Counting matters: Implications of undercounting in the BLS survey of occupational injuries and illnesses

Spieler, Emily A.; Wagner, Gregory R.

doi:10.1002/ajim.22382

Cited by 38 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…In 2007, the approximately 5,600 fatal injuries among workers resulted in costs of $6 billion, and the nearly 8.6 million reported non-fatal injuries cost $186 billion (Leigh, 2011). Estimates of non-fatal injuries are undoubtedly low due to underreporting (Spieler and Wagner, 2014) and lack of investigation of minor injury events, despite evidence that prevention of minor injuries and near-misses can reduce the likelihood of more serious and expensive injuries (Alamgir et al, 2009; Wright and Van Der Schaaf, 2004). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Injury Risk and Noise Exposure in Firefighter Training Operations

Neitzel¹,

Long²,

Sun³

et al. 2015

ANNHYG

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Introduction Firefighters have high rate of injuries and illnesses, as well as exposures to high levels of noise. This study explored the relationship between noise exposure and injury among firefighters. Methods We recruited firefighters undergoing vehicle extrication and structural collapse emergency response training at a highly realistic training facility. Demographics, health status, body mass index, and history of serious injuries (i.e., injuries requiring first aid treatment, treatment in a medical clinic or office, or treatment at a hospital) were assessed at baseline, and daily activities, injury events, and near-misses were assessed daily using surveys. Participants' noise exposures were monitored for one 24-hour period using noise dosimeters. We used a mixed-effects logistic regression model to estimate the odds of injury events and near-misses associated with noise exposure as an independent variable. Results Of 56 subjects, twenty (36%) reported that they had ever suffered a serious injury during firefighting activities, and nine (16%) reported a serious injury within the past year. We estimated rates of 6.6 lifetime serious injuries per 100 FTE 16.1 serious injuries per 100 FTE within the past year. Our models indicated a significant increase in injury events and near misses among those with higher BMI, and as well as a dose-response relationship between near-misses/injuries and increasing noise levels. Noise levels >90 dBA in the 30 min prior to time of injury or near-miss were associated with substantially increased odds ratios for injury or near-miss. Our models further indicated that perceived job demands were significantly associated with increased risk of injury or near-miss. Conclusion Our results suggest that noise exposures may need to be incorporated into injury prevention programs for firefighters to reduce injuries among this high-risk occupational group.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Injury Risk and Noise Exposure in Firefighter Training Operations

Neitzel¹,

Long²,

Sun³

et al. 2015

ANNHYG

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“…1–3 Understanding the broad consequences of disease, injury, and distress resulting from work is critical to enabling policymakers and employers to target appropriate levels of resources toward research, prevention, and risk management. 3–5 …”

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confidence: 99%

“…5,12 Beyond the consequences of disease and injury that are expressed as cases, rates, costs, and reduction in health-related quality of life metrics, there are many other consequences suffered by workers, their families, employers, and society overall, including the examples given in Figure 1. The burdens in all of these domains have not been assessed comprehensively.…”

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confidence: 99%

An Approach to Assess the Burden of Work-Related Injury, Disease, and Distress

et al. 2017

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The true burden (morbidity, mortality, disability, cost, pain, distress) of occupational and work-related diseases and injuries is unknown, and what is reported as burden is significantly underestimated. This underestimation affects the way decision-makers view investments in research and worker protection, which in turn has a substantial impact on national welfare and public health. To better describe the societal and individual burdens of occupational and work-related diseases and injuries, we propose an approach to gauge what is known about burden and where new assessments may be made. This approach consists of 4 elements to consider in burden assessments: (1) utilizing multiple domains, including the individual worker, the worker’s family, the community in which the workplace is located, the employer, and society as a whole; (2) taking a broader view of the work-relatedness of disease and injury; (3) assessing the impact of the entire working-life continuum; and (4) applying the comprehensive concept of “well-being” as an indicator in addressing contemporary changes in the nature of work, the workplace, and the workforce. Further research on burden and enhanced surveillance is needed to develop these elements.

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“…The top 10 disabling event categories were then determined (see full definitions in Appendix A). Finally, to compensate for potential undercounting in the other components of the Index (American Journal of Industrial Medicine Special Issue, 2014; Boden & Ozonoff, 2008;Leigh, Marcin, & Miller, 2004;Rosenman et al, 2006;Spieler & Wagner, 2014) the National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI) estimate of total U.S. benefits paid was used to adjust the projected national burden estimates in each category (Fig. 1).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We also note that the majority of case reports into both the BLS and WC data systems are injuries (N 90% Wiatrowski, 2014). Since illnesses are not well captured with these systems, we consider the LMWSI index values as predominantly an accounting and ranking of the direct compensable WC burden of workrelated injuries and their associated events (Leigh et al, 2004;Spieler & Wagner, 2014).…”

Section: Strengths and Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%