Work-related deaths in West Virginia from July 1996 through June 1999: surveillance, investigation, and prevention.
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.
Helmkamp
J C
JC
Center for Rural Emergency Medicine, Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown 26506-9151, USA.
Lundstrom
W J
WJ
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry / Q000145:classification; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011159:Population Surveillance; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014481:United States; D014489:United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration; D014903:West Virginia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control