Are employment shifts into non-manufacturing industries partially responsible for the decline in occupational injury rates?
BACKGROUND
Bureau of Labor Statistics figures have shown declines in injury and illness rates over the past 25 years. It is unclear what factors are contributing to that decline.


METHODS
Connecticut injury and illness data was industry-adjusted to account for the shifts in employment by industry sector for the 25-year period from 1976 to 2000. Additional adjustment was made for manufacturing sub-sectors, since declines in manufacturing employment accounted for the largest proportion of the shift in injuries over that period.


RESULTS
Approximately 18% of the decline in injury and illness rates was associated with a shift in employment from more hazardous to less hazardous industries. Shifts in manufacturing sub-sectors accounted for an additional 5.7% of the decline.


CONCLUSIONS
A significant proportion of the decline in injury and illness rates appears to be due to demographic shifts in industry composition.
Morse
Tim F
TF
Occupational and Environmental Health Center, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut, USA. tmorse@uchc.edu
Deloreto
Albert
A
St Louis
Thomas
T
Meyer
John D
JD
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003237:Connecticut / Q000453:epidemiology; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014489:United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration; D017132:Workplace / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult