    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book II)]
    [September 29, 2006]
    [Pages 1734-1735]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Memorandum on Extension of the Safety, Health, and Return-to-Employment
    (SHARE) Initiative
    September 29, 2006

    Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies

    Subject: Extension of the Safety, Health, and Return-to-Employment
    (SHARE) Initiative

        On January 9, 2004, I established the 3-year Safety, Health, and
    Return-to-Employment (SHARE) Initiative, and directed all executive
    branch agencies to participate in this Government-wide effort to improve
    safety and health in Federal workplaces. SHARE's four goals focus
    attention in the most critical areas of a safety, health, and injury
    case management program: lower total injury and illness case rates,
    lower lost-time injury and illness case rates, improved timely reporting
    of injuries and illnesses, and reduced rates of lost production days due
    to work-related injuries and illnesses.
        During the first 2 years of SHARE, most departments and agencies
    reduced their injury and illness and lost production day rates, and
    significantly improved the timely reporting of incidents. From 2003 to
    2005 the Government as a whole achieved a 5.5 percent reduction in an
    injury and illness case rate, a 2.6 percent reduction in its lost-time
    injury and illness case rate, and a 43 percent increase in timely
    reporting. According to the Department of Labor, which leads the SHARE
    Initiative and tracks and reports its performance results,

    [[Page 1735]]

    Fiscal Year 2006 results will be even more favorable.
        Therefore, I am extending the SHARE Initiative through Fiscal Year
    2009 to reaffirm my commitment to improving the safety of Federal
    workplaces and reducing the significant personal and financial costs of
    occupational injuries and illnesses.
        The four goals of the SHARE Initiative will continue to use FY 2003
    as the baseline. The goals for the timely filing of workers'
    compensation claims (Goal 3) and reduction of lost production days (Goal
    4) have been modified to recognize consistent and superior agency
    performance and, at the same time, to hold low-end performers to more
    significant and challenging performance levels.
        Each executive department and agency will collaborate with the
    Department of Labor to establish ambitious annual goals based on its
    current performance in each of the four areas. Agencies are encouraged
    to work with the Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health
    Administration and Employment Standards Administration's Office of
    Workers' Compensation Programs to develop and refine strategies for
    improving workplace safety and health. The Department of Labor will
    continue to lead the SHARE effort by measuring and tracking performance
    and reporting to me annually on performance, both Government-wide and by
    agency.
        Safety and health and return-to-work are important employment
    values. To ensure that workers are protected from harm, Federal
    supervisory personnel must concentrate their attention and use all the
    management tools and resources at their disposal to prevent workplace
    injuries and illnesses. Managers and supervisors should encourage
    Federal employees to perform their jobs safely, effectively, and alertly
    to remain injury-free. A safe and healthy Federal workforce not only
    preserves the Government's valuable human resources, but also
    contributes to the effective and efficient delivery of Government
    services to the American people.

                                                              George W. Bush

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