    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (1999, Book II)]
    [July 2, 1999]
    [Pages 1127-1128]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Memorandum on the Federal Worker 2000 Presidential Initiative
    July 2, 1999

    Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies

    Subject: Federal Worker 2000 Presidential Initiative

        Each year, Federal employees suffer over 160,000 injuries or
    illnesses in the course of their employment. The Federal Government's
    bill for medical treatment and wage loss compensation costs exceeds $1.9
    billion each year. Even more disturbing is the pain and suffering of
    employees and their families that is caused by these injuries and
    illnesses and the fact that many of such injuries and illnesses are
    preventable.
        The Federal workforce is a valuable asset to our healthy economy. We
    need to do more to protect our dedicated public servants from
    preventable injuries and illnesses. From this point

    [[Page 1128]]

    forward, I want to make the safety and health of every Federal worker a
    central value in each operation performed in Federal workplaces. I ask
    all Federal agencies to help make Federal Government workplaces safe and
    productive. Furthermore, we need to ensure that, when injuries do occur,
    Federal employees are given the best possible care and are returned to
    work as quickly as possible.
        To this end I direct the Secretary of Labor to lead an initiative
    focusing on the Federal workplace. This initiative will have a duration
    of 5 years, and will establish 3 measurable goals:
        reducing the overall occurrence of injuries by 3 percent per
                year, while improving the timeliness of reporting of
                injuries and illnesses by agencies to the Department of
                Labor by 5 percent per year;
        for those work sites with the highest rates of serious
                injuries, reducing the occurrence of such injuries by 10
                percent per year; and
        reducing the rate of lost production days (i.e. the number
                of days employees spend away from work) by 2 percent per
                year.
        I also direct the Secretary to report to me each year on the
    progress made to reduce work-related injuries and illnesses, to provide
    timely services, and to reduce the number of days injured workers are
    away from their jobs.
        I am convinced that this new focus on safety and health in the
    Federal Government will result in fewer injured workers, significant
    cost reductions, and an enhanced ability to serve the American public.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of
    this memorandum.