title: Work-related musculoskeletal disorder surveillance using the Washington state workers' compensation system: Recent declines and patterns by industry, 1999-2013.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are common and place large economic and social burdens on workers and their communities. We describe recent WMSD trends and patterns of WMSD incidence among the Washington worker population by industry.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used Washington State's workers' compensation compensable claims from 1999 to 2013 to describe incidence and cost of WMSD claims by body part and diagnosis, and to identify high-risk industries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  WMSD claim rates declined by an estimated annual 5.4% (95% CI: 5.0-5.9%) in Washington State from 1999 to 2013, but WMSDs continue to account for over 40% of all compensable claims. High risk industries identified were Construction; Transportation and Warehousing; Health Care and Social Assistance; and Manufacturing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As documented in other North American contexts, this study describes an important decline in the incidence of WMSDs. The Washington State workers' compensation system provides a rich data source for the surveillance of WMSDs.
authors.affiliation: Safety and Health Assessment and Research for Prevention (SHARP), Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, Washington Department of Labor and Industries, Olympia, Washington.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4395-6304
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marcum
authors.affiliation: Safety and Health Assessment and Research for Prevention (SHARP), Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, Washington Department of Labor and Industries, Olympia, Washington.
authors.forename: Darrin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Adams
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007344:Insurance Claim Reporting; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014861:Washington / Q000453:epidemiology; D014942:Workers' Compensation; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: carpal tunnel syndrome; rotator cuff syndrome; sciatica; work-related musculoskeletal disorders; workers' compensation