June 13, 2007—The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has released statistics on persons treated for nonfatal work-related injuries and illnesses in US hospital emergency departments (EDs) in 2004. NIOSH uses the data to monitor injury trends and aid prevention activities. The data does not account for injuries and illnesses that required medical treatment other than in an ED, nor does it include long-term illnesses.
According to the report, in 2004 an estimated 3.4 million nonfatal ED-treated injuries and illnesses occurred among workers of all ages, with a rate of 2.5 cases per 100 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers aged over 15 years. Workers aged under 25 years had the highest injury/illness rates.
More than three fourths of all nonfatal workplace injuries/illnesses were attributed to contact with objects or equipment (e.g., being struck by a falling tool or caught in machinery), bodily reaction or exertion (e.g., a sprain or strain), and falls. No substantial reduction was observed in the overall number and rate of ED-treated occupational injuries/illnesses during 1996-2004.
NIOSH concludes that to reduce occupational injuries/illnesses, interventions should continue to target workers at highest risk and reduce exposure to those workplace hazards with the greatest potential for causing severe injury or death. More emphasis should be placed on prevention-effectiveness studies and dissemination of successful interventions to reduce work-related injuries and illnesses.
For more information, see the MMWR Weekly Web site.
