OSHA Publishes Detailed 2023 Workplace Injury and Illness Data

For the first time in history, OSHA released details about 900,000 workplace injuries and illnesses reported in 2023. This transparency increases scrutiny on these companies from regulators, the public, and other stakeholders. Here’s what you need to know.

What Was Released by OSHA?

The data released includes extensive details about 2023 incidents, including:

• company names and addresses.
• descriptions of injuries and illnesses.
• incident details including circumstances leading to them.

All of this information is now easily accessible to employees, unions, researchers, and the general public.

What Does This Mean to You?

While this push for transparency signals a positive shift toward greater accountability, OSHA’s decision to share this data publicly will likely:

• increase public scrutiny of these companies from the media, unions, and other stakeholders.
• impact the companies’ reputation including influencing what customers, investors, and employees think about them.
• facilitate benchmarking – companies will now have more data to compare their performance to industry peers.

This unprecedented move emphasizes the importance of workplace safety and accountability.

What Now?

To navigate this unprecedented era of transparency and mitigate your risks, here are some things to consider:

• Audit your records to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Trend your data – look for recurring accidents, incidents, and root causes.
• Invest time into strengthening your safety program.
• Be prepared for inquiries from the public including unions and the media.
• Ensure your team is trained to investigate incidents thoroughly.
• Ensure your team has the tools they need to find and fix root causes and develop effective corrective actions.

This step by OSHA underscores the importance of proactive improvement.

How We Can Help

Companies around the world use TapRooT® Root Cause Analysis to identify and address the true root causes of human performance and equipment issues. Good root cause analysis is essential for preventing problems, improving operations, ensuring compliance, and safeguarding a company’s reputation and future success.

Our 2-Day TapRooT® Training is the fastest way to learn how to do a TapRooT® Investigation from start to finish. You will learn everything you need to know about how to investigate low-to-medium-risk incidents. (You can also take this class virtually over three days.)

The 5-Day TapRooT® Root Cause Analysis Training is the most comprehensive training available. It covers techniques for both simple and complex investigations, providing you with extensive hands-on practice. You work through team exercises each day to apply your new knowledge and gain experience using the TapRooT® VI Software.

The Equifactor® Equipment Troubleshooting & TapRooT® Root Cause Analysis Training offers expert-guided troubleshooting ensuring standardized practices to attack both repeat and unique machine and system issues. You’ll master advanced equipment troubleshooting and root cause analysis techniques to enhance your site’s maintenance and equipment reliability. This course is ideal for maintenance managers, reliability professionals, and anyone responsible for investigating equipment issues related to safety or quality concerns.

Poorly handled incidents can damage a company’s reputation, erode customer trust, and attract negative attention from the media and public. Addressing root causes shows a commitment to accountability and continuous improvement. Contact us for a free executive briefing.