Review Shows High Toll of Occupational Injury and Disease

Newswise — Occupational illnesses and injuries account for thousands of deaths and millions of disabling injuries each year in the United States, yet their full health, economic, and social impact remains underappreciated, reports a study in the June Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).

Paul A. Schulte, Ph.D., of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health calls for an integrated data-monitoring and analysis system to understand the full magnitude of occupational injury and disease and to guide decisions regarding prevention and intervention programs.

Dr. Schulte analyzed available research on the rates, costs, and other consequences of occupational illness and injury. Recent estimates suggest that 55,000 Americans die of occupational causes each year. If occupational injuries and diseases were classified as a separate cause, they would be the eighth-leading cause of death in the United States—just between diabetes and motor vehicle accidents.

Research also indicates a high rate of disabling occupational injuries—3.8 million per year in the United States. Worldwide, occupational factors may account for 800,000 deaths and 100 million injuries.

Occupational injuries and diseases impose an enormous economic burden as well. The most comprehensive available data suggest direct and indirect costs of $155.5 billion per year in the United States alone. Based on less complete data, annual direct costs for medical care are estimated at $14.5 billion.

However, these figures likely underestimate the true burden of occupational illnesses and injuries, especially once the hidden "social" costs—such as their impact on labor relations, family and community life, and mental health— are considered. Lacking a comprehensive monitoring system, researchers rely on "piecemeal" data sets to estimate the true rates and costs of work-related illness and injury. Another major challenge is that many occupational diseases have several contributing factors and a long "latency period," sometimes with many years between a toxic exposure and the first signs of illness.

The limitations of the available research highlight the need for an integrated approach to assessing the rates and impact of occupational injury, Dr. Schulte believes. Such a system should maximize the collection and analysis of data on exposure to potential hazards at work, the health effects of those exposures, and the ensuing costs. Another key focus would be the extent to which the occupational illnesses and deaths are avoidable.

This type of research information is essential for guiding policy decisions regarding the effectiveness, feasibility, and impact of occupational safety and health interventions. Currently, there are relatively few data on the cost-effectiveness of such programs. Dr. Schulte concludes, "Demonstrating how workplace interventions enhance public health will help policy-makers direct resources appropriately to where they will have the greatest impact."

ACOEM, an international society of 6,000 occupational physicians and other health care professionals, provides leadership to promote optimal health and safety of workers, workplaces, and environments.