title: Temporal factors and the prevalence of transient exposures at the time of an occupational traumatic hand injury.
abstract: Temporal factors and the prevalence of exposure to transient risk factors for occupational traumatic hand injury were analyzed among 1166 subjects participating in a case-crossover study. Temporal factors included time of injury and elapsed time to injury since the start of the work shift. Transient exposures included work equipment, work practice, and worker-related factors. The highest frequency of injury was observed from 08:00 am to 12:00 pm (54.6%), with a peak from 10:00 to 11:00 am (14.9%). The median time into the work shift for injury was 3.5 hours. Subjects injured 2 to 3 hours into their work shift most often reported using a machine, tool, or work material that performed differently than usual (23.9%). These results suggest that acute hand injuries occur earlier in the workday and safety programs should place increased vigilance on these times.
authors.affiliation: Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety, Hopkinton, MA 01748, USA. david.lombardi@libertymutual.com
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.forename: Gary S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Sorock
authors.forename: Russ
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hauser
authors.forename: Philip C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Nasca
authors.forename: Ellen A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Eisen
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Herrick
authors.forename: Murray A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mittleman
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009511:New England / Q000453:epidemiology; D016272:Occupational Health; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D017132:Workplace