title: Job exposure matrix for electric shock risks with their uncertainties.
abstract: We present an update to an electric shock job exposure matrix (JEM) that assigned ordinal electric shocks exposure for 501 occupational titles based on electric shocks and electrocutions from two available data sources and expert judgment. Using formal expert elicitation and starting with data on electric injury, we arrive at a consensus-based JEM. In our new JEM, we quantify exposures by adding three new dimensions: (1) the elicited median proportion; (2) the elicited 25th percentile; and (3) and the elicited 75th percentile of those experiencing occupational electric shocks in a working lifetime. We construct the relative interquartile range (rIQR) based on uncertainty interval and the median. Finally, we describe overall results, highlight examples demonstrating the impact of cut point selection on exposure assignment, and evaluate potential impacts of such selection on epidemiologic studies of the electric work environment. In conclusion, novel methods allowed for consistent exposure estimates that move from qualitative to quantitative measures in this population-based JEM. Overlapping ranges of median exposure in various categories reflect our limited knowledge about this exposure.
authors: Electric Power Research Institute, Environment Sector, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA. xvergara@epri.com.
authors: Ximena P
authors: XP
authors: Vergara
authors: UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA. Heidi.j.fischer@gmail.com.
authors: Heidi J
authors: HJ
authors: Fischer
authors: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. airion@uw.edu.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Yost
authors: Enertech Consultants, Campbell, CA 95008, USA. msilva@enertech.net.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Silva
authors: Center for Injury Epidemiology, Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety, Hopkinton, MA 07418, USA. David.Lombardi@libertymutual.com.
authors: David A
authors: DA
authors: Lombardi
authors: UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA. kheifets@ucla.edu.
authors: Leeka
authors: L
authors: Kheifets
mesh_terms: D004556:Electric Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D055615:Electrical Equipment and Supplies / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004560:Electricity / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012306:Risk; D035501:Uncertainty; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology