Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #106532

Laura E. Styles, MPH, Hank Cierpich, James Rogge, MD, MPH, and Robert Harrison, MD, MPH. Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Health Services, 1515 Clay Street, Suite 1901, Oakland, CA 94612, (510) 622-4404, rharris@itsa.ucsf.edu

The California Department of Health Services, in collaboration with NIOSH, has established the California Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Program for the surveillance and investigation of workplace fatalities. The objective of the program is to prevent and reduce the severity of workplace injuries by identifying high-risk work situations, developing prevention strategies, and informing those who can intervene in the workplace. The FACE program uses multiple sources of notification for the rapid identification of fatal occupational traumatic injuries. Fatality investigations target occupational fatalities involving machinery, street/highway construction work zones, youth (under 18), and Hispanic workers. There has been a significant downward trend in both occupational fatality and homicide rates in Los Angeles County for the period 1992-2003. However, fatality rates for causes other than homicide, such as transportation and falls have not seen a significant downward trend. 37% of all occupational fatalities were homicide, followed by transportation (18%) and falls (12%). Forty-five percent of homicides involved robberies, 88% a firearm, and 56% involved workers with frequent cash transactions. Homicide accounted for 87% of deaths for supervisors of sales occupations, 80% of security guards and 91% of cashier fatalities. The fatality rate for Hispanic workers was 50% greater than it was for non-Hispanic workers (39.4 compared to 26.4). At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to identify industries and occupations at highest risk for workplace fatalities; describe the leading causes of death for these workers; and list recommendations to prevent occupational fatalities.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to identify industries and occupations at highest risk for workplace fatalities; describe the leading causes of death for these workers; and list recommendations to prevent occupational fatalities.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation