Last data update: May 06, 2024. (Total: 46732 publications since 2009)
Records 1-12 (of 12 Records) |
Query Trace: Lampl MP[original query] |
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Reliability and validity of an employer-completed safety hazard and management assessment questionnaire
Moore LL , Wurzelbacher SJ , Chen IC , Lampl MP , Naber SJ . J Safety Res 2022 81 283-296 Introduction: Managing and improving occupational safety and health requires evaluating performance. Organizations are encouraged to use both lagging indicators (such as injury rates and costs) and leading indicators (such as questionnaire-assessed safety hazards and management practices) for this purpose, but the association between types of indicators over time can be complex. Longitudinal data can assist in clarifying these associations and increasing indicator utility. Method: Employer data were used to evaluate the reliability and predictive validity of a safety management questionnaire. Employers’ longitudinal questionnaire responses and workers’ compensation (WC) claims data were analyzed using a marginal model with time-dependent covariates. Multivariable Poisson and linear regression analyses with claim rate and logarithmic cost, respectively, as dependent variables were carried out after adjusting for industry sector and size. Questionnaire data were used to evaluate questionnaire scaling properties and to assess generalizability of results. Results: One safety management scale was associated with a better WC outcome as predicted and two scales were unexpectedly associated with poorer WC claim outcomes. Analyses assisted in interpreting the latter results, suggesting that WC outcomes were a stimulus for change in some cases. Twelve hazards assessed on the questionnaire were associated with poorer WC claim outcomes as predicted. Conclusions: This study extends leading indicator research using longitudinal questionnaire and WC claims data from employers. Analyses provided insight into associations between leading and lagging indicators, emphasizing the importance of both for safety improvement. Safety management questionnaire scales were predictive of WC claim outcomes, although support for hazard assessments as leading indicators was stronger. Practical Applications: This study supports the use of employer-completed hazard assessment questionnaires for targeting and prioritizing improvement efforts. Employer-completed safety management scales may be useful for directing improvement efforts, although the conditions under which they are completed, including submission to insurers, require additional consideration. © 2022 |
The impact of a state-based workers' compensation insurer's risk control services on employer claim frequency and cost rates
Wurzelbacher SJ , Bertke SJ , Lampl MP , Bushnell PT , Robins DC , Naber SJ , Moore LL . J Occup Environ Med 2022 64 (7) 562-572 OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the impact of a state workers' compensation (WC) insurer's onsite risk control (RC) services on insured employers' WC claim frequency and cost. METHODS: We used two methods to model 2004-2017 claims data from 4,606 employers that received RC visits over time and compare this claims experience to matching employers that did not receive RC services. RESULTS: Relative total WC claim rates increased slightly after RC services, while relative lost-time claims rates either remained similar or decreased and WC cost rates decreased. The impact of RC services on reducing WC costs was cumulative up to the fourth visit but diminished thereafter. CONCLUSIONS: The insurer RC consultation program was effective in reducing WC cost rates for serviced employers. This is consistent with other research conducted on insurer RC services and related regulatory visits. |
Workers compensation claim counts and rates by injury event/exposure among state-insured private employers in Ohio, 2007-2017
Wurzelbacher SJ , Meyers AR , Lampl MP , Bushnell PT , Bertke SJ , Robins DC , Tseng C-Y , Naber SJ . J Safety Res 2021 79 148-167 Introduction: This study analyzed workers compensation (WC) claims among private employers insured by the Ohio state-based WC carrier to identify high-risk industries by detailed cause of injury. Methods: A machine learning algorithm was used to code each claim by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) event/exposure. The codes assigned to lost-time (LT) claims with lower algorithm probabilities of accurate classification or those LT claims with high costs were manually reviewed. WC data were linked with the state's unemployment insurance (UI) data to identify the employer's industry and number of employees. BLS data on hours worked per employee were used to estimate full-time equivalents (FTE) and calculate rates of WC claims per 100 FTE. Results: 140,780 LT claims and 633,373 medical-only claims were analyzed. Although counts and rates of LT WC claims declined from 2007 to 2017, the shares of leading LT injury event/exposures remained largely unchanged. LT claims due to Overexertion and Bodily Reaction (33.0%) were most common, followed by Falls, Slips, and Trips (31.4%), Contact with Objects and Equipment (22.5%), Transportation Incidents (7.0%), Exposure to Harmful Substances or Environments (2.8%), Violence and Other Injuries by Persons or Animals (2.5%), and Fires and Explosions (0.4%). These findings are consistent with other reported data. The proportions of injury event/exposures varied by industry, and high-risk industries were identified. Conclusions: Injuries have been reduced, but prevention challenges remain in certain industries. Available evidence on intervention effectiveness was summarized and mapped to the analysis results to demonstrate how the results can guide prevention efforts. Practical Applications: Employers, safety/health practitioners, researchers, WC insurers, and bureaus can use these data and machine learning methods to understand industry differences in the level and mix of risks, as well as industry trends, and to tailor safety, health, and disability prevention services and research. 2021 |
Workers' compensation claims among private skilled nursing facilities, Ohio, 2001-2012
Bush AM , Reichard AA , Wurzelbacher SJ , Tseng CY , Lampl MP . Am J Ind Med 2020 63 (12) 1155-1168 INTRODUCTION: Skilled nursing facilities have one of the highest rates of occupational injury and illness among all industries. This study quantifies the burden of occupational injury and illness in this industry using data from a single state-based workers' compensation (WC) system. METHODS: Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation claims from 2001 to 2012 were analyzed among privately owned, state-insured skilled nursing facilities and are presented as claim counts and rates per 100 full-time equivalents (FTE). Worker, employer, incident, and injury characteristics were examined among all claims and by medical-only (medical care expenses and/or less than eight days away from work) and lost-time (eight days or more away from work) claim types. RESULTS: There were 56,442 claims in this population of Ohio skilled nursing facilities from 2001 to 2012. Overexertion and bodily reaction, slips, trips, and falls, and contact with objects and equipment accounted for the majority of all WC claims (89%). Overexertion and bodily reaction, and slips, trips, and falls comprised 85% of the 10,793 lost-time claims. The highest injury event/exposure rates for all claims were for overexertion and bodily reaction (3.7 per 100 FTE for all claims), followed by slip, trips, and falls (2.1), and contact with objects and equipment (1.9). CONCLUSION: Understanding the details surrounding injury events and exposures resulting in WC claims can help better align prevention efforts, such as incorporation of safe patient handling policies and lifting aids, improvement in housekeeping practices, and employee training within skilled nursing facilities to prevent worker injury and mitigate related expenses. |
The effectiveness of ergonomic interventions in material handling operations
Wurzelbacher SJ , Lampl MP , Bertke SJ , Tseng CY . Appl Ergon 2020 87 103139 This study evaluated the effectiveness of ergonomic interventions in material handling operations involving 33 employers and 535 employees from 2012 to 2017. Outcomes included employee-reported low back/upper extremity pain and safety incidents at baseline, every three months, and annually for up to two years. A total of 32.5% of employees completed at least one survey, while 13.6% completed all nine surveys over two years. Among highly exposed employees (who reported handling >= 50 lbs. > 33% of the time), upper extremity pain frequency and severity were lower among those who reported using the intervention routinely versus those that reported using their body strength alone to handle objects >= 50 lbs. After excluding from analyses one employer that used anti-fatigue mats, low back pain frequency was also significantly lower among highly exposed intervention users. In conclusion, there was some evidence that the interventions were effective in reducing employee-reported pain for highly exposed employees. |
Workers' compensation claims for traumatic brain injuries among private employers-Ohio, 2001-2011
Konda S , Al-Tarawneh IS , Reichard AA , Tiesman HM , Wurzelbacher SJ , Pinkerton LE , Meyers AR , Hendricks SA , Tseng CY , Lampl MP , Robins DC . Am J Ind Med 2019 63 (2) 156-169 BACKGROUND: The purpose of this analysis was to identify and prioritize high-risk industry groups for traumatic brain injury (TBI) prevention efforts. METHODS: Workers with TBI from 2001 to 2011 were identified from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation data. To prioritize industry groups by claim type (lost-time (>/=8 days away from work) and total claims) and injury event categories, we used a prevention index (PI) that averaged TBI counts and rate ranks (PI = (count rank + rate rank)/2). TBI rates per 10 000 estimated full-time equivalent (FTE = 2000 h/y) workers were calculated. RESULTS: From 2001 to 2011, 12 891 TBIs were identified among private employers, resulting in a rate of 5.1 TBIs per 10 000 FTEs. Of these, 40% (n = 5171) were lost-time TBIs, at a rate of 2.0 per 10 000 FTEs. Spectator Sports had the highest lost-time TBI rate (13.5 per 10 000 FTEs), whereas General Freight Trucking had the greatest number of lost-time TBIs (n = 293). Based on PIs, General Freight Trucking ranked first for lost-time TBIs for all injury events combined. Several industry groups within Construction, General and Specialized Freight Trucking, Services to Building and Dwellings, Employment Services, and Restaurants and Other Eating Places ranked high across multiple injury event categories for lost-time TBIs. CONCLUSIONS: The high-ranking industry groups identified from our study can be used to effectively direct occupational TBI prevention efforts. |
Degree of integration between occupational safety and health programs and wellness programs: First-year results from an insurer-sponsored wellness grant for smaller employers
Meyers AR , Al-Tarawneh IS , Bushnell PT , Wurzelbacher SJ , Lampl MP , Tseng CY , Turner DM , Morrison CA . J Occup Environ Med 2019 61 (9) 704-717 OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe levels of integration between occupational safety and health (OSH) and workplace wellness programs/practices/policies ("programs") among participants in an insurer-sponsored wellness grant program. METHODS: We analyzed survey responses about year 1 of an insurer-sponsored grant to start a wellness program from 220 small- and medium-sized employers. Responses yielded 25 indicators of OSH-wellness integration, and 10 additional indicators to summarize multiple responses. RESULTS: At least half of the employers (N = 220) reported some level of integration within five of seven categories of OSH-wellness integration. Employers sometimes considered ergonomics, safety, or substance exposure hazards while designing their wellness program (15%) or reduced such hazards to support their wellness program (24%). Few meaningful differences were observed by employer size. CONCLUSION: Although high levels of integration were unusual, some degree of integration was common for most indicator categories. |
Workers' compensation injury claims among workers in the private ambulance services industry - Ohio, 2001-2011
Reichard AA , Al-Tarawneh IS , Konda S , Wei C , Wurzelbacher SJ , Meyers AR , Bertke SJ , Bushnell PT , Tseng CY , Lampl MP , Robins DC . Am J Ind Med 2018 61 (12) 986-996 BACKGROUND: Ambulance service workers frequently transfer and transport patients. These tasks involve occupational injury risks such as heavy lifting, awkward postures, and frequent motor vehicle travel. METHODS: We examined Ohio workers' compensation injury claims among state-insured ambulance service workers working for private employers from 2001 to 2011. Injury claim counts and rates are presented by claim types, diagnoses, and injury events; only counts are available by worker characteristics. RESULTS: We analyzed a total of 5882 claims. The majority were medical-only (<8 days away from work). The overall injury claim rate for medical-only and lost-time cases was 12.1 per 100 full-time equivalents. Sprains and strains accounted for 60% of all injury claims. Overexertion from patient handling was the leading injury event, followed by motor vehicle roadway incidents. CONCLUSIONS: Study results can guide the development or improvement of injury prevention strategies. Focused efforts related to patient handling and vehicle incidents are needed. |
Applying Machine Learning to Workers' Compensation Data to Identify Industry-Specific Ergonomic and Safety Prevention Priorities: Ohio, 2001 to 2011.
Meyers AR , Al-Tarawneh IS , Wurzelbacher SJ , Bushnell PT , Lampl MP , Bell JL , Bertke SJ , Robins DC , Tseng CY , Wei C , Raudabaugh JA , Schnorr TM . J Occup Environ Med 2017 60 (1) 55-73 OBJECTIVE: This study leveraged a state workers' compensation claims database and machine learning techniques to target prevention efforts by injury causation and industry. METHODS: Injury causation auto-coding methods were developed to code more than 1.2 million Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation claims for this study. Industry groups were ranked for soft-tissue musculoskeletal claims that may have been preventable with biomechanical ergonomic (ERGO) or slip/trip/fall (STF) interventions. RESULTS: On the basis of the average of claim count and rate ranks for more than 200 industry groups, Skilled Nursing Facilities (ERGO) and General Freight Trucking (STF) were the highest risk for lost-time claims (>7 days). CONCLUSION: This study created a third, major causation-specific U.S. occupational injury surveillance system. These findings are being used to focus prevention resources on specific occupational injury types in specific industry groups, especially in Ohio. Other state bureaus or insurers may use similar methods. |
Development of methods for using workers' compensation data for surveillance and prevention of occupational injuries among state-insured private employers in Ohio
Wurzelbacher SJ , Al-Tarawneh IS , Meyers AR , Bushnell PT , Lampl MP , Robins DC , Tseng CY , Wei C , Bertke SJ , Raudabaugh JA , Haviland TM , Schnorr TM . Am J Ind Med 2016 59 (12) 1087-1104 BACKGROUND: Workers' compensation (WC) claims data may be useful for identifying high-risk industries and developing prevention strategies. METHODS: WC claims data from private-industry employers insured by the Ohio state-based workers' compensation carrier from 2001 to 2011 were linked with the state's unemployment insurance (UI) data on the employer's industry and number of employees. National Labor Productivity and Costs survey data were used to adjust UI data and estimate full-time equivalents (FTE). Rates of WC claims per 100 FTE were computed and Poisson regression was used to evaluate differences in rates. RESULTS: Most industries showed substantial claim count and rate reductions from 2001 to 2008, followed by a leveling or slight increase in claim count and rate from 2009 to 2011. Despite reductions, there were industry groups that had consistently higher rates. CONCLUSION: WC claims data linked to employment data could be used to prioritize industries for injury research and prevention activities among State-insured private employers. |
Comparison of methods for auto-coding causation of injury narratives.
Bertke SJ , Meyers AR , Wurzelbacher SJ , Measure A , Lampl MP , Robins D . Accid Anal Prev 2015 88 117-123 Manually reading free-text narratives in large databases to identify the cause of an injury can be very time consuming and recently, there has been much work in automating this process. In particular, the variations of the naive Bayes model have been used to successfully auto-code free text narratives describing the event/exposure leading to the injury of a workers' compensation claim. This paper compares the naive Bayes model with an alternative logistic model and found that this new model outperformed the naive Bayesian model. Further modest improvements were found through the addition of sequences of keywords in the models as opposed to consideration of only single keywords. The programs and weights used in this paper are available upon request to researchers without a training set wishing to automatically assign event codes to large data-sets of text narratives. The utility of sharing this program was tested on an outside set of injury narratives provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics with promising results. |
The effectiveness of insurer-supported safety and health engineering controls in reducing workers' compensation claims and costs
Wurzelbacher SJ , Bertke SJ , Lampl MP , Bushnell PT , Meyers AR , Robins DC , Al-Tarawneh IS . Am J Ind Med 2014 57 (12) 1398-412 BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the effectiveness of a program in which a workers' compensation (WC) insurer provided matching funds to insured employers to implement safety/health engineering controls. METHODS: Pre- and post-intervention WC metrics were compiled for the employees designated as affected by the interventions within 468 employers for interventions occurring from 2003 to 2009. Poisson, two-part, and linear regression models with repeated measures were used to evaluate differences in pre- and post-data, controlling for time trends independent of the interventions. RESULTS: For affected employees, total WC claim frequency rates (both medical-only and lost-time claims) decreased 66%, lost-time WC claim frequency rates decreased 78%, WC paid cost per employee decreased 81%, and WC geometric mean paid claim cost decreased 30% post-intervention. Reductions varied by employer size, specific industry, and intervention type. CONCLUSIONS: The insurer-supported safety/health engineering control program was effective in reducing WC claims and costs for affected employees. |
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