@article{ref1,
title="Prevention in dangerous industries: does safety certification prevent tree-faller injuries?",
journal="Scandinavian journal of work, environment and health",
year="2015",
author="McLeod, Christopher and Sarkany, Daniel and Davies, Hugh and Lyons, Kevin and Koehoorn, Mieke",
volume="41",
number="5",
pages="478-485",
abstract="OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate if safety certification reduces the risk of work injury among experienced manual tree-fallers. <br><br>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. <br><br>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 &quot;1&quot; for all estimates by the end of follow-up, suggesting no statistically significant increased risk of injury. <br><br>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). <br><br>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.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0355-3140",
doi="10.5271/sjweh.3517",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.3517"
}