title: Exploring the relationship between employer recordkeeping and underreporting in the BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little empirical data exist to identify the reasons for underreporting in the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) non-fatal occupational injury and illness data.
  
  
  METHODS
  We interviewed occupational injury and illness record keepers from Washington State establishments that participated in the 2008 BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII). Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to explore recordkeeping and business practices that may explain SOII's incomplete case capture compared with WC claims data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most participants (90%) did not comply with OSHA recordkeeping regulations. Other factors including using workplace injury data to evaluate supervisors' or SOII respondent's job performance, recording injuries for a worksite that operates multiple shifts, and failing to follow SOII instructions were more common among establishments with unreported WC claims.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Business practices that incentivize low injury rates, disorganized recordkeeping, and limited communication between BLS and survey respondents are barriers to accurate employer reports of work-related injuries and illnesses.
authors.affiliation: Safety & Health Assessment and Research for Prevention (SHARP), Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, Olympia, Washington.
authors.forename: Sara E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Wuellner
authors.forename: David K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Bonauto
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008499:Medical Records / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D062486:Public Health Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States; D014489:United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration / Q000592:standards; D014861:Washington / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Bureau of Labor Statistics; OSHA recordkeeping; Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses; injury underreporting; surveillance; workers' compensation data; workplace injuries and illnesses
references.citation: Scand J Work Environ Health. 2006 Jun;32(3):232-40
references.pmid: 16804627
references.citation: Am J Public Health. 1988 Sep;78(9):1218-9
references.pmid: 3407825
references.citation: Ann Epidemiol. 2008 Jun;18(6):500-6
references.pmid: 18083542
references.citation: Am J Ind Med. 2013 May;56(5):509-19
references.pmid: 22473632
references.citation: J Occup Environ Med. 2006 Apr;48(4):357-65
references.pmid: 16607189
references.citation: Am J Public Health. 2002 Sep;92(9):1421-9
references.pmid: 12197968
references.citation: Occup Environ Med. 2013 Jan;70(1):49-56
references.pmid: 23014592
references.citation: J Occup Environ Med. 2004 Jan;46(1):10-8
references.pmid: 14724473
references.citation: Am J Ind Med. 2010 Jan;53(1):23-36
references.pmid: 19960484
references.citation: Ergonomics. 1999 Jan;42(1):171-82
references.pmid: 9973879