Timely responses sought for Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is reminding selected municipal departments to continue their record-keeping efforts needed to complete the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, a federal/state program that collects information on and provides estimates of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses.

Estimates derived from the SOII are used to identify workplace injury and illness trends, which can be used to develop strategies with the goal of reducing preventable and costly injuries and illnesses.

Departments or locations selected for the 2023 survey were notified in late 2022 and should be actively keeping records for the 2023 calendar year. Their response is required in early 2024. During the first week of January, the BLS will notify the 2023 selected entities that the survey information is due within 30 days.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards, being selected to participate in the SOII is random, and it only includes the department or location on the notification — not the entire municipality. Some municipalities might have multiple locations selected to participate in one survey year.

The BLS provided instructions and OSHA recordkeeping forms needed to complete the survey. Completion of the SOII involves submitting injury and illness data to the Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards.

Most of the injury and illness information submitted to comply with the SOII are similar to the OSHA injury and illness (Form 300A) data submission requirements of the Workplace Safety and Health Program, but the SOII submission is separate, and submitting the injury and illness data for one of these requirements does not satisfy both. Completion of the SOII is mandatory.

Locations selected to participate in the SOII for 2024 will be notified in mid-December.

For more information or questions, contact Jason Ross at DLS at Jason.K.Ross@mass.gov.