Disability, direct cost, and payment issues in injuries involving woodworking and wood-related construction

Treatment cost and payment patterns and disability for work, home, and recreation activities were examined for 495 consecutive persons seen as primary care patients over one year in Northern Vermont with injuries associated with woodworking, wood related construction, and home repair activities and materials. These primary care patients were from a larger sample of 601 persons with such injuries who received either primary or tertiary care. Mean total charges were $530 and $342 respectively for work and nonwork related injuries, with highest costs for back and arm injuries, and injuries involving powered equipment and elevations. At six months post injury, patients averaged 11.6 days of disability for work, 10.3 days for home activities, and 13.1 days for recreation. Overwhelmingly, this disability was experienced by nonhospitalized patients. Median charges and disability days were far lower, reflecting the fact that the majority of injuries were minor and only 6% resulted in hospitalization. Only 29% of hospital charges for injuries at work were paid by workmen's compensation, and a third either were unpaid or were paid by the injured party. Self-employed contractors and carpenters, in particular, lacked coverage by workmen's compensation.