288136
Economic burden of occupational non-fatal injuries in wholesale and retail trade sectors
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
: 5:30 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.
Anasua Bhattacharya, PhD,
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health/Risk Evaluation Branch, Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, Cincinnati, OH
Background: The Wholesale and Retail Trade (WRT) sector together employed about 2,000,000 workers in 2011. Although the work performed in the WRT sector is considered to be low in risk of injury, the sector has businesses large and small that pose a high risk of injury. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the WRT sector experienced more than one injury per 100 full-time workers (requiring days away from work) in 2011. Purpose: This study estimates the economic burden of occupational non-fatal injuries in WRT sector and examines how they vary by body parts injured and nature of injury. Data/Methodology: Data on injuries are obtained from BLS and Workers' Compensation costs (indemnity and medical) data are obtained from National Council on Compensation Insurance. Trend analyses are conducted using these data for the years 2003 through 2007 to examine how the numbers, rates, and economic burden of occupational non-fatal injuries varied over the years in the WRT sector. Results: Preliminary results show that the number of non-fatal injuries decreased from 263,720 in 2003 to 242,020 in 2007 and the rates decreased too during this time period. Average medical costs and average indemnity costs were reduced. The average medical costs and average indemnity costs are highest for amputations and neck injuries. Conclusion: This study is the first attempt to estimate the economic burden of non-fatal occupational injuries in the WRT sector and found that though the numbers of injuries and the associated costs have decreased over the time, yet they remain high.
Learning Areas:
Occupational health and safety
Learning Objectives:
Analyze past trend of non-fatal occupational injuries in wholesale and retail trade sectors by body parts injured and nature of injury.
Evaluate the direct and indirect costs of these injuries during the past years.
Assess the economic burden of these injuries.
Keyword(s): Injury, Workers' Compensation
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the principal investigator of this study estimating the economic burden of occupational non-fatal injuries in wholesale and retail trade sectors. Among my research interests has been the linking of different databases to develop methods to estimate the occupational burden of fatal and non-fatal occupational injuries in different industrial sectors and in small businesses.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
