The National Petroleum Refiners Association (NPRA), Washington, D.C., reports a reduction in the number of U.S. refinery and petrochemical plant injuries and illnesses for the calendar year 1995.
NPRA recently published the results of its annual survey of workplace injuries and illnesses in a brochure titled, "Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses For The Year 1995."
The survey includes data from 136 of 159 U.S. refineries that are NPRA members, and 137 of 181 NPRA-member petrochemical plants. Overall response rate to the survey was 80% (85% for refineries and 76% for petrochemical plants).
Refineries reported 1,805 total recordable injuries and illnesses for 134.44 million employee-hr worked during 1995. Compared to 2,432 total cases for 139 million employee-hr worked during 1994, this is a 17% reduction in the incident rate.
Petrochemical plants reported 1,035 total recordable injuries and illnesses for 117.64 million employee-hr worked during 1995. Compared to 1,614 incidents for 111.55 million employee-hr worked during 1994, this is a 24% reduction in the incident rate.
The incident rate represents the number of recordable injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time employees. It is calculated according to procedures developed by the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration.
NPRA's surveys reveal a decline in the refining industry's incident rate from 3.5 in 1994 to 2.9 in 1995. The petrochemical industry's incident rate decreased from 2.9 in 1994 to 2.2 in 1995.
Incident rates for the refining industry have fallen steadily during the past decade. NPRA reports a decline from 7.9 in 1987, to last year's rate of 2.9.
For petrochemical plants, the decline in incident rates was interrupted in 1992 and 1994 with slight increases. Overall, however, the petrochemical plant rate has decreased from 4.6 in 1987 to 2.2 in 1985.
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