Citation

Helmkamp JC, Lundstrom WJ. J. Occup. Environ. Med. 2000; 42(2): 156-162.

Affiliation

Center for Rural Emergency Medicine, Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown 26506-9151, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

10693076

Abstract

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation model is used to identify and describe work-related deaths in West Virginia. Through a statewide surveillance network, this model identifies work situations at high risk for fatal injury, investigates selected causes (falls, machinery-related, and logging), and formulates and disseminates prevention strategies to reduce the frequency and impact of those injuries. A total of 163 persons died from work-related injuries from July 1996 through June 1999. Ninety-three percent were male, the mean age was 42, and 80% were West Virginia residents. Fatalities occurred most frequently in the transportation/public utilities (32), manufacturing (24), construction (23), and mining (23) industries. Extension of Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation methodology to nonfatal injuries may contribute to a clearer understanding of the causes of these traumatic incidents and help to develop better prevention measures.