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Examining occupational health and safety disparities using national data: A cause for continuing concern
Author(s) -
Steege Andrea L.,
Baron Sherry L.,
Marsh Suzanne M.,
Menéndez Cammie Chaumont,
Myers John R.
Publication year - 2014
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.22297
Subject(s) - workforce , medicine , occupational safety and health , socioeconomic status , environmental health , public health , homicide , government (linguistics) , occupational injury , wage , case fatality rate , poison control , injury prevention , gerontology , demography , demographic economics , economic growth , population , labour economics , nursing , pathology , sociology , economics , linguistics , philosophy
Background Occupational status, a core component of socioeconomic status, plays a critical role in the well‐being of U.S. workers. Identifying work‐related disparities can help target prevention efforts. Methods Bureau of Labor Statistics workplace data were used to characterize high‐risk occupations and examine relationships between demographic and work‐related variables and fatality. Results Employment in high‐injury/illness occupations was independently associated with being male, Black, ≤high school degree, foreign‐birth, and low‐wages. Adjusted fatal occupational injury rate ratios for 2005–2009 were elevated for males, older workers, and several industries and occupations. Agriculture/forestry/fishing and mining industries and transportation and materials moving occupations had the highest rate ratios. Homicide rate ratios were elevated for Black, American Indian/Alaska Native/Asian/Pacific Islanders, and foreign‐born workers. Conclusions These findings highlight the importance of understanding patterns of disparities of workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities. Results can improve intervention efforts by developing programs that better meet the needs of the increasingly diverse U.S. workforce. Am. J. Ind. Med. 57:527–538, 2014. Published 2014. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.