The 1994 occupational injury, illness, property and vehicle accident experience of Department of Energy (DOE) and DOE contractors are summarized in this report. Accident estimates reflect not only the experience of the reporting organizations, but the recorder's understanding of the types of cases to report under the current reporting guidelines. Numerous factors contribute to the occurrence of accidents, some of which are: improper work planning; the availability of proper equipment or tools; pressures, both from personal life and the workplace; training in the performance of tasks and the recognition of hazards; as well as maintenance and housekeeping. Some factors may be specific to the accident, such as the effects of weather in property damage cases. Adding to this is the fact that incidence rates are affected by a group of other factors, which include the work experience of employees, changes in working conditions, and the number of employee hours worked.

This report includes descriptions of several patterns noted within the data that help identify characteristics of this population, including the nature of the injuries and illnesses, the occupations of the workers, the types of activities being performed at the time of the accident and the severity of the case. Data included in this report can be utilized to assist in identifying trends and measuring safety performance. Trend data for frequency and severity provide a meaningful measure of year-to-year changes. However, caution should be exercised when interpreting short term trends in DOE data, since these data are vulnerable to the effects of revisions, late reporting, and one time incidents due to factors out of DOE's control. This is especially true of the lost workday rate, which is affected by ongoing revisions due to continuing days away from work or days of restricted work duty. In some areas, such as fatalities, property loss, and aircraft accidents, trends are not identifiable due to infrequent occurrence. Some trends in the incidence of particular types of cases may be systemic, due to reporting requirements or interpretations, and can best be detected over a larger sampling of data. For example, increased usage of computers resulted in an increase in the number and incidence of illnesses from repeated trauma, i.e., carpal tunnel syndrome.

Accident data available through current departmental information systems readily provides the "who", "what", "where", and "when" to accident analysis. However, determining "why" generally requires more information than is found in the individual accident reports. In large measure, the determination and analysis of "why" the accident occurs, must be made by line managers and staff at the site.

The number of injuries and illnesses reported by DOE and DOE contractors for 1994 decreased from those originally reported for 1993. Revisions and late reports for 1993 data have already accounted for increased rates for total recordable cases (6 percent), lost workday cases (7 percent), lost workdays (36 percent), and illnesses (6 percent). Both the number of cases and incidence rates for occupational illnesses have increased significantly over the past several years. The occupational illness rate increased 15 percent from the previous year, and is 75 percent higher than the 1989-93 average rate. This increase is driven largely by repetitive trauma incidents, which are classed as illnesses, resulting from increased use of computers. In 1994, disorders associated with repeated trauma accounted for about two of every three new illness cases, in 1989, the ratio was one out of three. It is believed that this increase is due to heightened awareness, by employees, employers, and physicians, of the cumulative trauma, stress-type illnesses.

Strains and sprains account for one-third of all injuries and one-half of all lost workdays associated with DOE injuries. By body part, both back and knee injuries occurred frequently (one-fifth of all injuries were back injuries, while one-tenth were knee injuries) and were relatively severe (accounting for 30 and 13 percent, respectively, of lost workdays associated with DOE injuries in 1994). Production/operation and material handling activities emerge as high risk activities. In addition, several generic occupation categories show a high risk: handler, laborer, or helper; security guard; plant, system or utility operator; and mechanic or repairer.

Falls account for 11 percent of construction contractor total recordable cases, 16 percent of their lost workday cases, and 18 percent of their lost workdays reported in 1994. Handlers, laborers, helpers, carpenters, and electricians experience the greatest number of falls. Sprains, strains and unspecified injuries occurred with high frequency and severity; however, fracture shows the highest severity (38 lost workdays per injury). The back was the most frequently injured body part and was also relatively severe (27 lost workdays per case).

Disabling falls account for 20 percent of days away from work cases for both the construction industry and DOE construction operations. However, DOE workers suffering from disabling falls lose an average of 24 days away from work, compared to private industry workers with 14 days. The difference between the average days away from work at DOE, compared to private industry, may be due to one or more of a combination of factors, including the availability of return-to-work programs and the severity of accidents.

In 1994, 12 fatalities occurred while performing DOE operations, which resulted in a fatality rate of 6.5 deaths per 100,000 worker years. Nine of the fatalities were the result of the U.S. Air flight 427 plane crash in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which the Department had no control over. Since occupational fatalities are relatively rare, each additional occurrence has a significant effect on the incidence rate. The Department experienced no fatalities during the first 7 months of 1994. In August, one case occurred and the resultant rate at the end of August was 0.8 deaths per 100,000 worker years. As a result of the multiple case aircraft incident, which occurred in September, the rate significantly increased to 7.0 per 100,000 worker years at the end of the third quarter. If the fatalities resulting from the aircraft crash are subtracted from the DOE total, the resulting rate for 1994 would be 1.6 per 100,000 worker years.

Preliminary estimates of property loss rates for 1994 are low in comparison to previous years. Fortunately, during this time period the DOE avoided any large multi-million dollar losses, which are frequently associated with natural causes. Although revisions and late reporting of losses will increase these estimates somewhat, the annual loss rate is expected to remain below the rate for the previous year. The 1994 vehicle accident rate is equal to the 1989-93 average, while the vehicle loss rate is approximately 4 percent above the 1989-93 average. It is noted that the vehicle rates do not include air, marine or rail vehicles, from which there were no accidents reported for 1994.

Additional copies of this report may be obtained by calling 301-903-6096.