253594 Effect of Drug Testing Programs on Injury Rate and Severity in Small and Medium Sized Construction Companies

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Katherine Schofield, MEHS, CSP, ARM, CHST , Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Bruce H. Alexander, PhD , Regional Injury Prevention Research Center, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Susan G. Gerberich, PhD , MCOHS/RIRRC/CVPC, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Andrew D. Ryan, MS , Reg Inj Prev Res Center/Center Violence Prev and Control, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Background Construction work is hazardous and workers have consistently high illicit drug and alcohol use compared to other occupations. We evaluated associations between company drug testing programs, injury rate, and severity using workers' compensation claims data covering 1,360 construction companies from 2004-2009 . Methods We obtained data from the compensation carrier on drug testing program, injury claims and hours at risk to determine injury rates. Rate ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using Poisson regression and accounting for time dependent factors. Generalized estimating equations are used to account for correlated observations within companies over time. Models include confounding covariates of company size, union status, and trade. Drug testing programs were classified as pre-employment/post-accident only or pre-employment/post-accident/random/reasonable suspicion combined. Results Compared to no testing, results for the categories respectively were RR=0.85 (CI=0.72-1.0) and RR=0.97 (CI=0.86-1.10) for overall injuries, and RR=0.78 (CI=0.60-1.03) and RR=1.01 (CI=0.86-1.19) for lost-time injuries. Analysis by specific trades revealed significant reductions, as great as 60%, in overall and lost-time injuries for some trades. Analysis by union status revealed reductions in overall and lost-time injuries when testing programs were used. Presence of drug testing programs also resulted in reduction of injury rate in many injury mechanism, injury type, and claim dollar value categories. Conclusions Our results indicate drug testing programs may reduce injury rates in this population; however effects may vary based on multiple factors. These programs are a potential solution to reducing injury burden to workers in a high risk population.

Learning Areas:
Occupational health and safety

Learning Objectives:
The abstract reader will identify associations between company drug testing programs, injury rate, and severity in small and medium sized construction companies. They will assess the use of drug testing programs for reduction of injury burden in this high risk population.

Keywords: Construction Injuries, Injury Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a doctoral student researching injury prevention as well as a construction safety professional who is trained and works daily with the population at risk
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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