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Fatal occupational injuries among U.S. law enforcement officers: a comparison of national surveillance systems.

Authors
Tiesman HM; Swedler DI; Konda S; Pollack KM
Source
Am J Ind Med 2013 Jun; 56(6):693-700
Link
https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.22182
NIOSHTIC No.
20042382
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study describes and compares the three surveillance systems used to record occupational injury fatalities among U.S. law enforcement officers (LEOs). METHODS: The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund database (NLEOMF), and Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted reports (LEOKA) were examined for LEO deaths between 2003 and 2009. Fatality rates per 100,000 workers were calculated and compared. RESULTS: Between 2003 and 2009, the NLEOMF reported 1,050 fatalities (rate of 16.4 per 100,000 workers), the CFOI reported 968 fatalities (15.1 per 100,000), and the LEOKA recorded 853 fatalities (13.3 per 100,000). The LEOKA under-counted the number of fatalities compared to the NLEOMF and CFOI. Discrepancies were found between the LEOKA, NLEOMF, and CFOI regarding age, race, and Hispanic origin. Similar patterns for cause of fatality were found; however, the NLEOMF recorded a higher number of "other" fatalities compared to the other two systems. CONCLUSIONS: This study fills a critical knowledge gap by providing an overview of the three surveillance systems used to enumerate LEO occupational deaths. Understanding the differences across the systems is critical when utilizing them for surveillance research. Am. J. Ind. Med. Published 2013. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Keywords
Surveillance-programs; Injuries; Traumatic-injuries; Law-enforcement-workers; Police-officers; Humans; Men; Women; Statistical-analysis; Age-groups; Sociological-factors; Author Keywords: fatality rates; occupation; police; surveillance; traumatic injury
Contact
Hope M. Tiesman, PhD, NIOSH, Division of Safety Research, 1095 Willowdale Road, M/S1811, Morgantown, WV 26506
CODEN
AJIMD8
Publication Date
20130601
Document Type
Journal Article
Email Address
htiesman@cdc.gov
Funding Type
Grant
Fiscal Year
2013
Identifying No.
Grant-Number-T42-OH-008428; B20130416
Issue of Publication
6
ISSN
0271-3586
NIOSH Division
DSR
Priority Area
Public Safety
Source Name
American Journal of Industrial Medicine
State
MD; WV
Performing Organization
Johns Hopkins University
Page last reviewed: May 11, 2023
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Education and Information Division