Thermal Burn Fatalities in the Workplace, United States, 1992 to 1999

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to present the epidemiology of thermal burn fatalities in the workplace in the United States between 1992 and 1999. Data on fatal thermal burn injuries in the United States between 1992 through 1999 were obtained from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. Between 1992 and 1999, 1,189 fatal thermal burns occurred in the workplace (0.11 deaths/100,000 workers per year). Mortality increased with age, with those over 65 years of age having the greatest rate of death (0.20/100,000). Workers in the mining industry and transportation and public utilities had the highest rates of fatal thermal burns. Occupational categories with the highest rates included "extractive occupations" (eg, miners, explosives workers) and "transportation and material movers" (eg, truck drivers). The specific occupations with the highest rates were airplane pilots and navigators, furnace, kiln, and oven operators, and firefighters. Most decedents were operating vehicles or involved in "other transportation operations" at the time of the incident. The majority of injurious incidents occurred on "industrial premises" or the "street and highway." Efforts to prevent fatal occupational thermal burn injuries should focus on older workers and those in occupations with frequent exposure to potential sources of thermal injury. Further study of nonfatal thermal burns in the workplace is needed because patterns of fatal burn injury may not reflect patterns of occupational burn injury overall.

Combined alcohol and burn injury differentially regulate p-38 and ERK activation in mesenteric lymph node T cell

“…Despite this progress, alcohol consumption remains the single most significant factor in fatalities related to both traffic and burn injury [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. Nearly 2 million individuals are affected by burn injury every year in the United States alone [2,5,6].…”

“…Despite this progress, alcohol consumption remains the single most significant factor in fatalities related to both traffic and burn injury [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. Nearly 2 million individuals are affected by burn injury every year in the United States alone [2,5,6]. Furthermore, these studies suggested that more than 50% of the adult burn patient population has measurable alcohol (ethanol) in their blood at the time of hospital admission [1][2][3][4][5][6][7].…”

“…Nearly 2 million individuals are affected by burn injury every year in the United States alone [2,5,6]. Furthermore, these studies suggested that more than 50% of the adult burn patient population has measurable alcohol (ethanol) in their blood at the time of hospital admission [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. These patients present a unique challenge to the burn trauma team, as these patients exhibit a higher incidence of infection and are likely to die compared to the patients who have not consumed alcohol prior to injury [1,2,6,7].…”

An Analysis of Occupational Burn Injuries in Rhode Island: Workers?? Compensation Claims, 1998 to 2002

“…[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] Although valuable, data from burn sources inherently underestimate the extent and distribution of work-related burns because only the most severely injured employees are brought to these treatment centers. 15,16 Although other studies have used population-based approaches to assess risk and severity by individual characteristics and risk by occupation and industry, [17][18][19][20][21] these approaches have yielded varying results and have led to a concurrence among investigators that continued surveillance of occupational burns using population-based methods is needed. 15,22 Previously, workers' compensation data from the states of West Virginia, Washington State, and Oregon have been used as population-based means for assessing occupational burns.…”

“…15,16 Although other studies have used population-based approaches to assess risk and severity by individual characteristics and risk by occupation and industry, [17][18][19][20][21] these approaches have yielded varying results and have led to a concurrence among investigators that continued surveillance of occupational burns using population-based methods is needed. 15,22 Previously, workers' compensation data from the states of West Virginia, Washington State, and Oregon have been used as population-based means for assessing occupational burns. [23][24][25][26] Workers' compensation data are a very valuable source for obtaining information on the rates, costs, severity, and factors affecting the risk of burn injuries in the workplace.…”