Proportionate injury analyses by body part, nature, and mechanism of injury among teens (age 15–19) in the North Carolina homebuilding industry, 1996–99
| Description of injury | No (%) observed injuries | PIR* (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|
| *Proportionate injury ratio (PIR) = 1 indicates observed proportion of injuries = to expected based on injury experience of adults in same trade group. Example: PIR = 1.3 represents 30% more than expected; PIR = 0.6 represents 40% less than expected. | ||
| †Statistically significant (p<0.05). | ||
| CI = confidence interval. | ||
| A. Body part injured | ||
| Head | 8 (2.3) | 0.9 (0.38 to 1.6) |
| Eye | 41 (11.8) | 1.4† (0.99 to 1.8) |
| Back | 28 (8.1) | 0.5† (0.32 to 0.68) |
| Upper extremity | 40 (11.5) | 0.9 (0.65 to 1.2) |
| Hand/fingers | 89 (25.6) | 1.0 (0.83 to 1.3) |
| Lower extremity | 55 (15.9) | 1.0 (0.72 to 1.2) |
| Foot/toes | 35 (10.1) | 1.7† (1.2 to 2.3) |
| Other | 51 (14.7) | 1.2 (0.90 to 1.6) |
| B. Nature of injury | ||
| Sprains/strains | 57 (16.4) | 0.6† (0.42 to 0.71) |
| Cuts/scratches | 134 (38.6) | 1.3† (1.1 to 1.5) |
| Fracture | 34 (9.8) | 0.9 (0.63 to 1.2) |
| Contusion | 43 (12.4) | 1.1 (0.79 to 1.4) |
| Foreign body | 37 (10.7) | 1.4 (0.97 to 1.9) |
| Other | 42 (11.8) | 1.2 (0.82 to 1.6) |
| C. Mechanism of injury | ||
| Burn | 6 (1.7) | 1.4 (0.52 to 2.8) |
| Caught | 9 (2.6) | 1.0 (0.47 to 1.8) |
| Cut | 70 (20.2) | 1.2 (0.90 to 1.5) |
| Fall from elevations | 29 (8.4) | 0.6† (0.41 to 0.86) |
| Fall same level | 16 (4.6) | 0.8 (0.43 to 1.8) |
| Motor vehicle | 6 (1.7) | 1.5 (0.54 to 2.9) |
| Overexertion | 34 (9.8) | 0.5† (0.31 to 0.62) |
| Struck by | 117 (33.7) | 1.5† (1.2 to 1.8) |
| Eye injury | 30 (8.6) | 1.3 (0.88 to 1.8) |
| Other | 30 (8.6) | 1.2 (0.78 to 1.6) |