Using Data to Guide Occupational Injury Prevention Strategies for Young Adult Hispanic Workers in Massachusetts

BACKGROUND:  In the United States, the term “young workers” has recently expanded beyond those under age 18 to include persons ages 18-24 (young adults). Each year, nationwide, an estimated 795,000 young workers are treated in emergency departments for non-fatal work-related injuries. Since 1993, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Teens at Work Project (TAW) has tracked work-related injuries to teens under age 18 and has documented high rates of work-related injury among Hispanic teens. TAW has engaged in outreach activities to address identified health and safety problems and disparities. In 2010, TAW began collecting data on workers ages 18-24, with special attention paid to whether Hispanics in this age group also have higher rates of work-related injury.

METHODS:  Data from the statewide Emergency Department and Hospital Discharge datasets were reviewed to identify non-fatal work-related injuries with dates of hospital encounter from 2005 through 2009. Cases were defined as persons age 18-24 treated for an injury (ICD-9-CM 800-999) with an expected payer of workers’ compensation. Frequencies and rates were calculated by age, gender, race/ethnicity, year, nature of injury, and external cause of injury. This Spring, formative research will be conducted, using applied health communication, to learn more about Hispanic young workers in Massachusetts. Research will focus on workers’ awareness and communication preferences regarding workplace health and safety.

RESULTS:  From 2005 through 2009, a total of 53,891 young adults were treated in Massachusetts emergency departments for work-related injuries; the annual rate of work-related injury was 382/10,000 FTEs. Hispanic young adults had the highest rate of injury: 457/10,000 FTEs compared to 360/10,000 FTEs for Whites. The leading nature of injuries for all workers was open wounds, while the leading external cause of injuries was cuts/pierces. A total of 512 young adults were hospitalized for work-related injures during this period; the annual rate of hospitalization for work-related injury was 3.6/10,000 FTEs. Hispanics had over double the rate for whites (8/10,000 FTEs v 3/10,000 FTEs). Fractures accounted for nearly half of all worker hospitalizations, while falls was the leading external cause of injuries. Formative research findings and intervention recommendations will be shared in the presentation.

CONCLUSIONS:  The observed high rate of injuries among young adults is consistent with findings reported elsewhere. Hispanics had the highest rate of injury in both datasets. Formative research may provide valuable guidance for developing tailored intervention to reduce non-fatal work-related injuries among this population.