TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2010//
TI  - Occupational carbon monoxide poisoning in Washington State, 2000-2005
JO  - Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene
A1  - Reeb-Whitaker, Carolyn K.
A1  - Bonauto, David K.
A1  - Whittaker, Stephen G.
A1  - Adams, D.
SP  - 547
EP  - 556
VL  - 7
IS  - 10
N2  - Washington State workers' compensation data can be used to guide prevention efforts focused on occupational carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Between 2000 and 2005, a total of 345 individual claims comprising 221 different exposure incidents were identified for the 6-year time period. The construction industry had 43 (20%) CO incidents, followed by wholesale trade with 32 (15%), and agriculture with 27 (12%) incidents. Fuel-powered forklifts caused 29% of all incidents, while autos/trucks/buses were responsible for 26%. The number of forklift incidents in fruit packing and cold storage companies declined significantly from 1994 through 2007 (Spearman's rho = 0.6659, p < 0.01). While this study used multiple medical records from workers' compensation claims to identify CO poisoning, a surveillance system that lacks extensive medical records may rely principally on carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) tests. This study demonstrated that 71% of the identified workers' compensation claims had associated COHb tests. The recurrence and timing of CO poisoning as well as control of the CO-generating source were determined. Approximately 8% of all work sites had recurring CO poisoning incidents. Two percent experienced a recurrent incident within 16 days of the initial incident, and 6% experienced a recurrent incident between 16 days and 3 years after the initial incident. Sixty-seven percent of claimants exposed to CO were not in direct control of the CO-generating source; this has implications for CO prevention and underscores the need for all employees to be trained on CO hazards.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1545-9624
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15459624.2010.488210
ID  - ref1
ER  -