Work absence due to compensable RTCs in Victoria, Australia

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Occupational Health
• Injury Prevention

Background:

• Road traffic crash (RTC) burden is typically measured by fatalities and hospitalizations.
• Non-fatal injuries, including those causing work absence, represent a substantial economic and human cost.
• Compensation systems in Victoria, Australia, cover employed individuals injured in RTCs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify work absence episodes due to compensable RTC injuries.
• To determine the rate of work absence following RTCs.
• To identify factors associated with work-related RTCs resulting in work absence.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of administrative data from Victoria's Compensation Research Database (2003-2013).
• Inclusion of working-age individuals (15-65 years) with accepted compensation claims and at least one day of income support.
• Use of negative binomial and multivariable logistic regression to analyze trends and work-related factors.

Main Results:

• 40,677 claims for work absence due to RTC injuries were recorded (average 4,068/year).
• Work-related RTCs accounted for 17.4% of these claims.
• Males, older adults, and RTCs involving heavy vehicles or public transport had higher odds of being work-related.

Conclusions:

• Work absence is a significant, under-measured burden of RTC injuries.
• This metric complements traditional RTC statistics.
• Understanding factors associated with work absence can inform targeted prevention strategies.