Using Workers' Compensation Claims Data to Describe Nonfatal Injuries among Workers in Alaska
Background: To gain a better understanding of nonfatal injuries in Alaska, underutilized data sources such as workers’ compensation claims must be analyzed. The purpose of the current study was to utilize workers’ compensation claims data to estimate the risk of nonfatal, work-related injuries among...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2020-06-01
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| Series: | Safety and Health at Work |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2093791119305086 |
| _version_ | 1797761677886750720 |
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| author | Devin L. Lucas Jennifer R. Lee Kyle M. Moller Mary B. O'Connor Laura N. Syron Joanna R. Watson |
| author_facet | Devin L. Lucas Jennifer R. Lee Kyle M. Moller Mary B. O'Connor Laura N. Syron Joanna R. Watson |
| author_sort | Devin L. Lucas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: To gain a better understanding of nonfatal injuries in Alaska, underutilized data sources such as workers’ compensation claims must be analyzed. The purpose of the current study was to utilize workers’ compensation claims data to estimate the risk of nonfatal, work-related injuries among occupations in Alaska, characterize injury patterns, and prioritize future research. Methods: A dataset with information on all submitted claims during 2014–2015 was provided for analysis. Claims were manually reviewed and coded. For inclusion in this study, claims had to represent incidents that resulted in a nonfatal acute traumatic injury, occurred in Alaska during 2014–2015, and were approved for compensation. Results: Construction workers had the highest number of injuries (2,220), but a rate lower than the overall rate (34 per 1,000 construction workers, compared to 40 per 1,000 workers overall). Fire fighters had the highest rate of injuries on the job, with 162 injuries per 1,000 workers, followed by law enforcement officers with 121 injuries per 1,000 workers. The most common types of injuries across all occupations were sprains/strains/tears, contusions, and lacerations. Conclusion: The successful use of Alaska workers’ compensation data demonstrates that the information provided in the claims dataset is meaningful for epidemiologic research. The predominance of sprains, strains, and tears among all occupations in Alaska indicates that ergonomic interventions to prevent overexertion are needed. These findings will be used to promote and guide future injury prevention research and interventions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T19:17:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-eacfe9b2e3c5434abf731bbea13488ef |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2093-7911 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T19:17:27Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Safety and Health at Work |
| spelling | doaj.art-eacfe9b2e3c5434abf731bbea13488ef2023-08-02T05:28:55ZengElsevierSafety and Health at Work2093-79112020-06-01112165172Using Workers' Compensation Claims Data to Describe Nonfatal Injuries among Workers in AlaskaDevin L. Lucas0Jennifer R. Lee1Kyle M. Moller2Mary B. O'Connor3Laura N. Syron4Joanna R. Watson5Corresponding author. 4230 University Drive Suite 310, Anchorage, AK, 99508, USA.; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Western States Division, USANational Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Western States Division, USANational Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Western States Division, USANational Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Western States Division, USANational Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Western States Division, USANational Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Western States Division, USABackground: To gain a better understanding of nonfatal injuries in Alaska, underutilized data sources such as workers’ compensation claims must be analyzed. The purpose of the current study was to utilize workers’ compensation claims data to estimate the risk of nonfatal, work-related injuries among occupations in Alaska, characterize injury patterns, and prioritize future research. Methods: A dataset with information on all submitted claims during 2014–2015 was provided for analysis. Claims were manually reviewed and coded. For inclusion in this study, claims had to represent incidents that resulted in a nonfatal acute traumatic injury, occurred in Alaska during 2014–2015, and were approved for compensation. Results: Construction workers had the highest number of injuries (2,220), but a rate lower than the overall rate (34 per 1,000 construction workers, compared to 40 per 1,000 workers overall). Fire fighters had the highest rate of injuries on the job, with 162 injuries per 1,000 workers, followed by law enforcement officers with 121 injuries per 1,000 workers. The most common types of injuries across all occupations were sprains/strains/tears, contusions, and lacerations. Conclusion: The successful use of Alaska workers’ compensation data demonstrates that the information provided in the claims dataset is meaningful for epidemiologic research. The predominance of sprains, strains, and tears among all occupations in Alaska indicates that ergonomic interventions to prevent overexertion are needed. These findings will be used to promote and guide future injury prevention research and interventions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2093791119305086AlaskaOccupational injuriesWorkers' compensation |
| spellingShingle | Devin L. Lucas Jennifer R. Lee Kyle M. Moller Mary B. O'Connor Laura N. Syron Joanna R. Watson Using Workers' Compensation Claims Data to Describe Nonfatal Injuries among Workers in Alaska Safety and Health at Work Alaska Occupational injuries Workers' compensation |
| title | Using Workers' Compensation Claims Data to Describe Nonfatal Injuries among Workers in Alaska |
| title_full | Using Workers' Compensation Claims Data to Describe Nonfatal Injuries among Workers in Alaska |
| title_fullStr | Using Workers' Compensation Claims Data to Describe Nonfatal Injuries among Workers in Alaska |
| title_full_unstemmed | Using Workers' Compensation Claims Data to Describe Nonfatal Injuries among Workers in Alaska |
| title_short | Using Workers' Compensation Claims Data to Describe Nonfatal Injuries among Workers in Alaska |
| title_sort | using workers compensation claims data to describe nonfatal injuries among workers in alaska |
| topic | Alaska Occupational injuries Workers' compensation |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2093791119305086 |
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