Data user email request _ OIICSR

Dear XXXX,

(Organization name)

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is beginning a second major revision of the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS). OIICS was adopted by BLS in 1992 in order to classify injury and illness cases in a way that facilitates meaningful statistics. OIICS is now in its second edition, version 2.01.

At this time, we are soliciting suggestions for another extensive revision of the system. This revision is intended to update the classification system to:

• Include new or emerging conditions or workplace hazards that could potentially result from an incident or exposure in the workplace; 

• Provide for data aggregations not available with the current OIICS;

• Explore the need for new or expanded coding structures to capture other case elements, for example worker activity;

• Improve and clarify order of precedence and rules of selection; and

• Improve the usability and layout of the OIICS manual.

In addition, BLS will review other relevant occupational safety protocols and classification systems (i.e. the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems—Tenth Revision (ICD-10)) to identify work-related conditions and hazards not currently captured in the OIICS.

Comments and recommendations are requested on the following aspects of the OIICS:

• The basic coding system;

• The format of the manual;

• The order of precedence and rules of selection of the five case elements (Nature of Injury or Illness, Part of Body Affected, Source of Injury or Illness, Secondary Source, Event or Exposure).

• Potential new coded elements (e.g., worker activity, work environment exposures, location).

• The code categories, including any recommendations for additional categories and for merging or deleting existing categories.

• The descriptions of the code categories, including the lists of inclusions and exclusions.

• Alphabetical indices and other desired tools for coding assistance.

While you are compiling your comments, please keep in mind that in addition to the BLS Occupational Safety and Health Statistics programs, the OIICS is used by several state workers’ compensation agencies, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and other organizations.

Feel free to forward this email to anyone in your organization who might care to provide feedback. We have attached an optional questionnaire for your convenience. Please send any comments or suggestions by e-mail to [email protected] or to Christen Byler, Office of Safety, Health, and Working Conditions, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 3180, 2 Massachusetts Avenue NE., Washington, DC 20212. You may contact Ms. Byler at [email protected] if you have questions. Please include your name, phone number, and e-mail address so that we may contact you if we have follow-up questions regarding your submission.

We thank you for your ongoing support and interest in our Occupational Safety and Health Statistics data. You input is invaluable to ensuring that our data continues to be a relevant tool for the public safety and health community.

Sincerely,

Kristen Monaco

Associate Commissioner

Office of Compensation

  and Working Conditions