Evaluating the Needs, Knowledge and Health Impacts of Three Worker Populations During Hurricane Sandy

Details

• Personal Author:
  Borjan M ; Erdogdu P ; Jordan H ; Lefkowitz D ; Lu S-E ; Lumina ME ; Marshall EG ; Shi Z ; Swerdel J
• Description:
  On October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy made landfall near Atlantic City, New Jersey (NJ), severely affecting regions along the NJ shoreline and impacting virtually every county in the state. Nearly two thirds of the state's approximately 2.6 million utility customers were without power. The state's infrastructure, including a major highway along the shore and the mass transit system serving the NJ/New York metro region, was severely damaged. The NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development (2012) estimated that the 10 hardest hit counties in NJ (those closest to the main coastal and riverfront areas) included almost 6 million residents and 41% of the NJ labor force. Work-related injuries and acute illnesses occurring as a result of natural disasters are serious public health concerns. As a direct result of the effects of Hurricane Sandy, seven work-related fatalities occurred in NJ, many of whom were working in a response capacity, including three tree care workers. This project aimed to: 1) summarize work-related injuries and acute illnesses in NJ after Hurricane Sandy through retrospective analyses of statewide data sources; identify gaps in existing data sources; and provide recommendations for strategies for future occupational health surveillance. 2) conduct focus groups among three first responder worker populations, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responders, tree care company employers and employees, and disaster volunteers, to understand, reduce, or eliminate adverse health impacts by providing recommendations for educational and outreach materials. The week immediately following Hurricane Sandy showed a decline in total work-related injuries: RR=0.85(95%CI: 0.69, 1.05), and no overall increase in the year post-Hurricane Sandy. However, high impact counties showed an elevated risk of work-related injuries in the first and third quarters post Sandy among men, especially for Blacks and Hispanics. The greatest excesses occurred in the third quarter post-storm, May-July, for falls, RR=1.30(95% Cl: 1.08, 1.57); cut/pierce injuries, RR=1.24(1.09, 1.40); struck by injuries, RR=1.17(1.02, 1.34); and overexertion, RR=1.26(1.10, 1.44). Both the EMS and tree care company focus groups reported few injuries and no deaths among their colleagues but did report hazardous, high risk environments, and discussed the importance of assessing job sites and reviewing safety protocols. Other key findings included sporadic use of PPE and working 16+ hour days. The tree care employees and employers also described how the storm damaged trees presented dangerous working conditions, along with the lack of lighting, fuel, cash, and food. There was some disparity between the larger and more expert tree companies which offered more training and PPE versus smaller companies and Spanish-speaking laborers, who reported little formal training and minimal use of PPE. In conclusion, the rate of work-related injuries in Hurricane Sandy's high impact area increased after the storm. Based on timing and type of injury, the greatest impact in work-related injury may be associated with rebuilding and recovery rather than initial response. Experience with this project can provide recommendations to improve surveillance of work-related injury in NJ and other states. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Emergencies Emergency Responders Environmental Exposure Environmental Pollution Men Mortality Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Public Health Race Factors Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Women Workplace

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• Keywords:
  Emergency Responders Emergency Response Environmental Exposure Environmental Hazards Exposure Levels Fatalities First Responders Hazards Humans Injuries Natural Disasters Personal Protection Personal Protective Equipment Public Health Racial Factors Risk Factors Safety Practices Sociological Factors Tree Trimmers Work Environment Workers

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• Series:
  Grant Final Reports
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Final Cooperative Agreement Report
• Place as Subject:
  New Jersey ; OSHA Region 2
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  OEP - Office of Extramural Programs
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-34
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20048083
• NTIS Accession Number:
  PB2016-103295
• Citation:
  Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, U01-OH-010622, 2015 Dec; :1-34
• Contact Point Address:
  Margaret El Lumia, New Jersey Department of Health Consumer, Environmental and Occupational Health Service, Occupational Health Surveillance Unit, PO Box 369, Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0369
• Email:
  Margaret.Lumia@doh.state.nj.us
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2016
• Performing Organization:
  New Jersey Department of Health
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20130930
• Source Full Name:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• End Date:
  20150929
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:ef07c65e3f14babac7fa9db9c9da1f55a6701dec1a18f88b76fae4e4001f158c3933afe582fcfa43694ad4b10f7e26510c0aec6ab680aead7977714a83855add
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/218640/cdc_218640_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.53 MB ]