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Fatal occupational injuries among self‐employed workers in North Carolina
Author(s) -
Mirabelli Maria C.,
Loomis Dana,
Richardson David B.
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.10244
Subject(s) - medicine , occupational safety and health , occupational injury , medical examiner , homicide , injury prevention , environmental health , poison control , wage , case fatality rate , suicide prevention , human factors and ergonomics , demography , population , occupational medicine , gerontology , occupational exposure , labour economics , pathology , sociology , economics
Background Research suggests that rates of occupational injury and death may be higher among self‐employed workers than in the wage and salaried population. This analysis was conducted to describe the demographic and occupational characteristics, as well as injuries, activities, and occupations of self‐employed workers who are fatally injured on the job. Methods Characteristics of workers by type of employment were compared using data from the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, 1978–1994. Age‐, activity‐, and industry‐specific fatality rates in self‐employed workers (N = 395) were contrasted to those privately employed (N = 1,654). Results Highest fatal injury rates among the self‐employed occurred in agriculture, retail, and transportation industries. Homicide deaths occurred more frequently among self‐employed workers; deaths resulting from unintentional injuries occurred more frequently among non‐self‐employed workers. Conclusions Elevated occupational fatality death rates among self‐employed workers, especially in retail and transportation industries, provide justification for addressing work‐related conditions of self‐employed workers in North Carolina. Am. J. Ind. Med. 44:182–190, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.