Workers’ Compensation Injury Claims Among Workers in the Private Ambulance Services Industry – Ohio, 2001–2011

Details

• Personal Author:
  Al-Tarawneh IS ; Bertke SJ ; Bushnell PT ; Konda S ; Lampl MP ; Meyers, Alysha R. ; Reichard AA ; Robins DC ; Tseng C-Y ; Wei C ; Wurzelbacher, Steven J.
• Description:
  BACKGROUND: Ambulance service workers frequently transfer and transport patients. These tasks involve occupational injury risks such as heavy lifting, awkward postures, and frequent motor vehicle travel. METHODS: We examined Ohio workers' compensation injury claims among state-insured ambulance service workers working for private employers from 2001 to 2011. Injury claim counts and rates are presented by claim types, diagnoses, and injury events; only counts are available by worker characteristics. RESULTS: We analyzed a total of 5882 claims. The majority were medical-only (<8 days away from work). The overall injury claim rate for medical-only and lost-time cases was 12.1 per 100 full-time equivalents. Sprains and strains accounted for 60% of all injury claims. Overexertion from patient handling was the leading injury event, followed by motor vehicle roadway incidents. CONCLUSIONS: Study results can guide the development or improvement of injury prevention strategies. Focused efforts related to patient handling and vehicle incidents are needed. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Accidents, Occupational Automobiles Emergency Responders Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Accidents Author Keywords: Ambulance Emergency Medical Technician Emergency Medical Technicians EMT Injuries Lifting Motor Vehicles Occupational Injuries Overexertion Patient Handling Posture Surveillance Vehicle Safety Workers Compensation

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• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 5 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSR - Division of Safety Research ; DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies ; OD - Office of the Director
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  61
• Issue:
  12
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20053695
• Citation:
  Am J Ind Med 2018 Dec; 61(12):986-996
• Contact Point Address:
  Audrey A. Reichard, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1095 Willowdale Rd, MS H1808, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2019
• NORA Priority Area:
  Public Safety
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Industrial Medicine
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:ad9eab9770f762dd237e12a223a25ae98fe135d481706da99ad9cb693efcdea06c5f34fc94c7361dab41d9b68d9d7ffd60b8bc5bb77c407aa70a5f69a11b7f94
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/216408/cdc_216408_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 753.07 KB ]