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Work-related eye injuries among union carpenters
H J Lipscomb1, J M Dement, V McDougall
1Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
|November 24, 1999
Summary
Work-related eye injuries are common among union carpenters in Washington, but severe injuries requiring time off are rare. Hammering incidents contribute significantly to medical costs, and previous injuries increase risk. Factors influencing eye protection use need further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Ophthalmology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Work-related eye injuries represent a significant concern in construction trades.
- Understanding injury patterns and risk factors is crucial for effective prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence and characteristics of work-related eye injuries among union carpenters in Washington State.
- To identify high-risk subgroups and factors associated with eye injury claims and costs.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 12,958 union carpenters was identified using administrative and workers' compensation data (1989-1995).
- Eye injuries were coded using ANSI standards; lost-time injuries were coded with ICD-9.
- Poisson regression was used for multivariate analyses stratified by demographics and work factors.
Main Results:
- Eye injuries accounted for 12% of all workers' compensation claims, with a rate of 6.1 per 200,000 hours worked.
- Hammering-related injuries contributed substantially to medical costs, especially for lost-time cases.
- Previous eye injury claims increased subsequent injury risk 1.6-fold; injury rates decreased with age and union tenure.
Conclusions:
- While eye injuries are frequent in this cohort, severe, time-off-requiring injuries are infrequent.
- Hammering poses a notable risk, and prior injury history is a predictor of future incidents.
- Further research is needed on barriers to eye protection use, including availability, peer influence, and risk perception.