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American Public Health Association
133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition
December 10-14, 2005
Philadelphia, PA
 APHA 2005
 
4034.0: Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - 9:42 AM

Abstract #121850

Non-fatal work-related transportation injuries treated in hospital emergency departments in the United States

Guang-Xiang Chen, MD, Division of Safety Research, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1095 Willowdale Road, MORG H 1707 (P04/1811), Morgantown, WV 26505, 304-285-5995, GChen@cdc.gov

Background: In work-related transportation injury research, data is more readily available for incidents involving fatal injuries as compared to non-fatal injuries. This study aimed to capture additional information on non-fatal work-related transportation injuries using an emergency department (ED)-based national surveillance system

Methods: Data was obtained from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), which is a stratified probability-based sample of U.S. hospitals with EDs, that is maintained by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Through an interagency agreement between CPSC and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), NEISS has collected non-fatal work-related injuries in all industries and occupations, regardless of size or ownership of business. NEISS data was used to calculate the national estimates and 95% confidence intervals.

Results: From 1998 to 2000, an estimated 256,603 (95% CI, ±73,256) non-fatal work-related transportation injuries were treated in EDs in the United States, averaging 85,534 annually. Males represented 81% of the injuries. Workers aged 30 to 39 accounted for 30% of the injuries. The head, face and neck represented 33% of the injured body parts, and truck and groin represented another 25%. Sprain/strain accounted for 40%, and contusion/hematoma accounted for another 31% of the injuries. The leading events were highway incidents (70%), followed by pedestrian struck by vehicles, and non-highway incidents (10%).

Conclusion: NEISS provides a unique opportunity to study non-fatal work-related transportation injuries. NIOSH is assigning industry and occupation codes to NEISS data so that occupation and industry-specific injury frequency and rate can be calculated.

Learning Objectives:

  • At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

    Keywords: Injury, Occupational Safety

    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.

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