[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 40 (Monday, October 9, 2006)]
[Pages 1705-1706]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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, 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: This item was not received in time for publication in the 
appropriate issue. An original was not available for verification of the 
content of this memorandum.

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