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The Seven Most Common, High Cost Injuries: in Washington State 1998-2002
The Seven Most Common, High Cost Injuries: in Washington State 1998-2002
The Seven Most Common, High Cost Injuries: in Washington State 1998-2002
Source: Prioritizing Industries for Occupational Injury and Illness Prevention, Dept. of Labor & Industries SHARP Technical Report # 64-1-2005 March, 2005
Summary
Between 1998-2002, Washington state workers filed 166,722 compensable injury claims with the Department of Labor & Industries (L & I). Seven common, high cost injury types were identified in these claims:
Caught in/under/between Falls from elevation Falls at same level Struck By/against
Summary
(continued)
These claims cost an estimated $3.9 billion in paid benefits and resulted in 24.3 million days off work during the 5 years studied.
Compensable claims account for 92.1% of all claims costs paid by the worker compensation system.
What is a caught in/under/between injury? An injury produced by squeezing, pinching or crushing a part of the body between a moving or stationary object, between two moving objects or between parts of an object.
Examples: hand caught in a rotating part of a machine
Struck by is an injury resulting from a falling or flying object, or being struck by another person.
Examples: object falling off a platform onto a worker
grinding dust in eye noise exposure (noise strikes eardrum)
Injuries from motor vehicle accidents, including collisions, rollovers and sideswipes. The injured person can be the driver or a passenger, but does not include accidents as passengers on public transportation.
What is a musculoskeletal disorder of the neck, back & upper extremities? Injuries to the neck, back, arms, wrists or hands due to overexertion, repetitive motion, lifting, pulling pushing or carrying objects, or excessive vibration.
Examples:
back injuries sciatica, disc problems, low back pain shoulder injuries rotator cuff damage elbow injuries epicondylitis carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger hand/wrist tendinitis
Industries which have either a large number of claims or a high rate of claims (#of claims per 100 employees) or both, have been ranked by a Prevention Index.
Top 5 NAICS industries for caught in/under/between injury claims Rating by Prevention Index
1. Other Wood Product Manufacturing
2. Logging
Top 5 NAICs industries with fall from elevation injury claims Rating by Prevention Index
1. Foundation, Structure & Building Exterior Contractors
2. Building Finishing Contractors
5. Logging
For a description of these industries, click here.
Top 5 industries with falls at same level injury claims Rating by Prevention Index
1. Logging
2. Foundation, Structure & Building Exterior Contractors
Top 5 industries with struck by/against injury claims Rating by Prevention Index
1. Foundation, Structure & Building Exterior Contractors 2. Logging 3. Residential Building Construction 4. Psychiatric & Substance Abuse Hospitals 5. Other Wood Product Mfg.
For a description of these industries, click here.
Top 5 industries with motor vehicle injury claims Rating by Prevention Index
1. General Freight Trucking
2. Specialized Freight Trucking
3. Couriers
4. Logging
Top 5 industries with lower extremities musculoskeletal disorder claims Rating by Prevention Index
1. Building Finishing Contractors 2. Foundation, Structure & Building Exterior Contractors
Top 5 industries with neck, back & upper extremities musculoskeletal disorder claims Rating by Prevention Index
1. Foundation, Structure & Building Exterior Contractors
2. Building Finishing Contractors
Some Conclusions
This review of worker compensation claims filed in Washington state showed that the seven most serious injuries occurred most frequently in logging and building construction. These injuries are reflected in the higher premiums paid by employers in these categories - $2.50 to $8.00 per hour per employee. Taking injury prevention measures would reduce both worker pain and suffering and industrial insurance costs for employers in these industries.