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

Abstract #115237

Austin D. Sumner, MD MPH, Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Health Service, 1515 Clay St. Suite 1901, Oakland, CA 94612, 510-622-4282, asumner@dhs.ca.gov, Florence Reinisch, MPH, Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Health Services, 1515 Clay Street, Suite 1901, Oakland, CA 94612, Barbara L. Materna, PhD, CIH, Occupational Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Health Services, 1515 Clay St., Suite 1901, Oakland, CA 94612, and Gayle Windham, PhD, Environmental Health Investigations Branch, California Department of Health Services, 1515 Clay Street, Suite 1700, Oakland, CA 94612.

Background: The California Department of Health Services is evaluating the Workers' Compensation Information System (WCIS) electronic database to determine its usefulness as a surveillance tool. Occupational amputation injury is among the first outcomes used to examine the quality of this new data source. Amputation injuries are costly occupational injuries in terms of missed work days and medical expenses but can be prevented with appropriate safety controls.

Method: We evaluated all injuries coded as amputation during March 2000 – February 2004. We examined injuries by employer name, part of body, cause of injury, industry classification code, date of injury, and personal identifiers. The data quality verification protocol involves contacting a 10% random sample of 2004 amputation injury claimants by telephone.

Results: There were 3,804 injuries coded as amputation during the study period, of which 3,143 (83%) were finger amputations, 236 (6%) were thumbs, and 102 (3%) were hands. A total of 831 (22%) injuries occurred while using powered hand tools and 745 (20%) involved being caught in or between machines or machinery. The workplace most frequently reported as the location of amputation injuries was restaurants and taverns (5%).

Conclusion: WCIS provides descriptive data on occupational amputation injuries that can contribute to knowledge about how these injuries occur. This, along with personal identifiers of claimants and employers, makes the system useful for informing prevention activities and/or suggesting areas for further investigation. With some modifications, the WCIS can be a useful data source for occupational injury and illness surveillance in California.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

• List the most common causes of occupational amputation injuries in California.
• Articulate the limitations of the using the Workers’ Compensation Information System for occupational amputation surveillance.
• Discuss areas for potential intervention.

Keywords: Injury, Occupational Surveillance

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