Citation

Glazner J, Bondy J, Lezotte DC, Lipscomb HJ, Guarini K. Am. J. Ind. Med. 2004; 47(1): 27-36.

Affiliation

Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/ajim.20108

PMID

15597363

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Detailed information about factors contributing to construction injury is important to support design of safety programs directed at particular risks. METHODS: We linked over 4,000 injury reports, including text describing injury events, with an administrative workers' compensation (WC) database, and, using Haddon's matrix as a framework, classified factors contributing to injury during construction of Denver International Airport (DIA). RESULTS: Patterns of contributing factors varied according to injury mechanism and type of work: environmental factors contributed more than any other factor to slip/trip injuries, and building materials contributed to more than 40% of injuries to workers in carpentry, concrete construction, glass installation, and roofing. Rates at which factors contributed to injury also varied among types of work: environmental factors contributed at relatively high rates to injuries in glass installation, metal/steel installation and iron/steel erection >/= 2 stories, and victim factors contributed at high rates to conduit construction and metal/steel installation injuries. WC payment rates for different factors varied widely, ranging from $0.53/$100 payroll to $3.08/$100. DISCUSSION: This approach allows systematic analysis of classes of injuries, contributing factors, types of work, and other variables to assist in setting prevention priorities.