURIES AND ILLNESSES IN 2006
The total recordable case (TRC) injury and illness incidence rate among private industry employers in 2006 was the lowest since the SOII was first conducted.
Nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses among private industry employers in 2006 occurred at a rate of 4.4 cases per 100 equivalent full-time workers—a decline from 4.6 cases in 2005. Similarly, the number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses reported in 2006 declined to 4.1 million cases, compared to 4.2 million cases in 2005.
Key findings of the 2006 Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII)
Altought there was a 2% increase in the number of hours worked, the injury and illness rate declined for nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses among private industry employers in 2006. Similarly, for goods-producing industries as a whole and for service-providing industries as a whole the number of hours worked rose two percent while the number of cases declined three percent. This resulted in rate declines for total recordable injuries and illnesses in both of these industries in 2006
Mining experienced the lowest incidence rate in 2006 among goods-producing industry
sectors—3.5 cases per 100 full-time workers.
Fourteen industries, each having at least 100,000 injuries and illnesses combined,
accounted for more than 1.8 million cases (45 percent) of the 4.1 million total. General medical and surgical hospitals (NAICS 6221) reported more injuries and illnesses than any other industry in 2006—more than 264,300 cases.
Selected Industry Sectors at a Glance
Construction. Similar to private industry, incidence rates for all case types, with the exception of cases with job transfer or restriction, were lower in construction in 2006 than in 2005. These declines resulted from a six percent increase in hours worked while the number of cases of all types remained statistically unchanged.
Manufacturing. The rate of total recordable injury and illness cases in manufacturing declined significantly in 2006—from 6.3 to 6.0 cases per 100 full-time workers.
Transportation and warehousing. The number of injury and illness cases and the rate at which they occurred decreased significantly in this industry sector in 2006, with the TRC rate falling from 7.0 to 6.5 cases per 100 full-time workers.
Utilities. A 12 percent decrease in the number of injury and illness cases reported among establishments in this sector resulted in a decline in the TRC rate from 4.6 to 4.1 cases per 100 full-time workers in 2006.
Health care and social assistance. The number of industries for which estimates were
tabulated in this sector was greatly expanded in 2006. The number of injuries and illnesses and the rate at which they occurred in 2006 remained relatively unchanged in this sector.
The following is summarized from the Bureau of Labor Statistics web site. 2006 is the most recent year for which data is available.
WORKPLACE INJURIES AND ILLNESSES IN 2006
The total recordable case (TRC) injury and illness incidence rate among private industry employers in 2006 was the lowest since the SOII was first conducted.
Nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses among private industry employers in 2006 occurred at a rate of 4.4 cases per 100 equivalent full-time workers—a decline from 4.6 cases in 2005. Similarly, the number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses reported in 2006 declined to 4.1 million cases, compared to 4.2 million cases in 2005.
Key findings of the 2006 Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII)
- Incidence rates and numbers of cases for injuries and illnesses combined declinedsignificantly in 2006 for most case types, with the exception of cases involving job transfer or restriction only.
- The number and incidence rate of injuries both declined significantly in 2006 compared to 2005. The number declined by 3% and the incident rate declined by 5%.
- The number and incidence rate of illnesses declined significantly in 2006 compared to 2005—mainly the result of declines among hearing loss and all other illness categories.
- The size of the data set was increased. Estimates were tabulated for more than 70 additional industries in 2006.
- TRC rates declined among 9 of the 19 private industry NAICS sectors in 2006 and
remained statistically unchanged in the remaining 10 NAICS sectors. - TRC rates in 10 of 43 states (including the District of Columbia) for which SOII
estimates are available were lower in 2006 compared to a year earlier; TRC rates in 32 states remained relatively unchanged; and the TRC rate in 1 state was higher in 2006.
Altought there was a 2% increase in the number of hours worked, the injury and illness rate declined for nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses among private industry employers in 2006. Similarly, for goods-producing industries as a whole and for service-providing industries as a whole the number of hours worked rose two percent while the number of cases declined three percent. This resulted in rate declines for total recordable injuries and illnesses in both of these industries in 2006
Mining experienced the lowest incidence rate in 2006 among goods-producing industry
sectors—3.5 cases per 100 full-time workers.
Fourteen industries, each having at least 100,000 injuries and illnesses combined,
accounted for more than 1.8 million cases (45 percent) of the 4.1 million total. General medical and surgical hospitals (NAICS 6221) reported more injuries and illnesses than any other industry in 2006—more than 264,300 cases.
Selected Industry Sectors at a Glance
Construction. Similar to private industry, incidence rates for all case types, with the exception of cases with job transfer or restriction, were lower in construction in 2006 than in 2005. These declines resulted from a six percent increase in hours worked while the number of cases of all types remained statistically unchanged.
Manufacturing. The rate of total recordable injury and illness cases in manufacturing declined significantly in 2006—from 6.3 to 6.0 cases per 100 full-time workers.
Transportation and warehousing. The number of injury and illness cases and the rate at which they occurred decreased significantly in this industry sector in 2006, with the TRC rate falling from 7.0 to 6.5 cases per 100 full-time workers.
Utilities. A 12 percent decrease in the number of injury and illness cases reported among establishments in this sector resulted in a decline in the TRC rate from 4.6 to 4.1 cases per 100 full-time workers in 2006.
Health care and social assistance. The number of industries for which estimates were
tabulated in this sector was greatly expanded in 2006. The number of injuries and illnesses and the rate at which they occurred in 2006 remained relatively unchanged in this sector.
Labels: safety, safety and the media
posted by Steve Hudgik |
Workplace Safety Post 1 Comments |
1 Comments:
I wonder what effect the current economic climate is likely to have on TRC rates e.g. increased unemployment,increased work pressures, organisations cutting costs, more risks being taken perhaps?
Health and Safety Mentor
http://www.healthandsafetymentor.com
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