U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS COMPENSATION AND WORKING CONDITIONS

Page 1

BLS Introduces Two Online Tools for Accessing Occupational Injuries and

Illnesses Data

by Lawrence H. Leith

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Originally Posted: November 30, 2005

On October 19, 2005, BLS introduced two new online tools to help the public access national and State data on occupational

injuries and illnesses. The Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Profiles tool allows users to create customized HTML or Excel

tables showing nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses data by industry, by the demographic characteristics of the

worker, and by the characteristics surrounding the incident. This tool is an online version of the Profiles system that

previously had been available only on CD-ROM. The Injury and Illness Incidence Rate Calculator and Comparison Tool

allows users to compute injury and illness incidence rates for their own establishments and to compare them with those of the

Nation as a whole or specific States or industries.

Users of the Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Profiles tool can generate three different kinds of tables: • Table 1 provides estimates of the number of injuries and illnesses resulting in days away from work by various

demographic characteristics, as specified by the user. The selection of this type of table yields estimates for any of the

following characteristics: gender, age group, major occupational group, length of service with the employer, race or

ethnic origin, number of days away from work (including median days), industry sectors, nature of the injury or illness,

part of body affected, source of the injury or illness, event or exposure, time of day, hours on the job, and day of the

week. • Table 2 provides incidence rates for injuries and illnesses resulting in days away from work for the characteristics

selected by the user. (Incidence rates are the number of injuries or illnesses per 100 full-time workers.) The selection

of this type of table yields incidence rates for any of the following characteristics: number of days away from work,

industry sectors, nature of the injury or illness, part of body affected, source of the injury or illness, and event or

exposure. • Table 3 provides estimates and incidence rates for the total number of nonfatal workplace injury and illness cases (not

just those requiring days away from work) for the specific industry selected by the user, as well as for all industries.

The selection of this type of table yields estimates and rates for the following categories: total cases; cases with days

away from work, job transfer, or restriction; cases with days away from work only; cases with job transfer or restriction

only; other recordable cases; injuries only; illnesses only; and specific illness categories.

The Injury and Illness Incidence Rate Calculator and Comparison Tool is designed for employers, although anyone may use

the tool. It allows users to calculate injury and illness incidence rates for their specific establishment or firm and to compare

them with those of other firms or with the averages for the industry in which the establishment is found. The tool provides

step-by-step instructions for calculating the establishment-specific incidence rates. Federal regulations require

establishments to maintain detailed records of all work-related injuries and illnesses using standardized forms. Thus, the

tool’s instructions indicate where on the various injury and illness forms employers can find the items needed for the

calculation. In addition, the Help section provides definitions of the data items needed to calculate the rates.

More information on these new tools can be obtained by contacting the BLS Office of Safety, Health, and Working

Conditions. Phone: 202-691-6170; email: iifstaff@bls.gov. Lawrence H. Leith

Economist, Office of Publications and Special Studies, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Telephone: (202) 691-7922; E-mail: Leith.Lawrence@bls.gov
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS COMPENSATION AND WORKING CONDITIONS

Page 2

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | Division of Information and Marketing Services, PSB Suite 2850, 2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE Washington, DC

20212-0001 | www.bls.gov/OPUB | Telephone: 1-202-691-5200 | Contact Us