Cost of workers' compensation claims among firefighters in Ohio, 2001-2020

Firefighters face significant occupational hazards resulting in fatal and nonfatal injuries as well as illnesses. This study characterizes the costs of workers' compensation (WC) claims among Ohio firefighters from 2001 to 2020, providing insights for prevention and resource allocation strategies.

WC claims data for public and private fire departments were analyzed. Claims were categorized by type (medical-only vs. lost-time), demographics, tasks that led to the injury/illness, injury/illness events, and diagnoses. Costs included medical care, indemnity payments, and reserves for future anticipated costs, evaluated as of Q2 2022.

Among 37,306 claims, costs totaled $542 million. Lost-time claims accounted for $497 million, while medical-only claims totaled $45 million. Overexertion involving outside sources was the most frequent event, contributing to 27% of claims and $176 million in costs. Patient care activities and long-term exposures had disproportionately high cost-to-claim ratios, highlighting their significant financial burden. A notable increase in cancer-related claims was observed following Ohio's firefighter cancer presumption law implementation in 2017, reflecting the impact of policy changes on claim trends.

This analysis highlights the substantial cost of WC claims among firefighters, emphasizing the need for targeted prevention efforts and resource allocation. The findings underscore the impact of policy changes, such as presumption laws, in shaping WC trends. Future research could examine cost differences across firefighter subgroups and assess the long-term impacts of presumption laws on compensation systems.

Insights from this study provide fire departments and policymakers with critical data to prioritize prevention strategies for high cost injuries, such as overexertion and cancer-related conditions. Findings also support the development of policies and resource allocations aimed at improving firefighter safety.