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Cause, type, and workers' compensation costs of injury to fire fighters
Author(s) -
Walton Surrey M.,
Conrad Karen M.,
Furner Sylvia E.,
Samo Daniel G.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.10200
Subject(s) - medicine , workers' compensation , occupational injury , occupational safety and health , compensation (psychology) , back injury , occupational medicine , injury prevention , poison control , fire fighter , environmental health , occupational exposure , medical emergency , pathology , psychology , psychoanalysis
Abstract Background Work‐related injury rates in the fire service industry exceed those for most other industries, however little is known about the cost of injury to firefighters. Methods This is a preliminary investigation of detailed worker's compensation records of firefighter injuries, 1,343 claims in all, collected from 1992–1999. Summary statistics and regression analysis regarding the cause, nature, and cost of injury to firefighters are presented. Results Overexertion accounted for a significant portion (over 1/3) of injuries to firefighters, typically involved injuries to the back, and was associated with significantly higher costs than other types of injuries. The per‐claim average worker's compensation cost of injury to firefighters was $5,168 and the average for injuries caused by overexertion was $9,715. Conclusions Overexertion is a costly source of injury to firefighters that can likely be reduced through policy intervention. Am. J. Ind. Med. 43:454–458, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.