Since 1992, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health has been working to build a comprehensive surveillance system for work-related injuries to youth. The goal of the system is twofold: 1) to identify sentinel cases for worksite follow-up; and 2) to generate meaningful summary data to target broad-based intervention efforts. Multiple data sources, including workers’ compensation records and emergency department reports from a sample of facilities are used for case ascertainment. Select cases are contacted for follow-up and summary data have been used to target a wide range of intervention efforts in the state. This presentation will provide an overview of surveillance findings from 1993-1999. It will include a comparison of cases identified through different sources, and select findings from interviews with injured teens. Findings regarding injuries in the retail bakery industry will be highlighted.
Learning Objectives: Participants will be able: To characterize the goals of the Massachusetts surveillance system for occupational injuries to youth. To describe data sources for surveillance of work-related injuries to youth. To characterize the most common injuries experienced by teens in Massachusetts To identify the industries and occupations in which young workers are most frequently injured and those in which they are at highest risk.
Keywords: Occupational Injury and Death, Adolescents
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.