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Occupational injuries in the mining industry and their association with statewide cold ambient temperatures in the USA.

BACKGROUND: Relatively few occupational epidemiological studies have been conducted concerning the association between cold ambient temperatures and cold exposure injuries, and fewer still of traumatic occupational injuries and cold ambient temperatures. METHODS: The association of ambient temperature and wind data from the National Climatic Data Center with injury data from mines reported to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) was evaluated over a 6 year period from 1985-1990; 72,716 injuries from the seven states with the most numerous injuries were included. Temperature and wind data from each state's metropolitan weather stations were averaged for each day of the 6 year period. A weighted linear regression tested the relationship of ungrouped daily temperature and injury rate for all injury classes. For cold exposure injuries and fall injuries, relative incidence rates for grouped temperature data were fit with Poisson regression. RESULTS: As temperatures decreased, injury rates increased for both cold exposure injuries and slip and fall injuries. The association of slip and fall injuries with temperature was inverse but not strictly linear. The strongest association appeared with temperatures 29 degrees F and below. The injury rates for other accident categories increased with increasing ambient temperatures. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that statewide average ambient temperature reflects the expected association between the thermal environment and cold exposure injuries for workers, but more importantly, documents an association between ambient temperatures and occupational slip and fall injuries.

Accidental Falls↗

Occupational injuries, illness affect 1 in 13 Canadians.

One in every 13 Canadian workers has experienced a work-related illness or injury, federal data indicate. Occupational-health clinics in Ontario report a growing number of cases of sick-building syndrome, repetitive-strain injury, asthma and chemical exposure, as well as injuries related to the use of construction equipment. In the past the medical profession assumed that men incurred most work-related injuries, but today, says an occupational-health specialist, "work-related illness and injuries are just as likely to happen to women or to white-collar professionals."

Canada↗

Effect of vehicle incompatibility on child occupant injury risk.

With the vehicle fleet of family transportation in the United States continuing to evolve primarily through the increasing number of light truck vehicles (LTV), studying the effects of vehicle incompatibility has become increasingly important. Using data collected from a population-based sample of child-involved crashes in insured vehicles, we explored the effect of variations in crash partner vehicle type on child occupant injury risk, stratified by direction of impact. Children in passenger cars and LTVs involved in onside collisions were at an increased risk of serious injury if struck by a LTV as compared to a passenger vehicle (passenger cars and minivans). Though smaller in magnitude, this trend was also present in offside and rear crashes as well.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Stated preferences for the removal of physical pain resulting from permanently disabling occupational injuries. A contingent valuation study of Taiwan.

Within the process of calculating the true costs of illness, physical pain is a component of intangible, or human, costs. One method of estimating the monetary value of such costs is the 'contingent valuation method' (CVM), a stated preference method based upon the elicitation of levels of willingness to pay (WTP) facilitated through surveys. This study is amongst the first of its kind to apply CVM to the estimation of the cost of the removal of physical pain resulting from permanently disabling occupational injuries. We assume that a painkilling drug has been invented to mitigate physical pain with the advantages of validity and instantaneity, and without any side effects. The WTP of each of the respondents is determined by a two-step sequential-bidding process. The maximum WTP under log normal distribution was NT 1791 US dollars/day (65.1 US dollars), whilst under Weibull distribution it was NT 1913 US dollars/day (69.6 US dollars). Older respondents, those with higher household income, fall injuries, longer periods of hospitalization, or with a perceived demand for the painkilling drug in excess of one day, displayed a positive independent effect on the eliciting of their WTP. In addition, respondents with higher 'out-of-pocket' expenses, or where the interview took place 2 years or more after the injury occurred, responded with a lower WTP.

Adult↗

Adjusting for car occupant injury liability in relation to age, speed limit, and gender-specific driver crash involvement risk.

It is well established that older drivers' fragility is an important factor associated with higher levels of fatal crash involvement for older drivers. There has been less research on age-related fragility with respect to the sort of minor injuries that are more common in injury crashes. This study estimates a quantity that is related to injury fragility: the probability that a driver or a passenger of that driver will be injured in crashes involving two cars. The effects of other factors apart from drivers' fragility are included in this measure, including the fragility of the passengers, the crashworthiness of cars driven, seatbelt use by the occupants, and characteristics of crashes (including configuration and impact speed). The car occupant injury liability estimates appropriately includes these factors to adjust risk curves by age, gender, and speed limit accounting for overrepresentation in crashes associated with fragility and these other factors.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Occupational injuries identified by an emergency department based injury surveillance system in Nicaragua.

OBJECTIVES: To identify and describe the work related injuries in both the formal and informal work sectors captured in an emergency department based injury surveillance system in Managua, Nicaragua. SETTING: Urban emergency department in Managua, Nicaragua serving 200-300 patients per day. METHODS: Secondary analysis from the surveillance system data. All cases indicating an injury while working and seen for treatment at the emergency department between 1 August 2001 and 31 July 2002 were included. There was no exclusion based on place of occurrence (home, work, school), age, or gender. RESULTS: There were 3801 work related injuries identified which accounted for 18.6% of the total 20 425 injures captured by the surveillance system. Twenty seven work related fatalities were recorded, compared with the 1998 International Labor Organization statistic of 25 occupational fatalities for all of Nicaragua. Injuries occurring outside of a formal work location accounted for more than 60% of the work related injuries. Almost half of these occurred at home, while 19% occurred on the street. The leading mechanisms for work related injuries were falls (30%), blunt objects (28%), and stabs/cuts (23%). Falls were by far the most severe mechanism in the study, causing 37% of the work related deaths and more than half of the fractures. CONCLUSIONS: Occupational injuries are grossly underreported in Nicaragua. This study demonstrated that an emergency department can be a data source for work related injuries in developing countries because it captures both the formal and informal workforce injuries. Fall prevention initiatives could significantly reduce the magnitude and severity of occupational injuries in Managua, Nicaragua.

Accidents, Home↗

The medical detection of simulated occupational injuries: a historical and social analysis.

Occupational malingering is often thought to involve the deliberate feigning of disease by workers seeking undeserved financial gain. Concern about this form of malingering grew in the late 19th century as a result of the emergence of the new industrial economy and the institution of workers' compensation insurance. Medical judgments about the simulation of work injuries have placed physicians in a crossfire between the interests of employers and workers in numerous medicolegal debates. Because of uncertainty about the true cause of many occupational disorders and the highly charged social environment in which medical opinions are rendered, physicians' views about malingering are often swayed by cultural, political, and economic forces. The historical record shows that a medical diagnosis of occupational malingering can reflect deep-seated cultural and social biases toward women, Jews, immigrants, and other groups representing a potential threat to the privileged social class. Current efforts to eliminate fraudulent workers' compensation claims must be sensitive to the inherent ambiguities in the medical determination of work-relatedness and the potential for judgments about simulated work injuries to conceal deep-seated social biases and class prejudices.

Accidents, Occupational↗

Occupant injury experience in rollover crashes: an in-depth review of NASS/CDS data.

National Automotive Sampling System (NASS) crash statistics were examined to understand injury patterns of belted occupants in rollover crashes and determine accuracy / completeness of selected NASS-coded variables. A comprehensive statistical study, followed by detailed engineering reviews of 278 NASS cases, is in progress. The primary objective is to understand rollover crash characteristics and their influence on rollover injury severity. Focus was on cases with "roof contact" as the injury source. Two groups- significant roof deformation with no injury, and significant injury with minimal roof deformation-are discussed, as are crash characteristics such as "arrested roll." Also, based on evaluation of existing NASS codes, recommendations are made to enhance NASS coding of rollover-related variables.

Accidents, Traffic↗

The role of door orientation on occupant injury in a nearside impact: a CIREN, MADYMO modeling and experimental study.

OBJECTIVE: This study addressed the effects of vehicle height mismatch in side impact crashes. A light truck or SUV tends to strike the door of a passenger car higher causing the upper border to lead into the occupant space. Conversely, an impact centered lower on the door, from a passenger car, causes the lower border to lead. We proposed the hypothesis that the type of injury sustained by the occupant could be related to door orientation during its intrusion into the passenger compartment. METHOD: Data on door orientation and nearside occupant injuries were collected from 125 side impact crashes reported in the CIREN database. Experimental testing was performed using a pendulum carrying a frame and a vehicle door, impacting against a USDOT SID. The frame allowed the door orientation to be changed. A model was developed in MADYMO (v 6.2) using the more biofidelic dummies, BIOSID, and SIDIIs as well as USDOT SID. RESULTS: In side impact crashes with the lower border of the door leading, 81% of occupants sustained pelvic injury, 42% suffered rib fractures, and the rate of organ injury was 0.84. With the upper border leading, 46% of occupants sustained pelvic injury, 71% sustained rib fracture, and the rate of organ injuries per case increased to 1.13. The differences in the groups with respect to pelvic injury were significant at p = 0.01, rib fracture, p = 0.10, and organ injury, p = 0.001. Experimental testing showed that when the door angle changed from lower to upper border leading, peak T4 acceleration increased by 273% and pelvic acceleration decreased by 44%. The model demonstrated that when the door angle changed from lower to upper border leading, the USDOT SID showed a 29% increase in T4 acceleration and a 57% decrease in pelvic acceleration. The BIOSID dummy demonstrated a 36% increase in T1 acceleration, a 44% increase in abdominal rib 1 deflection, a 91% increase in thoracic rib 1 deflection, and a 33% decrease in pelvic acceleration. CONCLUSIONS: These data add more insight to the problem of mismatch during side impacts, where the bumper of the striking vehicle overrides the door beam, causing the upper part of the door to lead the intrusion into the passenger compartment. Even with the same delta V and intrusion, with the upper border of the door leading, more severe chest and organ injuries resulted. This data suggests that door orientation should be considered when testing subsystems for side impact protection.

Acceleration↗

Characterizing the burden of occupational injury and disease.

OBJECTIVES: To review the literature on the burden of occupational disease and injury and to provide a comprehensive characterization of the burden. METHODS: The scientific and governmental literature from 1990 to the present was searched and evaluated. Thirty-eight studies illustrative of the burden of occupational disease were reviewed for findings, methodology, strengths, and limitations. RESULTS: Recent U.S. estimates of occupational mortality and morbidity include approximately 55,000 deaths (eighth leading cause) and 3.8 million disabling injuries per year, respectively. Comprehensive estimates of U.S. costs related to these burdens range between dollar 128 billion and dollar 155 billion per year. Despite these significant indicators, occupational morbidity, mortality, and risks are not well characterized in comparative burden assessments. CONCLUSIONS: The magnitude of occupational disease and injury burden is significant but underestimated. There is a need for an integrated approach to address these underestimates.

Cost of Illness↗