Title 29LaborRelease 119-73

§673 Statistics

Title 29 › Chapter CHAPTER 15— - OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH › § 673

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Labor, together with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, must run a program that collects, puts together, and studies workplace safety and health numbers. The program can cover most jobs but not those left out under section 653. It must count work-related injuries and illnesses that are disabling, serious, or significant, even if the worker did not miss time from work. Minor injuries that only need first aid and do not need medical treatment, do not cause loss of consciousness, and do not limit work or require a job change are not counted. To carry this out, the Secretary can run information and study programs, make grants to states, and pay for research by contract or grant. Federal grants can cover up to 50 percent of a state’s cost. With a state’s permission, the Secretary can use that state’s staff and facilities, with or without payment. Employers must send in reports the Secretary requires, based on records kept under section 657(c). Existing agreements with states stay in effect until new grants or contracts replace them.

Full Legal Text

Title 29, §673

Labor — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In order to further the purposes of this chapter, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall develop and maintain an effective program of collection, compilation, and analysis of occupational safety and health statistics. Such program may cover all employments whether or not subject to any other provisions of this chapter but shall not cover employments excluded by section 653 of this title. The Secretary shall compile accurate statistics on work injuries and illnesses which shall include all disabling, serious, or significant injuries and illnesses, whether or not involving loss of time from work, other than minor injuries requiring only first aid treatment and which do not involve medical treatment, loss of consciousness, restriction of work or motion, or transfer to another job.
(b)To carry out his duties under subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary may—
(1)promote, encourage, or directly engage in programs of studies, information and communication concerning occupational safety and health statistics;
(2)make grants to States or political subdivisions thereof in order to assist them in developing and administering programs dealing with occupational safety and health statistics; and
(3)arrange, through grants or contracts, for the conduct of such research and investigations as give promise of furthering the objectives of this section.
(c)The Federal share for each grant under subsection (b) of this section may be up to 50 per centum of the State’s total cost.
(d)The Secretary may, with the consent of any State or political subdivision thereof, accept and use the services, facilities, and employees of the agencies of such State or political subdivision, with or without reimbursement, in order to assist him in carrying out his functions under this section.
(e)On the basis of the records made and kept pursuant to section 657(c) of this title, employers shall file such reports with the Secretary as he shall prescribe by regulation, as necessary to carry out his functions under this chapter.
(f)Agreements between the Department of Labor and States pertaining to the collection of occupational safety and health statistics already in effect on the effective date of this chapter shall remain in effect until superseded by grants or contracts made under this chapter.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The

Effective Date

of this chapter, referred to in subsec. (f), means the

Effective Date

of Pub. L. 91–596, Dec. 29, 1970, 84 Stat. 1590, which is 120 days after Dec. 29, 1970, see section 34 of Pub. L. 91–596, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 651 of this title.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

“Secretary of Health and Human Services” substituted for “Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare” in subsec. (a) pursuant to section 509(b) of Pub. L. 96–88 which is classified to section 3508(b) of Title 20, Education.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

29 U.S.C. § 673

Title 29Labor

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73