§ 1904.20 - Description of statistical program.

(a) Section 24 of the Act directs the Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, to develop and maintain a program of collection, compilation, and analysis of occupational safety and health statistics. The Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics has been delegated this authority by the Secretary of Labor. The program shall consist of periodic surveys of occupational injuries and illnesses.

(b) The sample design encompasses probability procedures, detailed stratification by industry and size, and a systematic selection within strata. Stratification and sampling will be carried out by State and other jurisdictions in order to provide the most efficient sample for eventual State estimates. Some industries will be sampled more heavily than others depending on the injury rate level based on previous experience. Nationally, the survey should produce adequate estimates for most four-digit Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) industries in manufacturing and for three-digit SIC classification in nonmanufacturing. In participating States where the sample size has been supplemented significantly, comparable estimates are possible.