A report by the Government Accountability Office concludes that many work place related injuries are not reported to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
The report cites employers did not report workplace injuries and illnesses for fear of increasing their workers’ compensation costs or hurting their chances of winning contracts.
In the case of employees injuries and work related illness goes unreported for fear of work and bonus loss, disciplinary action, and withdrawal of safety incentives.
It was discovered that OSHA data failed to include up to two-thirds of all workplace injuries and illnesses. Also a third of the occupational health practitioners admitted that thet were pressured to obfuscate work-related injuries or illnesses.
The Government Accountability Office, the auditing arm of Congress, has recommending changes in reporting policy to OSHA, to which OSHA has agreed.
Work place injuries are down since 1992 due in part to safer practices and the loss of heavy manufacturing.
Written by Seamus Esparza
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