Epidemiology of occupational injuries and illnesses in a university population: A focus on age and gender differences

Background Occupational injuries and illnesses are a major preventable publ ic health problem. Methods This study evaluated the incidence, nature, and cause of awarded wo rkers' compensation claims for a large state university and teaching hospit al. Rates and types of injury weve compared across age and gender. Results Rates of injury varied over twofold with age, with those 16-25 havi ng the lowest rates of injury and those 36-45 having the highest rates. Cla ims rates were 1.36-fold higher for women than men. Women had higher rates for injury resulting from lifting, falling noxious exposures, repetitive mo tion, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Similarly women had significantly higher rates of claims for pain, sprains, bruises, bums, concussion, and inhalatio n injury; with lower rates of cuts, ligament injury, and jammed joints. Conclusions These group differences suggest the need to examine age and gen der job distributions and relevant ergonomic and environmental causative fa ctors. Am. J. Ind. Med. 39:581-586, 2001. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.