Department of Energy management is committed to assuring worker safety and health at DOE facilities. Each year, incidents in the work environment result in lost work time due to occupational injuries and illnesses, and dollar losses due to property and vehicle damage. Throughout the years, changes made in the DOE recordkeeping and reporting system have been directed toward accurately measuring the safety performance of DOE and DOE contractors. The most recent change, effective January 1, 1990, requires DOE to establish a recordkeeping and reporting system consistent with regulations of the Department of Labor (DOL), Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations Part 1904. These regulations provide recordkeeping and reporting requirements for employers covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.
From January 1, 1986, through December 31, 1989, the DOE recordkeeping and reporting system was based on DOE-developed criteria that were similar to the DOL requirements. However, there were several differences in the reporting criteria of the DOE system that may have reduced the number of cases reported by the Department. For example, an injury involving a forklift operator who tripped and was injured while walking to the employee parking lot was not always recordable under the DOE system. DOL criteria, however, require an employer to record essentially all injuries (i.e., injuries requiring more than first aid treatment) occurring at the work site.
The numbers and rates published in this quarterly report are preliminary estimates. Experience has shown that due to factors such as late reporting, reclassifications of events, low initial estimates of lost workdays, and untimely identification of reportable events, the numbers and rates generally increase from those initially reported.
Included throughout the report are comparative data from previous years, as well as nationwide industrial averages as reported or derived from data provided by the U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and by the National Safety Council. Unless otherwise noted, the DOE information represents the most recent data, including revisions identified and reported prior to publication. Because of the effects of revisions and changes in reporting requirements, comparisons between recent data and revised data may be unreliable.
BLS (1) Bureau of Labor Statistics.
CAIRS Computerized Accident/Incident Reporting System.
Cost Index (2) 100 (1,000,000 D + 500,000 T + 2,000 LWC + 1,000 WDL + 400 WDLR + 2,000 NFC) divided by total workhours.
DOE Department of Energy.
Incidence Rate The number of injuries, illnesses or lost workdays per 200,000 work-hours (approximately 100 person-years).
LWC Lost Workday Case. A case that involves days away from work or days of restricted work activity, or both.
LWD Lost Workdays. The number of days the employee was away from work or limited to restricted work activity because of an occupational injury or illness.
MVM Million vehicle miles.
NSC (3) National Safety Council.
ORPS Occurrence Reporting and Processing System.
Property Valuation The estimated replacement cost of all property.
TRC Total Recordable Case. A work-related death, illness, or injury which resulted in loss of consciousness, restriction of work or motion, transfer to another job, or required medical treatment beyond first aid.
YTD Year-to-date.
Field organization abbreviations used in Tables 10, 11, and Supplementary Tables:
AL = Albuquerque Operations
CH = Chicago Operations
ETC = Energy Technology Centers
HQ = Headquarters (DOE)
ID = Idaho Operations
NPR = Naval Petroleum Reserves
NV = Nevada Operations
OAK = Oakland Operations
OH = Ohio Field Office
OR = Oak Ridge Operations
PA = Power Administrations
PNR = Pittsburgh Naval Reactors
RF = Rocky Flats Field Office
RL = Richland Operations
SNR = Schenectady Naval Reactors
SPR = Strategic Petroleum Reserves
SR = Savannah River Operations
SSC = Superconducting Super Collider Termination Project Office
YM = Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Project Office
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(1) The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data were obtained from the U.S. Department of Labor, BLS, Office of Safety, Health and Working Conditions.
(2) Coefficients in the Cost Index formula 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.
(3) The National Safety Council (NSC) data are from ACCIDENT FACTS, (the latest year available) and previous editions where applicable. All NSC averages and rates printed herein refer to U.S. industry with the exception of vehicle rates which are based on the total miles traveled by registered highway vehicles.
NOTE: Effective January 1, 1986, the reporting minimum for DOE vehicle damage was increased from $250 to $500.