Factors underlying observed injury rate differences between temporary workers and permanent peers

Abstract

Policies are needed to improve screening and training of temporary workers to assigned tasks, to discourage job-switching, to improve temporary workers' hazard awareness, to protect their right to report unsafe conditions. The responsibilities of agencies and host employers for ensuring the safety of their temporary workers need clarification in regulatory policy.

Comparative analyses of workers' compensation claims of injury among temporary and permanent employed workers in Ohio

“…Of relevance, are studies that utilized WC data from WA L&I, and data from the IL WC Commission . Compared to this study, the studies from WA L&I covered, relatively shorter periods of time: 4, 5, and 7 years; and the study from Illinois covered 6 years.…”

“…The challenges associated with proper and reliable accounting for occupational injuries among temporary workers limited the number of studies that allow for comparing their risk for injury with that of permanent workers performing similar job‐related tasks or working in similar industry sectors. This type of comparative studies has also been limited to specific states with better systems for surveillance of OII such as Washington, or in states where researchers were able to acquire data from one or more data sources such as Ohio and Illinois …”

“…Three notable comparative studies conducted by researchers at the Safety and Health Assessment and Research for Prevention Program at the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (WA L&I) utilized WC data to account for OII among temporary workers. In these studies, the researchers assembled and analyzed WC data from sources that are unique to WA L&I. WC coverage in WA is exclusive and all businesses, except for a small number of large self‐insured ones, are required to attain WC coverage from WA L&I. WA L&I WC data sources account for industry descriptors according to a WA L&I industry classification system along with hours worked by employees in addition to claims of injury.…”

“…Using this data, the researchers were able to account for injury rates, time loss, and injury costs among temporary workers and compare them to those of permanent workers in the same industries. The three studies covered different study periods 2003 through 2006, 2005 through 2011, and 2011 through 2015, and showed that compared to permanent workers, temporary workers experienced higher rates of injury for all injury types and longer time loss, but lower medical costs. Furthermore, this research demonstrated that temporary workers in certain occupations and industries were at particular elevated risk, especially for certain causes of injuries (such as traumatic and exposure to physical and environmental elements).…”

“…While most comparative studies of injuries showed that temporary workers had elevated the risk of injuries compared to their counterpart permanent workers in similar industries or occupations, the majority of these studies did not examine the drivers behind this elevated risk . Foley examined some of the factors that could be attributed for this elevated risk by conducting case follow‐up interviews with temporary and permanent injured workers in Washington. After adjusting for age, sex, and tenure, compared to permanent counterparts, the study found that temporary workers reported lower hazard exposures, yet they were less protected because they had less experience screening, safety training, and schedule control relative to the work they were assigned.…”