The Relative Burden of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses in Firefighters: An Analysis of Washington Workers’ Compensation Claims, 2006–2020

Details

• Personal Author:
  Anderson N ; Bonauto, David ; LaSee C ; Marcum J ; Siegel M
• Description:
  Firefighters face many hazards on the job and have a high rate of work-related injuries and illnesses (WRII). We analyzed Washington workers' compensation claims from 2006-2020 to characterize WRII in firefighters compared to law enforcement officers and "all other" workers. There were 9187 compensable claims for firefighters, 7801 for law enforcement officers, and 586,939 for "all other" workers. Nearly 40% of claims for firefighters were work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). The claim rate per 10,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) firefighters was 716.4, which is significantly higher than that of law enforcement officers (510.0) and "all other" workers (163.2). The rate per 10,000 FTE of WMSD claims was also higher in firefighters (277.0) than in law enforcement officers (76.2) and "all other" workers (57.6). Additional WRII among firefighters commonly included being struck or caught in objects, slipping or tripping, and exposure to caustic or noxious substances; and amongst law enforcement, transportation accidents and violence. Medical costs and time-loss days per claim were lower for firefighters and law enforcement than for "all other" workers. Common tasks associated with WMSDs in firefighters included lifting and transporting patients, using specific tools and equipment, and physical training. WMSDs stand out as an area for prevention and intervention activities. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Emergency Responders Epidemiology Firefighters Musculoskeletal Diseases Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Firefighters Fire Fighters First Responder First Responders Injuries Law Enforcement Officers Lost Work Days MSD Musculoskeletal Disorders Occupational Injuries Workers' Compensation Claims Workers Compensation

  More +
• ISSN:
  1660-4601
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 10 ; OSHA Region 5 ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DFSE - Division of Field Studies and Engineering
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  20
• Issue:
  22
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20068821
• Citation:
  Int J Environ Res Public Health 2023 Nov; 20(22):7077
• Contact Point Address:
  Naomi Anderson, SHARP Program, Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, Olympia, WA 98504-4000
• Email:
  naomi.anderson@lni.wa.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2024
• NORA Priority Area:
  Public Safety
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:63d319e6a0013b4c477ace3eccf8ce04d7cc6df93ff0367ae301858e5d496073073ca533071af9176c1e4b21ec9a4fd5df24d81ace20b8425e2a96c4dd162ba4
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/207395/cdc_207395_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.06 MB ]