Citation

Leigh JP, Waehrer GM, Miller TR, McCurdy SA. Am. J. Ind. Med. 2006; 49(10): 845-853.

Affiliation

Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care and Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, California.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/ajim.20374

PMID

16917837

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Little is known about cost differences for demographic groups or across occupational injuries and illnesses. METHODS: In this incidence study of nationwide data for 1993, an analysis was conducted on fatal and non-fatal injury and illness data recorded in government data sets. Costs data were from workers' compensation records, estimates of lost wages, and jury awards. RESULTS: The youngest (age </= (age oldest and 17)>/= 65) workers had exceptionally high fatality costs. Whereas men's costs for non-fatal incidents were nearly double those for women, men's costs for fatal injuries were 10 times the costs for women. The highest ranking occupation for combined fatal and non-fatal costs-farming, forestry, and fishing-had costs-per-worker ($5,163) over 18 times the lowest ranking occupation-executives and managers ($279). The occupation of handlers, cleaners, and laborers, ranked highest for non-fatal costs. Gunshot wounds generated especially high fatal costs. Compared to whites, African-Americans had a lower percentage of costs due to carpal tunnel syndrome, circulatory, and digestive diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Costs comparisons can be drawn across age, race, gender, and occupational groups as well as categories of injuries and illnesses.Ã�Â

Language: en