Occupational Injuries Among U.S. Workers with Disabilities

Details

• Personal Author:
  Lu B ; Wheeler KK ; Xiang H ; Zhao W
• Description:
  Objective: Much remains to be learned regarding disabilities and occupational safety among U.S. workers. This study examined occupational injury risk factors and injury patterns among workers with pre-existing disabilities. Methods: The National Health Interview Survey 1997-2004 data were analyzed. Disability status was determined from questions based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. A self-reported 3-month cumulative incidence of occupational injuries was recorded. Injury prevalence, the leading causes of injury, activities at time of injury and types of injury were compared between workers with disabilities and workers without disabilities. The impact of disabilities on the risk of occupational injuries was examined with survey-weight adjusted multivariable logistic and Poisson regression models that control for the confounding effects of socio-demographics and injury risk behavior variables. Results: From 1997 to 2004, 360,204 workers were included in our study, and 5.3% of them had disabilities. The prevalence of occupational injuries among workers with disabilities was nearly three times higher than that among workers without disabilities. Among individuals with pre-existing disabilities, higher percentages of young workers (25-44 years), African American workers, and construction workers reported occupational injuries, and major injury causes were falls and overexertion/strenuous movements. Disabilities were significantly associated with an elevated risk of occupational injury in multivariable logistic regression adjusting for covariates. Conclusions: U.S. workers with disabilities suffer more occupational injuries than those without disabilities. Injuries among workers with disabilities have distinct patterns, making them predictable and preventable. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Behavior Demography Epidemiology Morbidity Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Disability Demographic Characteristics Disabled Workers Injuries Injury Risk Morbidity Rates Risk Factors Sociological Factors Surveillance
• Publisher:
  American Public Health Association
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20054002
• Citation:
  APHA 139th Annual Meeting and Exposition, October 29 - November 2, 2011, Washington, D.C. Washington, DC: American Public Health Association, 2011 Nov; :240557
• Contact Point Address:
  Huiyun Xiang, MD, MPH, PhD, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Center for Injury Research and Policy, 700 Childrens Drive, Columbus, OH, USA 43205
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2012
• Performing Organization:
  Research Institute Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20100901
• Source Full Name:
  APHA 139th Annual Meeting and Exposition, October 29 - November 2, 2011, Washington, D.C
• End Date:
  20140831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:81a7755a2c853d0edce89a3790bcb9feafb68d36d684d102c0f1c00b6cfae0c2ad49db4b8030e3f75d21fc130afb6f74ebad000beab5cfe13ad8562518eee9ec
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/216653/cdc_216653_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 66.50 KB ]