Employee drinking patterns and accidental injury: a study of four New England states

The relationship between alcohol use and accidental injury was examined in an anonymous telephone survey of 1740 randomly sampled employed adults (49% men) residing in four New England states in 1982 and 1983. Respondents reported 383 accidents requiring medical attention during the year prior to the interview, 34 involving hospitalization. Of the accidents, 41% occurred at work, 32% during recreational and other activities, 19% at home and 8% in traffic incidents. Respondents were stratified by self-reported levels of alcohol consumption and were compared on accident rates. Drinking at work was also examined for an association with accident involvement. Logistic regression analyses controlled for variability associated with age, sex, marital status, occupation and drug use. Drinking at work was not significantly or independently associated with job accidents but an average daily intake of 5+ drinks elevated the relative risk, compared with abstainers, as follows: 1.7 for any accidental injury, 3.8 for injuries requiring hospitalization and 2.0 for job-based accidental injuries. The relative risks associated with the use of other psychoactive drugs were 1.7 for work accidents and 2.4 for accident-associated hospitalizations. Of the respondents, 13% reported having ever had a drug or alcohol problem and 2% reported a current problem. Fourteen percent reported that there were counselors at their jobs to help with such problems. Of those who had ever experienced a problem, 11% had sought help from outside programs and only 4% had sought help at work.