Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I submit an electronic file of my work-related injuries and illnesses instead of filling out the form?

Yes. You can submit an electronic file of your survey data. Generally, large companies with multiple locations in the SOII would benefit the most from this type of submission. Contact us for specific instructions.

Can I complete the form online?

Yes. Instructions for online submission can be found here.

Can I send my information by e-mail?

Yes. Send an e-mail to OSH2007@idcf.bls.gov and receive an Adobe form that you can fill out and send back to us. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the form. Adobe Acrobat Reader is a free software program that allows you to view Portable Document Files (PDF). You may download it at no cost from Adobe's Web site.

Can I phone in my data?

Yes. Call the number listed on the front of your survey package next to 'For Help Call:'. They can take your data over the phone.

Can I FAX in my data?

Yes. Instructions for reporting via FAX can be found here.

What is the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII)?

This is a survey that is designed to provide an estimate of the number of work related injuries and illnesses and a measure of the frequency (rate) at which they occur. For more serious cases, those that involve one or more days away from work, it also provides a description of the injury or illness cases (case characteristics) as well as a profile of the affected workers (demographic profiles). You can learn much more about this survey by visiting http://www.bls.gov/iif/.

What are some important uses of SOII data?

National and State policy makers use the survey as an indicator of the magnitude of occupational safety and health problems. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration uses the statistics to help determine which industries clearly need to improve safety programs and to measure the effectiveness of the 1970 act in reducing work-related injuries and illnesses. Both labor and management use the estimates in evaluating safety programs. Other users include insurance carriers involved in workers' compensation, industrial hygienists, manufacturers of safety equipment, researchers, and others concerned with job safety and health.

Are the data I provide confidential?

Yes! Your information and identity are kept in strict confidence in accordance with Bureau of Labor Statistics Data Integrity Guidelines and with the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act (CIPSEA) of 2002.

I can't find my survey form, what should I do?

Not all establishments are included in this survey every year and the survey form includes certain information necessary for you to successfully respond to the survey. If you feel you received a survey form but have misplaced it, contact the State agency that would have mailed the questionnaire to you. The contact information for each State can be found on our respondent contact/help page.

Why have I been chosen to participate in this survey?

The sample that we select for the survey is relatively small comprising only about 200,000 establishments across the entire country. The sample size is kept as small as possible while still allowing us to produce reliable estimates of injuries and illnesses for both the nation and each participating State. The establishments selected for the survey are separated into groups according to their location, industry, and number of employees. An optimum sample size is determined and then a probability sample from each group is randomly selected.

What establishments are covered? We have multiple establishments and work sites, some in other States. Which should we report for?

• Report only for the location(s) identified on the front page under "report of this location:".
  
• If the instruction says "Report for this location: Texas Operations of Addressed Firm" or something similar, report for all of your work sites in that State. Do not include information from establishments in other States.
• Please contact your State office if you are not sure what to do.

Which employees do we include in the report?

You must include all employees on your payroll, whether they are labor, executive, hourly, salaried, part-time, seasonal, or migrant workers. You also must include employees who are not on your payroll, such as those provided by an employment agency if you supervise these employees on a day-to-day basis.

When is the form due? How much time do I have to complete the form?

We ask that you complete your form within 30 days of receiving it. If you feel that is not sufficient time, please call your State office.

I have an employee who had both days away from work AND days of job transfer or restriction. How do I classify this work-related injury (or illness)?

According to OSHA recordkeeping rules, you should classify a case according to its most serious final outcome. In this instance, you would classify this case as a case with days away from work and you would record the number of days away from work AND the days of job transfer or restriction in the corresponding columns on your OSHA 300 log.

Should I count calendar days or work days when reporting the days away from work and the days of job transfer or restriction?

You should count calendar days.

Which classes of employees should I count when I calculate my annual average number of employees for this report?

You should count full-time employees, part-time employees, temporary workers, seasonal workers, salaried workers, and hourly workers. The coverage is the same as stated in question 12 above, including those employees provided by the employment agency if you supervise them on a day-to-day basis.

Do I need to count only regular work hours? What about overtime?

You should count the number of hours regularly worked by full-time employees. You should exclude vacation, sick leave, holidays, and any other non-work time. You will also need to count the number of regular hours worked by your non-full-time employees. (Non-full-time employees include part-time, seasonal, and temporary employees.)

Most of the employees at our establishment are salaried (not hourly) workers, how do we count their total hours worked?

The hours worked is the measure that we use to determine the frequency rate of work-related injuries and illnesses. If the exact number of hours actually worked is not available then a reasonable estimate is an acceptable substitute. Our response to question 17 above provides a link that demonstrates one method of estimating the number of hours worked and includes a description of how one would handle the hours worked by salaried employees.

Where can I go for additional help in recording work-related injuries and illnesses?

Visit the OSHA Recordkeeping page for information about recording work-related injuries and illnesses.

Where can I go for additional help filling out the form?

Call the phone number listed on the front of the survey form. If you need help with the Internet Data Collection Facility online submission or e-mail submission of your survey data, contact us at osh.helpdesk@bls.gov.

 

Last Modified Date: December 20, 2007