Work

Characteristics of agricultural and occupational injuries by workers’ compensation and other payer sources

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Workers' compensation claims data are routinely used to identify and describe work-related injury for public health surveillance and research, yet the proportion of work-related injuries covered by workers' compensation, especially in the agricultural industry, is unknown. METHODS: Using data from the Iowa Trauma Registry, we determined the sensitivity and specificity of the use of workers' compensation as a payer source to ascertain work-related injuries requiring acute care comparing agriculture with other rural industries. RESULTS: The sensitivity of workers' compensation as a payer source to identify work-related agricultural injuries was 18.5%, suggesting that the large majority of occupational agricultural injuries would not be accurately identified through workers' compensation records. For rural nonagricultural, rural occupational injuries, the sensitivity was higher (64.2%). Work-related agricultural injuries were most frequently covered by private insurance (39.6%) and public insurance (21.4%), while rural nonagricultural injuries were most frequently covered by workers' compensation (65.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Workers' compensation claims data will not include the majority of work-related agricultural injuries.

Source: American Journal of Industrial Medicine

DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23040

Authors: Celestin Missikpode, Corinne Peek‐Asa, Brad Wright, Marizen Ramirez

Institution: University of Iowa

Language: English

Topic: Agriculture and Farm Safety

Subfield: Plant Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDGs: Decent work and economic growth, Good health and well-being, Zero hunger

Open Access status: green

Funders: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health