title: New electric-shock job exposure matrix.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate a consistent association between jobs in "electric" occupations and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a comprehensive job exposure matrix (JEM) that includes electric shocks and magnetic fields (MF) is needed.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used incident electric shocks and electrocutions from two available data sources along with expert judgment to create a JEM that was integrated into an existing MF JEM. The final JEM contained ordinal electric-shock exposure assignments for 501 job titles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Main occupational groups experiencing the electric shocks were precision production, craft, and repair occupations. Specific jobs with the highest proportion of shocks per 100,000 workers were: electrical apprentices (99.7), mechanic and repairer helpers (74.0), hoist and winch operators (63.3), and electrical power installers (52.4). Examples of job titles with low electric-shock exposures were administrative support occupations, data-key entry operators, and waiters and waitresses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combining publicly available data with an expert panel is a viable method to construct an electric-shock MF JEM. This JEM will allow an evaluation of association between electric shocks and neurodegenerative diseases.
authors: Department of Epidemiology, UCLA School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California, USA. xvergara@ucla.edu
authors: Ximena P
authors: XP
authors: Vergara
authors: Leeka
authors: L
authors: Kheifets
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Silva
authors: T Dan
authors: TD
authors: Bracken
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Yost
mesh_terms: D004556:Electric Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D004560:Electricity / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D060526:Magnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000592:standards*; D009790:Occupations / Q000145:classification*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology