Workers’ compensation injury claims among firefighters in Ohio, 2001–2017

Quinn, Tyler D.; Marsh, Suzanne M.; Oldham, Kierstyn; Wurzelbacher, Steven J.; Naber, Steven

doi:10.1016/j.jsr.2023.01.014

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…The gender distribution in our workers' compensation data is comparable to the gender distribution in employment estimates for firefighters and law enforcement officers [18][19][20][21][22]. Female firefighters and law enforcement officers accounted for 8.2% and 13.2% of compensable claims, respectively.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 72%

“…The number of workers' compensation claims for firefighters were declining over time in a recent study of firefighters in Ohio [19]. Our study found a decline in claim rates per 10,000 FTE over the study period, if excluding COVID-19 claims in 2020; the rate for WMSDs was also declining for all groups.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 38%

“…Furthermore, both firefighters and law enforcement officers each exist within a work environment where organizational and social support systems may motivate the worker to return to work [34]. An analysis of firefighters in Ohio found that there was some injury seasonality in claims (a higher proportion of slip/trip/fall injuries in the winter months) [19], though our data did not demonstrate much variability across seasons.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 65%

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

Anderson,

Marcum,

Bonauto

et al. 2023

IJERPH

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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.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 72%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 38%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 65%

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

Anderson,

Marcum,

Bonauto

et al. 2023

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…The research findings reveal a significant decline in the frequency of LT, MO, and total claims among LEOs, which is consistent with other OHBWC-based studies of first responders such as firefighters and ambulance service workers. 27,28 The observed decreasing trend among LEOs is also likely indicative of an overall decline in claim counts and rates within the OHBWC database. 25,29 A similar decline in occupational injury counts and rates over time has also been noted using national data sources including the BLS SOII data.…”

Section: Demographic Characteristics Of Ohio Leo Wc Claims By Injury ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Occupational injuries and illnesses among law enforcement officers, 2001−2019: Findings from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation

Tiesman,

Konda,

Wurzelbacher

et al. 2023

American J Industrial Med

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BackgroundOccupational injuries are common among law enforcement officers (LEOs) and can impact an agency's ability to serve communities. Workers' compensation (WC) data are an underutilized source for occupational injury surveillance in the law enforcement field.MethodsLEOs WC claims from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (OHBWC) from 2001 to 2019 were identified based on manual review of the occupation title and injury description. Worker, employer, incident, and injury characteristics were described by claim type—medical‐only (MO) and lost‐time (8 or more days away from work). Data are presented using injury claim counts.ResultsFrom 2001 to 2019, 50,793 WC claims were identified among Ohio LEOs. Of these, 68% were MO claims (n = 34,622). WC claims significantly decreased over the 19‐year period (p < 0.001). Seventy‐five percent of WC claims were from a LEO with more than one claim and of these, 34% were from a LEO with five or more claims during the study period. Male officers and those aged 25−54 years incurred the highest proportion of total claims (87.8% & 91.8%, respectively). Violence (n = 17,247; 34%), falls/slips/trips (n = 9079; 17.9%), and transportation events (n = 7977; 15.7%) were the leading events. Among the 50,793 claims, there were 79,637 unique clinical diagnosis groups. The most common injury diagnoses were sprains (n = 32,796; 41.2%) followed by contusions (n = 13,529; 17%).ConclusionsResults can guide the development or improvement of workplace injury prevention strategies for LEOs. Efforts should be focused on better understanding and preventing violent injury events and sprains among LEOs, as well as preventing multiple injury events.

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Occupational injuries caused by fire and smoke in Victoria, Australia, 2003–2021: a descriptive study

Berecki-Gisolf,

Wah,

Walker-Bone

2024

Occup Environ Med

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ObjectivesHospital attendance related to fire, flame or smoke exposure is commonly associated with work. The aim of this study was to examine time trends and risk factors for work-related fire/flame/smoke injuries in Victoria, Australia.MethodsThis study was based on emergency department (ED) presentation records from the Victorian Emergency Minimum Dataset, 2003–2021. Cases were people aged 15–74 years with injury-related ED presentations, if cause of injury was recorded as fire/flame/smoke, based on coded data and/or narratives. Work-related rates were calculated per employed persons; non-work rates were calculated per population. Work-related and non-work-related cases were compared using logistic regression modelling.ResultsThere were 11 838 ED presentations related to fire/flame/smoke: 1864 (15.7%) were work-related. Non-work-related rates were 12.3 ED presentations per 100 000population, and work-related rates were 3.43 per 100 000employed personsannually. Over the study period, work-related rates decreased annually by 2.0% (p<0.0001), while non-work rates increased by 1.1% (p<0.0001). Work-related cases (vs non-work) were associated with summer (vs winter), but the association with extreme bushfire periods (Victorian ‘Black Saturday’ and ‘Black Summer’) was not statistically significant. Work-related cases were less severe than non-work-related cases, evidenced by triage status and subsequent admission.ConclusionsRates of occupational fire/flame/smoke-related injury presentations decreased over the past two decades in Victoria, while non-work-related rates increased. This could reflect improved safety in the workplace. Hospital data, however, cannot be used to distinguish occupation or industry therefore, employment data linkage studies are recommended to further inform workplace preventive measures.

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Workers’ compensation injury claims among firefighters in Ohio, 2001–2017

Cited by 4 publications

References 24 publications

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

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

Occupational injuries and illnesses among law enforcement officers, 2001−2019: Findings from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation

Occupational injuries caused by fire and smoke in Victoria, Australia, 2003–2021: a descriptive study

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