title: Analysis of workers' compensation disabling claims in Oregon's seafood preparation and packaging industry, 2007-2013.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few occupational health and safety studies have focused on the US seafood preparation and packaging industry, and none on Oregon's seafood industry.
  
  
  METHODS
  Oregon workers' compensation (WC) disabling claims data were analyzed. Oregon Employment Department and US Census Bureau data were used as denominators for rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During 2007-2013, there were 188 accepted disabling claims, with an average annual rate of 24 claims per 1000 workers. Men experienced a significantly higher rate (27.6 per 1000) than women. The most frequent incident characteristics and circumstances were: by nature-traumatic injuries to muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints (42%); by body part-upper extremities (44%); and by event-overexertion and bodily reaction (48%), and contact with objects and equipment (31%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Analyzing WC disabling claims data provides important preliminary information for understanding workplace hazards to develop control strategies. Reducing traumatic and cumulative injury risk among seafood workers is paramount.
authors.affiliation: College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon.
authors.forename: Laura N
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1477-996X
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Syron
authors.affiliation: College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon.
authors.forename: Laurel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kincl
authors.affiliation: College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon.
authors.forename: Liu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Oregon Health Authority, Public Health Division, Portland, Oregon.
authors.forename: Daniel T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Cain
authors.affiliation: College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Smit
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005525:Food-Processing Industry; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007344:Insurance Claim Reporting; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D009922:Oregon / Q000453:epidemiology; D017747:Seafood; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014942:Workers' Compensation; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Oregon; occupational safety and health; seafood preparation and packaging industry; workers’ compensation