Bureau of Labor Statistics Reports Decline in Workplace Injuries and Illnesses
WASHINGTON, DC – Dr. David Michaels, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, issued a statement concerning the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2013 Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.
In his statement, Michaels said, “Today we learned that, in 2013, approximately three million private sector workers in America experienced a serious injury or illness on the job. In this extraordinarily high number, it is easy to focus on the headline and miss the trend line. We are encouraged that the rates continue to decline over the past few years, even during this period of healthy economic growth when we would expect the rate of injuries to rise. The decrease in the injury rate is a product of tireless work by those employers, unions, worker advocates, and occupational safety and health professionals all coupled with the efforts of federal and state government organizations that make worker safety and health a high priority each and every day."
Beginning January 1, 2015, OSHA reporting requirements will change. Employers will be responsible for reporting all fatal work injuries within eight hours, and all in-patient hospitalizations, amputations or losses of an eye within 24 hours. The agency has also updated the list of industries required to keep injury and illness records.
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