Work-related fatalities in west virginia. A summary of surveillance, investigation, and prevention activities, july 1996-DECEMBER 1999.
PURPOSE: From 1990-95, West Virginia (WV) had a work-related death (WRD) rate of 8.9 deaths per 100,000-the fifth highest rate among all states and twice the national rate. As a result, a Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (WV FACE) program was established to identify all WRDs, define workers at high risk for fatal injury, investgate selected causes, and formulate and disseminate prevention strategies.METHODS: Surveillance and investigation data were used to describe trends and rates and identify hazardous conditions, unsafe work practices, and management-leadership problems through the use of the traditional epidemiologic model and the Haddon temporal matrix. Prevention strategies were developed and disseminated utilizing various written media.RESULTS: From 7/1996-12/1999, 191 persons died from work-related injuries. The WRD rate was 7.6 per 100,000 compared to 4.7 for the U.S. (1996-98). 94% of the victims were male and all Caucasian. Mean age at death was 43 years. Leading external causes of death: motor vehicle (48), struck by object (38), machinery-related (24), fall from elevation (15), and homicide (10). WRDs occurred most often in the trans/public utilities (37; truckers-22), manufacturing (32; loggers-24), mining (28), construction (26), and services (25) industry sectors. 19 on-site investigations were conducted (10 logging, 5 machine-related, and 4 fall from elevation); no company safety programs, inadequate training, lack of oversight were consistently noted. Summary reports were prepared for employers, Fatal Incident Alerts written for workers, and a scientific article was published.CONCLUSIONS: FACE has contributed to a better understanding of fatal occupational injuries within WV and the importance of coordinated efforts by employees, employers, and safety and public health specialists to reduce the frequency and societal impact of these injuries.
Helmkamp
J
Center for Rural Emergency Medicine, West Virginia, Morgantown, WV, USA
Lundstrom
W
Williams
J