INJURIES AND ILLNESSES

In 1990, the DOE modified their recordkeeping requirements to be consistent with regulations established by the Department of Labor for private industry. This change in the DOE recordkeeping system has made subsequent comparisons to BLS data more meaningful. In most cases, this change effectively increased the number of cases reported by DOE and contractors from 1990 to the present. Departmental efforts to enhance safety and health awareness, and increased oversight activities during this time period also influenced the apparent increase in TRC, LWC, and LWD totals and rates.

Indicators

The DOE and contractor injury and illness indicators include occupational injury and illness rates per 200,000 workhours in the following categories:

Appendix F provides instructions for the calculation of incidence rates. Factors influencing incidence rates include work experience (training), changes in working conditions, and the number of employee hours worked.

Other indicators:

The cost index is computed as follows:

Cost Index = 100 (1,000,000 D + 500,000 T + 2,000 LWC + 1,000 WDL + 400 WDLR + 2,000 NFC) divided by total work-hours.

.
D = The number of deaths.
T = The number of permanent transfers or terminations due to occupational illness or injury.
LWC = The number of lost workday cases.
WDL = The number of days away from work.
WDLR = The number of restricted workdays.
NFC = The number of non-fatal cases without days away from work or restricted workdays.

The coefficients are weighting factors which were derived from a study of the direct and indirect dollar costs of injuries. As a result, the index is approximately equal to cents lost per hour worked.

Rates

Table 1 shows 1994 initial injury and illness rates, and for comparison 1993 initial rates, 1993 revised rates, DOE and contractor 5-year average rates, and private industry 5-year average rates. Figures 1 through 3 show the TRC, LWC, LWD rates, respectively, for 1985 through 1994. For comparison, DOE and BLS (private sector) 5-year average rates are also depicted.

Compared to 1993 initial rates, the 1994 TRC rate remained constant (see Table 1), while both the LWC and LWD rates increased slightly. Note, however, that all 1994 rates are below their corresponding 5-year average rates, and well below the BLS 5-year average rates (4). Experience shows that the 1994 LWD rate will rise significantly due to revisions and late reporting, while the TRC, LWC, and illness rates will rise slightly due to revisions and late reporting. For example, to date the 1993 TRC, LWC, and LWD rates have increased approximately 6, 7, and 36 percent, respectively, over the rates published in the 1993 summary report.

[Table 1]

Table 1. DOE and Contractor, and Private Sector Injury/Illness Rates.
(Select image for full-size table)

[Figure 1]

Figure 1. (Select image for full-size figure)

[Figure 2]

Figure 2. (Select image for full-size figure)

[Figure 3]

Figure 3. (Select image for full-size figure)

Figure 4 shows the illness rate trend since 1985. The illness rate for 1994 is higher than both the DOE 5-year average and the BLS 5-year average. Note that the illness rate has steadily increased since 1986 from 0.02 in 1986 to the present rate of 0.77 cases per 200,000 hours. The 1994 illness rate is 15 percent higher than the revised 1993 rate of 0.67, 75 percent higher than the DOE 5-year average rate of 0.44, and 54 percent higher than the BLS 5-year average rate of 0.50.

[Figure 4]

Figure 4. (Select image for full-size figure)

Lost Workday Ratio

Figure 5 shows the trend of the ratio of lost workdays to lost workday cases by year for DOE and contractors. The highest consequence per injury is seen in 1990, 1991, and 1992; however, since 1989 the highest percentage of lost workdays has shifted from workdays lost to workdays lost restricted. Note that the LWD/LWC ratio for 1994 is expected to increase significantly due to revisions and late reporting.

[Figure 5]

Figure 5. (Select image for full-size figure)

Cost Index

Figure 6 shows the trend of the cost index for DOE and contractors from 1985 through 1994. For comparison, the 5-year average DOE cost index is also depicted. The 1990, 1991, and 1992 annual indices are above the DOE 5-year average.

[Figure 6]

Figure 6. (Select image for full-size figure)

Number of Injury and Illness Cases

Table 2 shows injury/illness loss totals through calendar year 1994, and includes both initial and revised 1993 data for comparison. A total of 6,050 injury or illness cases have been reported to date for the 1994 12-month period. Forty-six percent of these cases (2,791) resulted in lost time (a total of 57,630 workdays). For initial 1993 data, 43 percent of injury/illness cases resulted in lost time, and for revised 1993 data, 44 percent of injury/illness cases resulted in lost time.

Revisions and late reports for 1993 resulted in increases in total recordable cases, lost workday cases, and lost workdays. To date, the 1993 total recordable cases, lost workday cases, and lost workdays have increased approximately 6, 7, and 36 percent, respectively, over the totals published in the 1993 summary report. In addition, the 1993 illness cases have increased by 6 percent over the total published in the 1993 summary report.

[Table 2]

Table 2. DOE and Contractor Injury/Illness Totals
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Incidence Rates by Operation Type

Table 3 compares DOE and contractor injury and illness incidence rates by operation type for calendar year 1994 to recently revised 1993 rates and 5-year average rates. A comparison of preliminary 1994 TRC rates with revised 1993 TRC rates reveals a decrease for most operation types; however, architectural/engineering, and oil and gas operations experienced increases in TRC rates, with increases of 50 and 20 percent, respectively. Four operation types (research, lump construction, architectural engineering, and oil and gas) show 1994 TRC rates above their 5-year average rates.

A comparison of preliminary 1994 LWC rates, with revised 1993 LWC rates, reveals an increase for most operation types. Services, cost construction, lump construction, total construction, architectural/engineering, and oil and gas show increasing LWC rates from 1993 to 1994. Oil and gas, and lump construction operations show the highest increases with 38.5 and 23.5 percent, respectively. Lump construction, total construction, architectural/engineering, and oil and gas show 1994 LWC rates above their 5-year average rates.

Note that Appendix B provides detailed rate information. It lists total recordable case rates and lost workday case rates for 1993, 1994, and a 5-year baseline period for DOE, field organizations, and contractors. In addition, the percent change from 1993 to 1994 rates has been calculated for each organization.

[Table 3]

Table 3. DOE and Contractor Injury and Illness Incidence Rates by Operation Type
(Select image for full-size table)

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(4) Since 1992, BLS has not published lost workday rates, due to the effects of revisions in the severity of lost workday cases.

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