Surveillance of acute nonfatal occupational inhalation injuries treated in US hospital emergency departments, 2014-2017.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Hendricks, Kitty J. ; Javurek ABR ; Layne LA ; Schleiff, Patricia L.
• Description:
  Background: Acute nonfatal occupational inhalation injuries are caused by exposures to airborne toxicants and contaminants in the workplace. A 1990s study found that US emergency department (ED)-based inhalation injury rates were higher than those seen in the United Kingdom and Canada. This study examines 4 years of hospital ED data to estimate current rates of occupational inhalation injuries. Methods: Data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System Occupational Supplement were used to identify nonfatal occupational inhalation injuries treated in US hospital EDs from 2014 to 2017. A workplace inhalation injury was defined as any worker treated in an ED as a result of inhaling a harmful substance at work. Results: From 2014 to 2017, there were an estimated 2.2 occupational inhalation injuries per 10,000 full-time equivalents (FTE) (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.6-2.8) treated in EDs, a rate nearly four times that found in Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Although men incurred 60% (95% CI: 56%-64%) of the injuries, the overall injury rates for men and women were similar at 2.3 (95% CI: 1.7-2.9) and 2.1 (95% CI: 1.4-2.7) per 10,000 FTE, respectively. By age group, workers less than 25 years of age were at greater risk of injury at 4.1 injuries per 10,000 FTE (95% CI: 2.8-5.3). Conclusions: These results illustrate the burden of nonfatal occupational inhalation injuries, providing an understanding of how injuries are distributed based on demographics. While inhalation injury rates have declined over the last two decades, additional research is needed to determine whether interventions have reduced risk, or if the availability of alternate sources of medical treatment is a factor. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aging Air Pollutants, Occupational Demography Emergency Responders Hazardous Substances Men Occupational Health Particulate Matter Respiratory System Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Women

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• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Inhalation; Injury; Occupational Surveillance Surveillance; Inhalation; Injuries; Emergency Treatment; Airborne Particulates; Toxins; Workers; Hazards; Statistical Analysis; Humans; Men; Women; Age Groups; Demographic Characteristics; Intervention; Risk Factors;
• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSR - Division of Safety Research ; RHD - Respiratory Health Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  65
• Issue:
  8
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20065350
• Citation:
  Am J Ind Med 2022 Aug; 65(8):690-696
• Contact Point Address:
  Kitty J. Hendricks, Surveillance and Field Investigations Branch, Division of Safety Research, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 1000 Fredrick Lane, M/S 1808, Morgantown, WV 26508, USA
• Email:
  kjt1@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2022
• 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-512:81b28db3466685d1cccee1597318f3db973d4e4495104e4748a2b848bce725963ae7bb8e53131284d6503fd3ce8b7c1ad73e9ad6b8cf6e14aa8fbf86e5ce4883
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/249411/cdc_249411_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 474.28 KB ]