The cost of work-related physical assaults in Minnesota.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the long-term productivity costs of occupational assaults.


METHODS
All incidents of physical assaults that resulted in indemnity payments, identified from the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) Workers' Compensation system in 1992. Medical expenditures were obtained from insurers, and data on lost wages, legal fees, and permanency ratings were collected from DLI records. Insurance administrative expenses were estimated. Lost fringe benefits and household production losses were imputed.


METHODS
The human capital approach was used to describe the long-term costs of occupational assaults. Economic software was used to apply a modified version of Rice, MacKenzie, and Associates' (1989) model for estimating the present value of past losses from 1992 through 1995 for all cases, and the future losses for cases open in 1996.


RESULTS
The total costs for 344 nonfatal work-related assaults were estimated at $5,885,448 (1996 dollars). Calculation of injury incidence and average costs per case and per employee identified populations with an elevated risk of assault. An analysis by industry revealed an elevated risk for workers employed in justice and safety (incidence: 198/100,000; $19,251 per case; $38 per employee), social service (incidence: 127/100,000; $24,210 per case; $31 per employee), and health care (incidence: 76/100,000; $13,197 per case; $10 per employee).


CONCLUSIONS
Identified subgroups warrant attention for risk factor identification and prevention efforts. Cost estimates can serve as the basis for business calculations on the potential value of risk management interventions.
McGovern
P
P
Division of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis 55455, USA.
Kochevar
L
L
Lohman
W
W
Zaidman
B
B
Gerberich
S G
SG
Nyman
J
J
Findorff-Dennis
M
M
D000328:Adult; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004180:Direct Service Costs; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012107:Research Design; D012307:Risk Factors; D014754:Violence / Q000191:economics*; D017132:Workplace / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000191:economics*