Observations on accident rate trends in major industry groups follow. Agriculture In agriculture, the employment decline and large productivity growth rate would be expected to encourage decline in injury and fatality rates over time; yet between two peak years, 1973 and 1979 the injury rate actually increased by 0.5 percent, and the fatality rate (which is already the highest of all industry divisions) declined less than that of any other industry division. All farms with 10 or fewer workers (about 90 percent of all farms) are exempt from OSHA enforcement by a congressional appropriations provision first enacted in 1974 and incorporated into annual appropriations bills since. Construction Traditionally construction has the highest injury rate (and the highest lost workday case rate) of all industry divisions. Between 1973 and 1979 it had the third highest increase in employment. Meanwhile, it was the only major industry group whose productivity rate actually declined. This is the industry which has the greatest concentration of OSHA enforcement. Considering that in 1983 construction was the target of 49 percent of all OSHA inspections, while it has only 4 pecent of all OSHA-covered workers, one would expect injury reductions to show up here to the extent that OSHA activity is capable of reducing injuries. In fact, construction had the highest decrease in injury rate of all major industry groups. However, its decline in fatality rate ranked fourth. Manufacturing Manufacturing has as encouragements toward a healthy reduction in accident rates a very small increase in employment and a moderate productivity growth rate. This sector had the second highest concentration of OSHA activity of any industry division. In addition, many of the major causes of accidents in manufacturing are susceptible to reduction according to studies reported on pages 13 and 14. One would expect manufacturing to have experienced one of the highest decreases in accident rates. In fact, it experienced the second highest decline in injury rate, after construction, but the second lowest decline in fatality rate of all six industry divisions. Transportation and Public Utilities In this industry a large proportion of the injuries and fatalities involve motor vehicles. The 55 mph speed limit instituted in the early 1970s may have helped reduce accidents somewhat. This industry's statistics may reflect the fact that OSHA workplace standards are unable to assist in reducing injury and fatality rates involving motor vehicles. Partially as a result of these factors, the Transportation and Public Utilities industry has decreased its fatality rate moderately and its injury rate relatively little over the years studied. Trade The wholesale and retail trade division has experienced the second largest growth in employment, and one of the lowest growths in productivity. As with the transportation industry it is possible that the 55 mile-per-hour speed limit may have helped the decline in fatality rate somewhat. In any event, this industry has experienced the second largest decline in fatality rates (after services) and the second lowest decline in injury rate. Services The services division includes a miscellany of industries such as automotive repair, business services, health and legal services. Over the period studied, it registered the largest increase in employment of all industries studied. At the same time, its measured productivity growth rate was virtually zero. Nevertheless, it experienced the highest decline in fatality rate of all industry groups, but the third lowest decline in injury rate. The specific cause of this decline in fatality rate is difficult to trace, since the industry is so heterogeneous. V. APPENDIX Year TABLE 5. Data for Graphs on Occupational Injury and Fatality Rates, 1972-1982 (p. 2 and p. 16) Lost Workday All Injuries 1/ Fatalities 2/ Injuries 1/ Lost Workdays 1/ 1/ Rates per 100 full-time workers. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Periodic Surveys, annual press releases. 2/ Rates per 100,000 workers. Source: National Safety Council. Accident Facts, 1983. |