Differential Underestimation of Work-Related Reinjury Risk for Older Workers: Challenges to Producing Accurate Rate Estimates

Details

• Journal Article:
  American Journal of Industrial Medicine
• Personal Author:
  Sears, Jeanne M. ; Fulton-Kehoe, Deborah ; Hogg-Johnson, Sheilah
• Description:
  Background: Older workers are increasingly represented in the U.S. workforce, but frequently work part-time or intermittently, hindering accurate injury rate estimates. To reduce the impact of reporting barriers on rate comparisons, we focused on reinjury (both injury recurrence and new injury) among workers with a workers' compensation claim, assessing: (1) reinjury risk for workers age 65+ versus <65; (2) importance of work-time at-risk measurement for rate estimates and comparisons; and (3) age distribution of potential risk factors. Methods: Washington State workers' compensation claims for a retrospective cohort of workers with work-related permanent impairments were linked to state wage files. Reinjury rates were calculated for the cohort (N = 11,184) and a survey sample (N = 582), using both calendar time and full-time equivalent (FTE)-adjusted time. Risk differentials were assessed using rate ratios and adjusted survival models. Results: The rate ratio for workers age 65+ (vs. <65) was 0.45 (p < 0.001) using calendar time, but 0.70 (p = 0.07) using FTE-adjusted time. Survey-based rates were 35.7 per 100 worker-years for workers age 65+, versus 14.8 for <65. Workers age 65+ (vs. <65) were more likely to work <100% FTE, but were similar regarding job strain, their ability to handle physical job demands, and their comfort reporting unsafe conditions or injuries. Conclusions: Accounting for work-time at risk substantially improves age-based reinjury comparisons. Although the marked elevation in self-reported reinjury risk for older workers might be a small-sample artifact (n = 34), workers age 65+ are likely at higher risk than previously appreciated. Ongoing workforce trends demand increased attention to injury surveillance and prevention for older workers. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Age Factors Aging Cohort Studies Environmental Exposure Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Occupational Injuries Preventive Medicine Retrospective Studies Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Workers' Compensation Workplace

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• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Medicare; Aged; Employment; Occupational Injuries; Permanent Impairment; Reinjury; Return To Work; Surveillance; Workers' Compensation; Workforce Workers; Work Environment; Exposure Levels; Risk Factors; Age Groups; Aging; Aging Workforce; Humans; Men; Women; Workers Compensation; Preventive Measures; Models;
• Source:
  Am J Ind Med 2022 Aug; 65(8):627-643
• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• Pubmed ID:
  35665525
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC9354702
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  R21 OH011355/OH/NIOSH CDC HHSUnited States/ ; R21OH011355/ACL/ACL HHSUnited States/
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 10 ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  29 pdf pages
• Volume:
  65
• Issue:
  8
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20065359
• Contact Point Address:
  Jeanne M. Sears PhD, MS, RN, Department of Health Services, University of Washington, Box 357660, Seattle, WA 98195
• Email:
  jeannes@uw.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2022
• Performing Organization:
  University of Washington
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:27fd6c3876b842f46b4ee920b6634155411aa5819a87aff1967e25a752ba51f367543f83630b285e94ce41a002d17842a23e60a2307bfc2e1e84a04b0c8dd250
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/120009/cdc_120009_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 175.50 KB ]