Approximately 14,000 employers have been notified that injuryand illness rates at their work sites are higher than average,according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

“This identification process is meant to raise awareness thatinjuries and illnesses are high at these facilities,” said JonathanL. Snare, OSHA's acting assistant secretary of labor. “Injuries andillnesses are costly to employers in both personal and financialterms. Our goal is to identify workplaces where injury and illnessrates are high, and to offer assistance to employers so that theycan address the hazards and reduce occupational injuries andillnesses.”

Establishments with the nation's high workplace injury andillness rates were identified through employer-reported data andhad 6.5 or more injuries or illnesses resulting in days away fromwork, restricted work activity, or job transfers for every 100full-time workers. The national average during 2003 was 2.6instances for every 100 workers.

The 14,000 entities are listed on OSHA's web site,www.osha.gov/as/opa/ foia/hot_11.html.