 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Keisha L. Tyler, MPH, Division of Safety Research, NIOSH, 1095 Willowdale Road, MS H1808, Morgantown, WV 26505, (304) 285-5994, KTyler1@cdc.gov and Larry L. Jackson, PhD, Division of Safety Research, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1095 Willowdale Road, MS H1808, Morgantown, WV 26505.
Purpose: To estimate the number and rate of nonfatal occupational hospitalized injuries and illnesses treated in emergency departments and to compare work-related hospitalized injuries to those treated and released from emergency departments. Methods: Data were obtained from emergency department records through the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), a national probability sample of United States 24-hour emergency departments. Results: An estimated 70,100 (±16,900) nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses treated in emergency departments in 1999 resulted in hospitalization. Hospitalized males had an injury/illness rate (7.5±1.9 per 10,000 full-time equivalent workers (FTE)) three times higher than females (2.3±0.6). Despite workers £54 comprising 82% (57,800±14,600) of hospitalized injuries, the injury rate for workers ³55 (7.8±1.8) was two times higher, although not statistically significant. Dislocations/fractures (36%), lacerations/punctures (13%), and concussions (8%) represented 58% of hospitalized injuries. Contact with objects and equipment (37%), i.e., struck by falling or hand-held objects, and falls (33%) were the leading hospitalized injury events. About 40% (23,300±5,000) of injuries to workers £54 were due to contact with objects and equipment resulting in fractures (26%) and severe lacerations (23%). Falls comprised about half (5,600±1,500) of hospitalized injuries to workers ³55 with 77% of these falls resulting in fractures. Many hospitalized injuries occurred in construction (21%), manufacturing (16%), and services (14%) industries. Overall, agriculture comprised 8% of hospitalized injuries; however among workers ³65, agriculture represented 28% of their injuries. Conclusions: Prevention of the most severe workplace injuries must focus on contact with objects and falls, taking into account age-specific issues by industry.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Occupational Injury and Death, Injury Risk
Related Web page: www2.cdc.gov/risqs/default.asp
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.