title: Work-related injuries involving a hand or fingers among union carpenters in Washington State, 1989 to 2008.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated work-related injuries involving a hand or fingers and associated costs among a cohort of 24,830 carpenters between 1989 and 2008.
  
  
  METHODS
  Injury rates and rate ratios were calculated by using Poisson regression to explore higher risk on the basis of age, sex, time in the union, predominant work, and calendar time. Negative binomial regression was used to model dollars paid per claim after adjustment for inflation and discounting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hand injuries accounted for 21.1% of reported injuries and 9.5% of paid lost time injuries. Older carpenters had proportionately more amputations, fractures, and multiple injuries, but their rates of these more severe injuries were not higher. Costs exceeded $21 million, a cost burden of $0.11 per hour worked.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Older carpenters' higher proportion of serious injuries in the absence of higher rates likely reflects age-related reporting differences.
authors.affiliation: Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Hester.lipscomb@duke.edu
authors.forename: Hester J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lipscomb
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schoenfisch
authors.forename: Wilfrid
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cameron
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015331:Cohort Studies; D060389:Construction Industry; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007750:Labor Unions; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014861:Washington / Q000453:epidemiology; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data