Incident Surveillance in New Jersey Career and Technical Education Programs, FY1999-2008: Attributes, Severity and Reported Use of Personal Protective Equipment

Understanding and addressing workplace hazards and potential exposures leading to health and safety risks are central to public health. Through school-based programs, New Jersey (NJ) students may work during and/or after school hours, and have other part-time work not for credit (paid or unpaid volunteer).

NJ schools, private or public, subject to requirements of the NJ Department of Education, Office of Career and Technical Education (NJDOE-OCTE) per NJ Administrative Code 6A:19-6.6, are required to submit one-page forms on reportable incidents within five working days. A reportable incident is defined as an injury or illness to students, school staff and others if it resulted:

o From activities associated with: vocational-technical education programs or courses; career-orientation courses; a structured learning experience on or off school property; travel to/from external training sites;

o In treatment by a licensed physician;

Completed forms (last updated fall 2005) are sent to NJDOE-OCTE. The NJ Safe Schools Program reviewed ~1600 incident report forms received July 1, 1999 to May 1, 2008; we excluded incidents before 2003 because “site” was not always recorded.

Results of selected student incident analyses (ages 14-21) during school hours on school grounds (n=305, or ~20%) are presented. Specifically, we focus on reported incident attributes such as severity, parts of body, nature (type) and actions causing injuries, and reported use of personal protective equipment. Results are discussed to identify potential root causes—sources of and exposure to agents/hazards—and to support development of a revised (expanded) reporting form schools would access and complete on-line.