Evaluating the impact of state safety training programs to reduce the frequency and severity of logging injuries in West Virginia, 1996-2006

Introduction: Occupational injuries and fatalities are a major public health issue affecting people in their most productive years. For example, in 1996 West Virginia (WV) had an annual claims injury rate of 17.3 per 100 loggers. This study reports on the impact of a video-based safety training intervention in the state (2002 to 2005) to reduce the frequency and severity of injuries in loggers. Methods: WV Workers' Compensation claims data, for the period January 1996-December 2006, was used to assess the nature and rates of injuries among loggers following state mandated and research-initiated interventions. We also examined injury rates by region to identify regional differences. Results: There were 2,349 claims reported over the 11-year study period. The most common cause of injury was being struck by objects (45.4%). Fractures accounted for 20% of all injury claims in 1996, decreasing to less than 1% by 2006. Injuries decreased in all six state forestry districts by more than half in 2005-2006 with the 16 counties in the two eastern and southeastern districts accounting for more than 62% of all the injury claims for that period. There was a decreasing trend in on-the-job deaths with 59% (17 of 28) of all fatalities occurring before interventions (1996-2002), and no fatalities reported between 2004 and 2006. Conclusions: This study showed that severe and fatal injuries decreased following the interventions. Risk factors such as rugged mountainous terrain should be explored in regions where the majority of injuries were reported.