NIOSH to Examine Injury/Illness Underreporting

Following the release of “Hidden Tragedy: Underreporting of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses” in 2008, Congress allocated funds for NIOSH to conduct a follow-up study using the agency’s occupational supplement to the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS-Work) to estimate underreporting among individuals who seek care at an emergency department for an occupational illness, injury or exposure.

As part of the project, NIOSH will assess the reporting behavior of workers who are injured, ill or exposed to a harmful substance at work; characterize the chronic aspects of work-related injuries or illnesses; and estimate the prevalence of work-related chronic injuries and illnesses among U.S. workers treated in emergency departments. Particular attention will be paid to self-employed workers, workers with work-related illnesses, and workers with chronic health problems. NIOSH reports that it will complete 1,500 to 3,000 interviews over a 2-year period to capture the necessary data.

Download a copy of the 2008 report here. Watch a two-part congressional hearing on the report here and here. Read NIOSH's 2012 Federal Register notice here.