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A descriptive analysis of nonfatal occupational injuries to older workers, using a national probability sample of hospital emergency departments.

Layne LA; Landen DD

J Occup Environ Med 1997 Sep; 39(9):855-865

https://doi.org/10.1097/00043764-199709000-00009

20023503

An estimated 136,985 nonfatal, work-related injuries to workers 55 years of age and older were presented for treatment in hospital emergency departments across the United States during 1993. Men accounted for 63.7% of the injuries and had an injury rate of 1.06 per 100 workers, compared with a rate of 0.76 among women. Among the oldest workers (65+ years), injuries were more likely to be fractures or dislocations, to result from falls on the same level, or to involve hospitalization. The services industry had the largest number of injuries (31.9%), whereas the highest injury rate occurred in the agriculture/forestry/fishing industry (1.50 per 100 workers). The types of injuries most frequently requiring hospitalization were fractures or dislocations that resulted from a fall. Because older workers' employment demographics and injury patterns differ from the remainder of the labor force, interventions need to be developed which are specific to the workplace for this older working population.

Occupational accidents; Occupational hazards; Age factors; Age groups; Worker health; Service industries; Agricultural industry; Forestry workers; Fishing industry

Larry A. Layne, MA., Division of Safety Research, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1095 Willowdale Rd., Morgantown, WVa 26505, USA

JOEMFM

19970901

Journal Article

1997

9

1076-2752

DSR

NAICS-1141

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

WV