February 26, 2003—The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has alerted 14,200 employers across the country that their injury and illness rates are higher than average, encouraging them to take steps to reduce hazards and protect their workers. OSHA offered its assistance to help reduce those rates. This year marks the first time the construction industry was included in the notification.
OSHA identified establishments with the nation’s highest lost workday injury and illness rates based on data reported by 93,000 employers surveyed by the agency in 2002 (covering calendar year 2001), including 13,000 construction employers for the first time. Workplaces receiving the alert letters had six or more injuries or illnesses resulting in lost workdays or restricted activity for every 100 full-time workers. Nationwide, the average US workplace had just under three lost-time instances for every 100 workers.
OSHA sent letters to all employers with high injury and illness rates, and provided copies of their injury and illness data, along with a list of the most frequently violated OSHA standard for their specific industry. While addressing concerns for the high rates, OSHA also offered the agency’s help in turning those rates around, suggesting, among other things, the hiring of outside safety and health consultants, and using free safety and health consultation services provided by the agency through the states.
The 14,200 sites are listed alphabetically by state on OSHA’s Web site. The list does not designate those earmarked for programmed inspections. Also, the sites listed are those in states covered by federal OSHA; the list does not include employers in the 21 states and two territories that operate OSHA-approved state plans covering the private sector.
