Work-Related Injuries Associated with Falls During Ice Storms – National Institutes of Health, January 1994

Details

• Personal Author:
  Kobayashi KR ; Schmitt JM ; Stansbury LG ; Stevens MB ; Swinson AA ; Vangellow CP
• Description:
  Although some environmental cold-related occupational health problems have been described previously (e.g., hypothermia and related thermal conditions) (1), the risks associated with pedestrian injuries related to surface ice are not well characterized. During January 18-31, 1994, freezing rain and record cold temperatures created icy conditions in the Washington, D.C., area that were sufficiently severe to prompt early or complete closure of the operations of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and many other public- and private-sector organizations. During this period, the Occupational Medical Service (OMS) of NIH and a local hospital that provides most initial care for workplace-related problems among NIH employees noted a substantial increase in fall-related injuries. This report summarizes an analysis of OMS data regarding these injuries during January 18-31, 1994. OMS logs were reviewed for work-related acute musculoskeletal injuries sustained by NIH employees (total estimated: 18,000) during January 18-31. Additional details about diagnosis and disposition were obtained for each case from clinical charts and workers' compensation claims files. In June 1994, all injured employees were contacted by telephone to assess the presence of persisting symptoms and/or need for ongoing medical care, and 2) lost work time attributable to the injury. For those unavailable by telephone, an attempt was made to obtain this information from clinical and compensation files. During the 2-week period, OMS recorded 53 NIH employees with acute musculoskeletal injuries. Of these, 22 (42%) injuries were bruises and contusions; 24 (45%), strains or sprains; and seven (13%), fractures. When calculated as quarterly rates and compared with the first quarter of 1993, the type-specific rates during 1994 increased fourfold, 15-fold, and fivefold, respectively. Of the 53 injuries, 39 (74%) resulted from falls on ice on NIH campuses, including all seven fractures (four coccygeal and three upper extremity), 15 (63%) strain/sprains, and 17 (77%) bruises/contusions. Based on follow-up contact in June 1994, 12 (38%) of the 32 who had fallen on the ice and for whom current information could be obtained continued to have symptoms and to receive treatment. Based on referrals for outside medical care, bills paid, and work time lost, the overall direct cost attributable to the ice-related injuries among NIH employees was estimated to be $20,000. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Accidental Falls Accident Prevention Accidents Accidents, Occupational Cold Temperature Education Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Occupational Injuries Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety

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• Keywords:
  Accident-prevention Accident-statistics Cold-weather-operations Extremities Fall-protection Freezing-point-depressants Musculoskeletal-system Musculoskeletal-system-disorders Occupational-accidents Risk-factors Surface-properties

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• ISSN:
  0098-7484
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  District of Columbia ; OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSR - Division of Safety Research
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  98
• Volume:
  275
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20034945
• Citation:
  JAMA 1996 Jan; 275(2):98
• Contact Point Address:
  LG Stansbury, CDC, NIOSH, DSR, Occupational Medical Services, Atlanta, GA 30333
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1996
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of the American Medical Association
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:1ad8e8982535a37f11309bf13b0d6b601aa62558784e9f54a78c4a54fe389aa1a3e3d21cb364865331416469f23e3777ecd3d44439151877cc032e37149db8b0
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/186958/cdc_186958_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 159.21 KB ]