GAO Report: Better OSHA Guidance Needed on Safety Incentive Programs

Rate-based safety incentive programs may discourage the reporting of injuries and illnesses to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), states an April 9, 2012, report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). The results of a 2010 GAO survey indicated that 25% of U.S. manufacturers had safety incentive programs, and most had other workplace safety policies that, according to experts and industry officials, may affect injury and illness reporting. GAO estimated that 22% of manufacturers had rate-based safety incentive programs, and 14% had behavior-based programs.