Economic consequences of workplace injuries and illnesses: lost earnings and benefit adequacy.
BACKGROUND
This is the first study based on individual data to estimate earnings lost from virtually all reported workplace injuries and illnesses in a state.


METHODS
We estimated lost earnings from workplace injuries and illnesses occurring in Wisconsin in 1989-90, using workers' compensation data and 6 years of unemployment insurance wage data. We used regression techniques to estimate losses relative to a comparison group.


RESULTS
The average present value of losses projected 10 years past the observed period is over $8,000 per injury. Women lose a greater proportion of their preinjury earnings than do men. Replacement of after-tax projected losses averages 64% for men and 50% for women.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, workers with compensated injuries and illnesses experienced discounted pre-tax losses projected to total over $530,000,000 (1994 dollars), with about 60% of after-tax losses replaced by workers' compensation. Generally, groups losing over eight weeks' work received workers' compensation benefits covering less than 40% of their losses.
Boden
L I
LI
Department of Environmental Health, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA. lboden@bu.edu
Galizzi
M
M
D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D018868:Insurance, Disability / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000191:economics*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D013660:Taxes; D013997:Time Factors; D014478:Unemployment; D014922:Wisconsin; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000191:economics*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000191:economics*