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Journal Article

Citation

McLeod C, Sarkany D, Davies H, Lyons K, Koehoorn M. Scand. J. Work Environ. Health 2015; 41(5): 478-485.

Affiliation

School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z3, Canada. chris.mcleod@ubc.ca.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Finland Institute of Occupational Health)

DOI

10.5271/sjweh.3517

PMID

26244646

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate if safety certification reduces the risk of work injury among experienced manual tree-fallers.

METHODS: This study used a retrospective cohort study design. Experienced manual tree-fallers employed in the Canadian province of British Columbia (N=3251) between 2003-2008 were enumerated from a mandatory faller registry. Registry records with demographic and certification data were linked to workers' compensation claims for injury outcomes. Data were analyzed using discrete time survival analysis over a two-year period, centered on certification date with pre- and post-certification demarcated into four three-month periods. Models were adjusted for demographic, occupation/industry, previous injury, and seasonal/temporal effects.

RESULTS: The relative risk (RR) of work injury during the post certification periods were elevated in comparison to the pre-certification reference period, but the 95% confidence intervals included "1" for all estimates by the end of follow-up, suggesting no statistically significant increased risk of injury.

RESULTS were consistent across different outcome measures of acute injury (ie, fracture or amputations) (N=186), musculoskeletal injury (ie, back strain) (N=137), and serious injury claims (ie, long duration, high cost and/or fatal) (N=155).

CONCLUSION: Certification did not reduce the risk of work injury among experienced tree-fallers in the province of British Columbia. Non-statistically significant increases in the observed risk of work injury in the months immediately following certification may be attributable to an intervention effect or a methodological limitation related to a lack of individual-level, time-at-risk exposure data.


Language: en

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