Volume 26, Number 2 (Spring) 1991
Ruser, John W. and Robert S. Smith. 1991. "Reestimating OSHA's Effects: Have the Data Changed?" Journal of Human Resources 26(2):212-235.
Our analysis replicates earlier studies of OSHA's inspection effects to see if, in the face of recordkeeping changes and new inspection targeting procedures, the relationships previously found still hold. The sizes and patterns of coefficients that we obtain in our analyses, including the lack of evidence that OSHA inspections (or the threat of them) reduce the injury rate, are consistent with those found earlier. We also analyze whether the new inspection procedure resulted in the reduction of reported injury rates among both inspected and uninspected plants. Consistent with an earlier paper, we find some downward bias in reporting among uninspected firms affected by the records-check procedure; however, we do not find this reporting bias among inspected plants.
John W. Ruser is an economist with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Robert S. Smith is a professor of economics at Cornell University. A previous version of this paper was presented as "Worker Injuries: The Effects of OSHA and Firm Size" at the 1988 Southern Economic Association Meetings. The authors want to thank anonymous referees for many helpful comments. The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or Cornell University.
© 2002 by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System
US ISSN 0022-166X