FACTS

1. Many people don’t report accidents right away, which can lead to problems further down the line. The reason many people don’t report accidents is because there wasn’t any noticeable bodily harm or serious enough injuries to require immediate medical attention.
2. Many employers with more than 10 employees are required to keep a record of serious work-related injuries and illnesses. (Certain low-risk industries are exempted.) Minor injuries requiring first aid only do not need to be recorded.
3. Employers must report any worker fatality within 8 hours and any amputation, loss of an eye, or hospitalization of a worker within 24 hours.
4. The records must be maintained at the worksite for at least five years. Each February through April, employers must post a summary of the injuries and illnesses recorded the previous year. Also, if requested, copies of the records must be provided to current and former employees, or their representatives.
5. Accurate reporting of work-related conditions is necessary to monitor workplace health and safety, and to identify the interventions that are most needed. Reporting systems may be designed primarily for external agencies (OSHA or workers’ compensation) or for the employer’s own use. Under-reporting of workplace injuries and illnesses is common due to a variety of causes and influences. 
6. Safety incentive programs typically reward supervisors and employees for reducing workplace injury rates, and thus may unintentionally inhibit proper reporting. 

STATS

• Walmart, with 1.3 million employees in the United States, has the second-highest number of reported incidents. But of great concern is the fact that much smaller companies also are reporting some of the largest numbers of severe injuries.
• Two smaller companies that stand out among those reporting large numbers of severe workplace injuries are both in the chicken and meat processing industry: Tyson Foods, with one-tenth the size of Walmart’s workforce (approximately 93,000 workers nationwide), has the fourth-highest number of reported severe injuries; and JBS/Pilgrim’s Pride, another poultry and meat company, holds the sixth-highest spot.