Work-related deaths in West Virginia from July 1996 through June 1999: surveillance, investigation, and prevention

J Occup Environ Med. 2000 Feb;42(2):156-62. doi: 10.1097/00043764-200002000-00011.

Abstract

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation model is used to identify and describe work-related deaths in West Virginia. Through a statewide surveillance network, this model identifies work situations at high risk for fatal injury, investigates selected causes (falls, machinery-related, and logging), and formulates and disseminates prevention strategies to reduce the frequency and impact of those injuries. A total of 163 persons died from work-related injuries from July 1996 through June 1999. Ninety-three percent were male, the mean age was 42, and 80% were West Virginia residents. Fatalities occurred most frequently in the transportation/public utilities (32), manufacturing (24), construction (23), and mining (23) industries. Extension of Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation methodology to nonfatal injuries may contribute to a clearer understanding of the causes of these traumatic incidents and help to develop better prevention measures.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Accidents, Occupational / mortality*
  • Accidents, Occupational / prevention & control
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Aged
  • Cause of Death*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Industry / classification
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Occupational Diseases / mortality*
  • Occupational Diseases / prevention & control
  • Population Surveillance
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Distribution
  • United States
  • United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration
  • West Virginia / epidemiology
  • Wounds and Injuries / etiology
  • Wounds and Injuries / mortality*
  • Wounds and Injuries / prevention & control