The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics announced on November 20 that the rate and number of occupational injuries and illnesses decreased from 2006 to 2007.

From 2003 to 2007, the total number of injuries and illnesses with days away from work declined 11.9 percent, which demonstrates that a comprehensive strategy of targeted enforcement coupled with an emphasis on prevention through compliance assistance is most effective, according to an OSHA press release. In addition, the ergonomic injury rate declined 9 percent from 2006 to 2007.

According to Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Thomas M. Stohler, “OSHA’s efforts reducing workplace injuries and illnesses have included cooperative efforts such as Voluntary Protection Programs that help companies generally experience 50 percent fewer lost workday injuries, and they have injury and illness rates that are 53 percent below their industry's average, and reduced workers' compensation costs.”