Use of multiple data sources for surveillance of work‐related amputations in Massachusetts, comparison with official estimates and implications for national surveillance

Abstract

Multisource surveillance enhanced our ability to document work-related amputations in Massachusetts. While not feasible to implement for work-related conditions nationwide, it is useful in states. Better understanding of potential biases in SOII is needed.

The direct cost burden of 13years of disabling workplace injuries in the U.S. (1998–2010): Findings from the Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index

“…A recent special issue of the American Journal of Industrial Medicine presented further evidence of the undercounting in the BLS frequencies following an analysis of within-state comparisons of alternative sources of surveillance data with the SOII data from Massachusetts, California and Washington State (American Journal of Industrial Medicine Special Issue, 2014). The results demonstrated significant undercounts (Boden, 2014;Davis et al, 2014;Joe et al, 2014), and the potential for differential reporting or misclassification of cases Wuellner & Bonauto, 2014). Therefore, it is possible that some reporting biases exist leading to differences in the distribution of cost by event category.…”

The Impact of Contract Operations on Safety in Underground Coal Mines

“…15,16 If contractors report a smaller proportion of their injuries than do non-contractor-operated mines, studies like this one would underestimate the risk of contractor-operated mines. MSHA requires mine operators to report all injuries at the mine, including injuries of independent contractors.…”

OSHA, well past its infancy, but still learning how to count injuries and illnesses

“…The three publications in this issue of AJIM from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) are some of the studies funded from this appropriation [Bhandari et al, ; Marsh et al, ; Tonozzi et al, ]. AJIM has previously published studies conducted in California, Massachusetts, and Washington, which were also funded by BLS from the same appropriation [Boden, ; Davis et al, ; Joe et al, ; Wuellner and Bonauto, ].…”