Factors that distinguish serious versus less severe strain and sprain injuries: an analysis of electric utility workers.
BACKGROUND
Occupational sprain and strain injuries are one of the most common types of nonfatal occupational injuries and a significant source of lost workdays. This study examines factors associated with severe work-related sprain/strain injuries to the back, shoulder, and knees.


METHODS
A synthetic case-control study was performed (controls were selected from the same pool of utility workers as cases). Cases included all electric utility workers who had experienced a severe work-related sprain/strain injury to the back, knee, or shoulder. Primary controls were selected from all workers who had sustained a minor injury. Secondary controls were selected from employees with a minor sprain/strain injury to the back, knee, or shoulder. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.


RESULTS
Workers 41 years and older were more likely to have experienced severe shoulder sprain/strain injuries [Age 41-50: OR = 3.62, 95% CI: 1.71-7.65; age 51 and older: OR = 4.49, 95% CI: 1.89-10.67] and severe back sprain/strain injuries [Age 41-50: OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.06-2.33; age 51 and older: OR = 1.5, 95% CI: 0.90-2.52]. Line workers and maintenance workers had an increased risk of serious sprain/strain injuries. Gender and day of week were not significantly associated with sprain/strain injuries.


CONCLUSIONS
Though this study is limited by available data, future studies may benefit from this preliminary examination of occupational and demographic characteristics associated with serious sprain/strain injuries among electric utility workers.
Kelsh
Michael A
MA
Exponent, Inc., Health Sciences, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA. mkelsh@exponent.com
Fordyce
Tiffani A
TA
Lau
Edmund C
EC
Mink
Pamela J
PJ
Morimoto
Libby M
LM
Lu
Elizabeth T
ET
Yager
Janice W
JW
D000041:Absenteeism; D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D001134:Arm Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019567:Back Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000145:classification*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012785:Shoulder Joint; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000145:classification*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology