Non-fatal injuries in the West Virginia logging industry: using workers' compensation claims to assess risk from 1995 through 2001

Am J Ind Med. 2003 Nov;44(5):502-9. doi: 10.1002/ajim.10307.

Abstract

Background: The logging industry has a high rate of both fatal and non-fatal injuries in comparison to other industries, and plays a vital role in WV's economy.

Methods: Workers' compensation (WC) injury claims and employment data were summarized to examine patterns and rates of non-fatal logging injuries in WV from 1995 through 2001.

Results: The average annual rate of injury claims was 16.0 per 100 workers per year with rates remaining relatively steady over the 7-year study period. The highest rates of injury were a result of being struck by an object, typically trees, snags, or logs.

Conclusions: WV loggers most often file injury claims as a result of being struck by trees and tree parts, snags, and logs. Assessment of risk is a critical component in helping regulators, researchers, and the logging industry develop viable prevention strategies to reduce the incidence and severity of logging-related injuries.

MeSH terms

  • Accidents, Occupational / statistics & numerical data*
  • Death
  • Forestry / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Insurance Claim Review / statistics & numerical data
  • West Virginia / epidemiology
  • Workers' Compensation / statistics & numerical data*