Injuries as a preventable disease: the control of occupational injuries from the medical and public health perspective.

Abstract

Injuries, including occupational injuries, represent a major cause of death in most countries. In our approach to controlling their effects, we consider them to be a disease. Like any other disease, they can be prevented and treated. Many injuries can be prevented by improved environmental conditions; passive protective devices such as air bags are analogous to immunizations. High-quality emergency treatment and rehabilitation can greatly reduce the long-term consequences of an injury. The primary agent causing injuries is energy. Disease control efforts, therefore, are aimed at reducing its release to the body in dangerous amounts. By applying standard medical preventative strategies, we can significantly reduce occupational injuries. An important tool is the division of injury-producing events into three phases: pre-event, event and post-event. We must then consider the interaction of human, vehicle and equipment, and environmental factors during each phase. Through the use of such an analysis, we can develop a framework controlling occupational injuries. Implementation of such strategies requires the efforts of epidemiologists, experts in prevention, biomechanics, treatment and rehabilitation, interacting with safety engineers, unions, corporations, and those who design and manufacture equipment.