The Seven Most Common, High Cost Injuries in Washington State 1998-2002

1
The Seven Most Common, High Cost Injuriesin
Washington State 1998-2002

• And in what industries they occurred

Dept. of Labor Industries Workers Compensation
Claims Data Analysis
Source Prioritizing Industries for Occupational
Injury and Illness Prevention, Dept. of Labor
Industries SHARP Technical Report 64-1-2005
March, 2005
2
Summary
Between 1998-2002, Washington state workers filed
166,722 compensable injury claims with the
Department of Labor Industries (L I). Seven
common, high cost injury types were identified in
these claims Caught in/under/between Falls
from elevation Falls at same level Struck
By/against Motor vehicle accidents
Musculoskeletal disorders of the lower
extremities Musculoskeletal disorders of the
neck, back and upper extremities
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Summary (continued)
These seven injury types accounted for - 91.6
of all compensable claims, - 94.7 of
compensable claim costs, - 95.5 of all
compensable time-loss days (days off work)
These claims cost an estimated 3.9 billion in
paid benefits and resulted in 24.3 million days
off work during the 5 years studied.
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What are compensable claims?
Compensable claims are worker claims for serious
injuries that result in time off from work for
medical treatment and recovery. Compensable claim
payments include medical bills, compensation for
days off work and disability payments. Claims
involving simple medical treatment for minor
injuries with no days off work are not
included. Compensable claims account for 92.1 of
all claims costs paid by the worker compensation
system.
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What is a caught in/under/between injury?
An injury produced by squeezing, pinching or
crushing a part of the body between a moving or
stationary object, between two moving objects or
between parts of an object.
Examples hand caught in a rotating part of a
machine finger amputated by a rotating saw
blade Toes crushed by wheels of a moving
vehicle Worker pulled into an auger
6
What is a fall from elevation injury?
An injury from a fall from one level to a lower
level or an impact against an object that is
lower than the level the person is standing on.
Examples fall from a roof fall from a
ladder fall from a truck, tractor
or construction
vehicle fall from a scaffold fall
off a raised deck or platform fall off a
loading dock
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What is a fall from same level injury?
An injury resulting from falling over to the same
level as the working surface or falling into or
against an object at the same level.
Examples tripping over a cord or clutter on the
floor losing balance while carrying a
heavy object falling against a sharp
object Slipping on a wet floor
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What is a struck by/against injury?
Struck against is an injury from impacting
objects during movement, such as bumping into
objects, stepping on objects, or being pushed or
thrown against objects. Does not include
falls. Examples bumping head on overhead
beam hand slips off hand tool
accidentally touching a hot pipe Struck by is
an injury resulting from a falling or flying
object, or being struck by another
person. Examples object falling off a platform
onto a worker grinding dust in eye
noise exposure (noise strikes eardrum)
kicked by patient in a mental hospital
9
What is a motor vehicle injury?
Injuries from motor vehicle accidents, including
collisions, rollovers and sideswipes. The injured
person can be the driver or a passenger, but
does not include accidents as passengers on
public transportation.
10
What is a musculoskeletal disorder of the lower
extremity?
Injuries to the legs, knees, ankles, foot from
overexertion, prolonged kneeling, or other bodily
motion.
(These do not include impact injuries to the
lower extremities.)
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What is a musculoskeletal disorder of the neck,
back upper extremities?
Injuries to the neck, back, arms, wrists or hands
due to overexertion, repetitive motion, lifting,
pulling pushing or carrying objects, or excessive
vibration.
Examples back injuries sciatica, disc
problems, low back pain shoulder injuries
rotator cuff damage elbow injuries
epicondylitis carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger
finger hand/wrist tendinitis
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Industries Where Compensable Injuries Occur
Industries are classified by North American
Industrial Classification system (NAICS) into
industry groups which describes the businesses by
the type of commerce they do. Examples are
logging, general freight trucking, residential
building construction, and foundation, structure
building exterior contractors. Industries
which have either a large number of claims or a
high rate of claims (of claims per 100
employees) or both, have been ranked by a
Prevention Index.
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What is the Prevention Index?
It is the average of an industrys ranking in the
number of claims and the claims rate. The more
the claims and the higher the claims rate, the
lower the prevention index number. In other
words, an industry with a very low prevention
index number will have a large number and a high
rate of compensable claims.
claims rate - the number of injury claims per
10,000 employees
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Top 5 NAICS industries for caught
in/under/between injury claims
Rating by Prevention Index

1. Other Wood Product Manufacturing
2. Logging
3. Converted Paper Product Mfg.
4. Cattle Ranching Farming
5. Architectural Structural Metals Mfg.

For a description of these industries, click here.
15
Top 5 NAICs industries with fall from elevation
injury claims
Rating by Prevention Index

1. Foundation, Structure Building Exterior
   Contractors
2. Building Finishing Contractors
3. Residential Building Construction
4. Fruit Nut Tree Farming
5. Logging

For a description of these industries, click here.
16
Top 5 industries with falls at same level
injury claims
Rating by Prevention Index

1. Logging
2. Foundation, Structure Building Exterior
   Contractors
3. General Freight Trucking
4. Building Finishing Contractors
5. Limited Service Eating Places

For a description of these industries, click here.
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Top 5 industries with struck by/against injury
claims
Rating by Prevention Index

1. Foundation, Structure Building Exterior
   Contractors
2. Logging
3. Residential Building Construction
4. Psychiatric Substance Abuse Hospitals
5. Other Wood Product Mfg.

For a description of these industries, click here.
18
Top 5 industries with motor vehicle injury
claims
Rating by Prevention Index

1. General Freight Trucking
2. Specialized Freight Trucking
3. Couriers
4. Logging
5. Local Messengers Local Delivery

For a description of these industries, click here.
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Top 5 industries with lower extremities
musculoskeletal disorder claims
Rating by Prevention Index

1. Building Finishing Contractors
2. Foundation, Structure Building Exterior
   Contractors
3. Residential Building Contractors
4. General Freight Trucking
5. Logging

For a description of these industries, click here.
20
Top 5 industries with neck, back upper
extremities musculoskeletal disorder claims
Rating by Prevention Index

1. Foundation, Structure Building Exterior
   Contractors
2. Building Finishing Contractors
3. Nursing Care Facilities
4. Community Care for the Elderly
5. Residential Building Construction

For a description of these industries, click here.
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Some Conclusions
This review of worker compensation claims filed
in Washington state showed that the seven most
serious injuries occurred most frequently in
logging and building construction. These
injuries are reflected in the higher premiums
paid by employers in these categories - 2.50 to
8.00 per hour per employee. Taking injury
prevention measures would reduce both worker pain
and suffering and industrial insurance costs for
employers in these industries.