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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Beatriz P. Vautin, MPH and Letitia Davis, ScD. Occupational Health Surveillance Program, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 250 Washington Street, 6th floor, Boston, MA 02108, 617-624-5677, Beatriz.Pazos@state.ma.us

Purpose: Each year in the United States an estimated 230,000 teens less than 18 years of age are injured while working. This study provides more in-depth information about factors in the workplace that may contribute to these injuries. Methods: Workers' compensation records and emergency department reports from a sample of hospitals were used to identify work-related injuries sustained by youths less than 18 years of age. Select cases were contacted for follow-up telephone interviews to learn more about how the injuries occurred, and workplace health and safety practices. A mail survey pilot was conducted for a subset of burn cases. Results between the two methods of delivery were compared. Results: Between 1994-2003, 800 interviews were conducted with teens injured at work. Only 61% of the teens reported having the required work permits. Half of the respondents reported not having received any health and safety training, and 12% were injured when there were no supervisors on the premises. Narrative descriptions of the circumstances surrounding the injury indicate that many teens continued working when injured and sought treatment once home. Response rates for mail surveys were similar to response rates for telephone interviews. Conclusions: Interview findings underscore the need for increased health and safety training and supervision of working teens as well as development and implementation of emergency response procedures in workplaces where teens are employed. Mailed survey instruments appear to be a viable and more efficient means of collecting follow-up information from injured teens.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to

• Discuss circumstances in the workplace which contributed to the teens' injuries.
• Evaulate telephone and mail survey methodology for conducting interviews with injured teens.

Keywords: Occupational Surveillance, Adolescents

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered