Safety performance measurement OSHA statistics

At the Professional Development Conference held by the American Society of Safety Engineers in June 2002, there were at least three sessions pertaining to leading indicators. Speakers and writers say that this new form of measurement is offered as a response to the dissatisfaction some safety practitioners have expressed concerning the use of what they say are trailing indicators — OSHA statistics, costs — as the sole measure of safety performance. 

The actuarial premises on which the workers compensation experience rating system was developed give credibility to OSHA incident recordable and lost workday case rates as measures, and predictors, of safety performance, with these qualifications The statistical base (the hours worked) on which the records are developed has to be large enough and low probability-severe outcome risks may not be encompassed within the experience base. 

Do the OSHA statistics—the recordable case rate and the lost workday case rate —for an exposure of 1,000,000 hours have a confidence level of, say, 68.27%, as measures of the quality of safety performance An entity of this size would more than likely purchase workers compensation insurance and have an experience modification as an additional measure. 

Under this system, it is essential that data recorded by employers be uniform and accurate to assure the consistency and validity of the statistical data which are used by OSHA for many purposes, including inspection targeting, performance measurement under the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), standards development, resource allocation. Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) eligibility, and low-hazard industry exemptions. The data also aid employers, employees, and compliance officers in analyzing the safety and health environment at the employer s establishment and is the source of information for the OSHA Data Initiative (ODI) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Annual Survey. 

Ultimately, the data you record need be uniform and accurate to assure the consistency and validity of the statistical data reported to OSHA. Accurate records are used for many purposes, including audits, performance measurement, program improvement, and resource allocation to critical operations. This information can also help utilities analyze their health, safety, and environment and make improvements where necessary. 

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