Work-related Crashes Research Articles

Association between extreme ambient temperatures and general indistinct and work-related road crashes. A nationwide study in Italy

Despite the relevance of road crashes and their impact on social and health care costs, the effects of extreme temperatures on road crashes risk have been scarcely investigated, particularly for those occurring in occupational activities. A nationwide epidemiological study was carried out to estimate the risk of general indistinct and work-related road crashes related with extreme temperatures and to identify crash and occupation parameters mostly involved. Data about road crashes, resulting in death or injury, occurring during years 2013–2015 in Italy, were collected from the National Institute of Statistics, for general indistinct road crashes, and from the compensation claim applications registered by the national workers' compensation authority, for work-related ones. Time series of hourly temperature were derived from the results provided by the meteorological model WRF applied at a national domain with 5 km resolution. To consider the different spatial-temporal characteristics of the two road crashes archives, the association with extreme temperatures was estimated by means of a case-crossover time-stratified approach using conditional logistic regression analysis, and a time-series analysis, using over-dispersed Poisson generalized linear regression model, for general indistinct and work-related datasets respectively. The analyses were controlled for other covariates and confounding variables (including precipitation). Non-linearity and lag effects were considered by using a distributed lag non-linear model. Relative risks were calculated for increment from 75th to 99th percentiles (hot) and from 25 to first percentile (cold) of temperature. Results for general indistinct crashes show a positive association with hot temperature (RR = 1.12, 95 % CI: 1.09–1.16) and a negative one for cold (RR = 0.93, 95 % CI: 0.91−0.96), while for work-related crashes a positive association was found for both hot and cold (RR = 1.06 (95 % CI: 1.01–1.11) and RR = 1.10 (95 % CI: 1.05–1.16). The use of motorcycles, the location of accident (urban vs out of town), presence of crossroads, as well as occupational factors like the use of a vehicle on duty were all found to produce higher risks of road crashes during extreme temperatures. Mitigation and prevention measures are needed to limit social and health care costs.

A matter of style? Testing the moderating effect of driving styles on the relationship between job strain and work-related crashes of professional drivers

Different empirical studies suggest that both job strain and driving styles are significant contributors to the work-related traffic crashes suffered by professional drivers. Nevertheless, the current evidence falls considerably short when explaining why driving styles may modify (or not) the relationship between occupational stressors and professional drivers’ safety outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine whether driving styles moderate the effect of job strain on professional drivers’ Work Traffic Crashes (WTCs). This research was performed using the data collected from a sample of 753 professional drivers, responding to a self-report questionnaire on job strain (work stress indicator of the Job Demand-Control model), driving styles and work-traffic safety outcomes suffered in the past two years. Regression-based moderation analyses suggest that the job strain of professional drivers is positively associated with the occupational traffic crashes they suffer, and that such association is stronger in drivers with “reckless & careless”, “anxious”, and “angry & hostile” driving styles. Meanwhile, the “patient & careful” (positive) driving style was not associated with a lower risk of suffering a WTC, nor with a lower vulnerability to stress-related WTCs. The results of this study support the hypothesis that driving styles exert a statistical moderation between the job strain and the occupational traffic crashes suffered by professional drivers. These findings may support the design of evidence-based interventions in both the organizational and individual levels, focused stress-related factors and driving styles as predictors of work traffic crashes.

Differences between occupational and non-occupational-related motor vehicle collisions in West Virginia: A cross-sectional and spatial analysis.

BackgroundMotor vehicle collisions comprise the majority of occupational-related fatalities in the United States and West Virginia has one of the highest occupational-related fatality rates in the nation. The purpose of this study was to compare work and non-work-related collisions, crash locations, and the characteristics of in-state and out-of-state drivers ≥18 years of age who were fatally injured in work-related collisions in West Virginia.MethodologyData were from the 2000–2017 Fatality Analysis Reporting System. Work and non-work-related crashes and characteristics in-state vs. out-of-state drivers were compared using binary and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Crash locations were compared via spatial analyses using kernel density estimations.ResultsAmong the 5,835 individuals fatally injured in crashes, 209 were designated ‘at work’. The odds of being a work-related crash were 85% lower [Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.15; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.04, 0.49] among those testing positive for alcohol, but 2.5 times greater (OR = 2.56; 95% CI: 1.16, 5.65) among those holding a commercial driver’s license. The odds of being an in-state driver were 75% lower (OR = 0.25; 95% CI: 0.12, 0.53) among those wearing a safety belt, but 2.7 times greater among workers testing drug positive (OR = 2.67; 95% CI: 1.10, 6.52). In-state drivers were also less likely to be driving a large truck or be involved in single vehicle collisions and less likely to experience crashes on weekends, nights, or on highways. Spatial patterns of crash locations varied slightly between workers and non-workers.ConclusionsWork-related crashes differed greatly from non-work-related crashes in West Virginia. Stark differences existed between in-state and out-of-state workers and their crashes. Various avenues for workplace safety interventions exist, including seatbelt initiatives and drug testing policies for non-commercial drivers, which could help mitigate West Virginia’s elevated, occupational-related, traffic fatality rate.

Data linkage: An untapped resource for reducing serious traffic injuries in fast developing countries.

Reliable high quality traffic safety data has been essential for monitoring, developing and evaluating strategies to reduce the burden of injuries from traffic injuries. Information is often available in many different sources including police reports, ambulance/emergency medical service (EMS) run data, emergency department(ED) and hospital data, and mortality data from death certificates or medical examiner/coroner systems. However while each of these data systems has their own strengths and weakness, none can provide a comprehensive picture of traffic related injuries. Hospital trauma center records for example have extensive information on injuries and related medical problems but lack details on the mechanism of injury and crash and roadway characteristics. Often medical data cannot even distinguish drivers from pedestrians. Police or insurance crash reports on the other hand have considerable detail on the crash and circumstances surrounding it but have very poor data on the actual injuries sustained or their severity. This impedes targeting of prevention strategies towards serious injuries and fatalities. This presentation will use examples from current work on data linkage to demonstrate the value of linking traffic record data and explore how this approach can greatly advance traffic medicine and road safety in fast developing countries. In the United States linkage of crash data and medical data has been important for many traffic safety programs. One example is Maryland’s Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES) that uses probabilistic methodology to link police crash records to injury outcome records. CODES was established in an effort to improve highway safety through the use of linked motor vehicle crash data collected from police, EMS, hospitals (emergency department or inpatient admissions), and death certificates. This linked data have been used for a variety of statewide studies such as of injured motorcyclists, effectiveness of seat belts at preventing injuries, studies of older drivers, an analysis of mismatch collisions, geographic analysis of pedestrian injuries, patterns of injury in frontal collisions, costs and consequences of lower extremity injuries, the safety of newer vehicles, and the impact of casino gambling on alcohol-related crashes. A new project seeks to overcome the serious lack of reliable routine data on drug involvement in fatal crashes by linking detailed toxicology data from medical examiners with the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) in a sentinel group of states. Similar data linkage is also used in other countries such as a New Zealand study estimating underreporting of serious injuries by police reports. An Australian study noted that workers compensation datasets can identify most serious cases of occupational traffic injuries but lack valuable information on the circumstances and risk factors contributing to work-related crashes. Through linkage to police crash reports the study was able to identify high risk groups such as heavy vehicle drivers and the role played by fatigue and speeding. Many fast developing countries also have useful crash reports either from police or insurance reports. However only through linkage with medical data can their full potential for reducing the burden of serous traffic injuries be realized?

Work and non-work-related vehicle crashes: The contribution of risky driving practices

BackgroundThis study compared the characteristics of non-work and work-related crashes using linked population data on police-reported road crashes and hospital admission records in order to shed new light on the contribution of risky driving behaviour. MethodA retrospective analysis was conducted of vehicle crashes involving injured car drivers and motorcyclists identified in linked police-reported and hospitalisation records during 1 January 2001–31 December 2011 in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Working status was identified from hospitalisation records. Univariate and multiple variable logistic regression was conducted. ResultsThere were 38,240 car drivers and motorcyclists identified, of which 10.2% were travelling for work-related purposes. For car drivers, work-related crashes were less likely to involve alcohol (OR 0.17; 95%CI 0.13–0.22) or fatigue (OR 0.80; 95%CI 0.69–0.93), occur at an intersection, or involve a dry road, but were more likely to have worn a seat belt (OR 1.66; 95%CI 1.06–2.58), occur in a metropolitan area and at speeds greater than 50km/h than non-work-related crashes. For motorcyclists, work-related crashes were less likely to involve alcohol (OR 0.12; 95%CI 0.07–0.21) or excessive speed (OR 0.68; 95%CI 0.55–0.85), occur on a curved section of roadway, involve a dry road, or occur on roadways with speed limits of between 100 and 110km/h, but operators were more likely to have worn a helmet (OR 2.40; 95%CI 1.24–4.66), and crashes were more likely to have occurred in a metropolitan area, than non-work-related crashes. ConclusionAlcohol, fatigue and speed are less likely to be involved in work-related vehicle crashes compared to non-work-related crashes. Individuals injured while driving for work purposes were more likely to engage in safety promoting behaviours, such as wearing a seat belt or a motorcycle helmet, compared to individuals not driving for work purposes. It appears that there could be a higher motivation to conform to safe driving behaviours for individuals while driving for work.

Jobs at risk of work-related road crashes: An analysis of the casualties from the Rhône Road Trauma Registry (France)

In France and other European countries, employees injured in commuting crashes (travelling to and from work), like those injured in road crashes while actually on duty, are compensated for such occupational accidents. The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to analyse the occupational characteristics of work-related road crash victims in the Rhône administrative area, with a view to obtaining better knowledge of the types of occupational groups and industry sectors involved. This study is based on the Rhône Road Trauma Registry for the year 2001, supplemented with data obtained by a self-administered postal questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were analysed in terms of type of journey (on duty and commuting) and crash circumstances. This study confirms the elevated crash risk (compared to the reference category) for categories of workers whose work predominantly involves driving, such as (male) truck drivers and delivery drivers. Elevated risk was also highlighted for (female) health and social workers while commuting. Taking mileage into account, other categories also seemed to be at particular risk of work-related crashes: postal workers, security guards transporting funds and technicians in the computer and telecommunications sectors.

At work or play: A comparison of private property vehicle crashes with those occurring on public roads in north Queensland

To define characteristics of vehicle crashes occurring on rural private property in north Queensland with an exploration of associated risk factors. Descriptive analysis of private property crash data collected by the Rural and Remote Road Safety Study. Rural and remote north Queensland. A total of 305 vehicle controllers aged 16 years or over hospitalised at Atherton, Cairns, Mount Isa or Townsville for at least 24 hours as a result of a vehicle crash. A structured questionnaire completed by participants covering crash details, lifestyle and demographic characteristics, driving history, medical history, alcohol and drug use and attitudes to road use. Overall, 27.9% of interviewees crashed on private property, with the highest proportion of private road crashes occurring in the North West Statistical Division (45%). Risk factors shown to be associated with private property crashes included male sex, riding off-road motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle, first-time driving at that site, lack of licence for vehicle type, recreational use and not wearing a helmet or seatbelt. Considerable trauma results from vehicle crashes on rural private property. These crashes are not included in most crash data sets, which are limited to public road crashes. Legislation and regulations applicable to private property vehicle use are largely focused on workplace health and safety, yet work-related crashes represent a minority of private property crashes in north Queensland.

An exploratory investigation into safety climate and work-related driving

Few studies have examined the impact of safety climate upon occupational safety behavior or intentions, focusing instead on the event of incidents and injuries. Similarly, while safety climate has been studied in numerous industrial settings, limited attention has been given to the motor vehicle fleet context. This study conceptualized safety climate and work-related driver safety within a model informed by Bandura's Reciprocal Determinism and the Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behavior. The relative impact of safety climate upon four self-reported measures of work-related driver safety was investigated including: 1) current work-related driver behavior, 2) future work-related driving intentions, and 3) past crash involvement while driving for work. There was a moderate relationship between safety climate perceptions and the safety of current driver behavior at work (r = 0.40). The relationship with the safety of future driving intentions was also moderate (r = 0.29). Multiple regression analyses revealed that safety climate was a significant predictor of current driver behavior (beta = 0.30) and future driving intentions (beta = 0.18) at work. However, attitude was the stronger predictor of future driving intentions (beta = 0.28). Logistic regression analyses showed that neither fleet safety climate, nor the other factors included, predicted work-related crash involvement or traffic offences. Possible explanations for these results are outlined. Implications of the findings for occupational safety management, particularly in the fleet setting, are also discussed.

A data-matching study of the role of fatigue in work-related crashes

This study investigated fatigue involvement in work and nonwork-related road traffic casualty crashes using a dataset formed by linking the New South Wales workers compensation dataset with the New South Wales road traffic crash database. In many crash databases work-relatedness cannot be identified. Other databases, such as workers compensation data provide information on work-related road traffic injury but little on the circumstances of the crash. Probabilistic linkage overcame these problems by matching cases from the workers compensation data to the crash data to produce a new dataset of work-related road traffic casualties. The patterns of fatigue-involvement in these casualty crashes showed similarities between work-related crashes and nonwork-related crashes. Fatigue-involved crashes were more likely to result in fatality, involved higher costs, were more likely to involve heavy and light trucks and to involve illegal alcohol or speeding no matter whether they were work-related or not. Time of crash was the only characteristic that differed between work and nonwork-related crashes. Work-related fatigue-involved crashes tended to occur around dawn whereas work-related non-fatigue crashes occurred in peak hour traffic. Timing of work-related crashes involving fatigue varied little across the 24-h period whereas those not involving fatigue showed an afternoon peak only. While fatigue-related crashes occur in similar ways regardless of work status, strategies for work-related driver fatigue should not be left to be addressed only by general road safety strategies. As there is more control in the workplace over some of the fundamental causes of driver fatigue work-related fatigue management strategies are much more likely to be successful.

Work-related traffic crashes: A record linkage study

Aim To examine the characteristics of work-related traffic crashes involving drivers in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Methods Probabilistic data record linkage were used to merge police crash records and workers compensation data for the period 1998–2002. Results The record linkage identified 13,124 drivers who were injured or died as a result of work-related traffic crash in New South Wales over the 5-year period. Approximately three quarters of driver casualties occurred during commuting (74.8%) with the rest occurring in the course of work. Male drivers made up around three quarters of these crashes and 93% of those that resulted in a fatality. Transport workers were the most frequent victims of work-related crashes while on duty (20.8%), with drivers of heavy trucks representing about half (48%) of all fatalities resulting from on duty work-related crashes. Nearly 1 in 6 male drivers were speeding at the time of the crash (15%, 95% CI 14.2–15.7) compared to less than 1 in 10 female drivers (9%, 95% CI 8.3–9.8) of female drivers. Male drivers were also significantly more likely to be fatigued at the time of the crash 7.6% (95% CI 7.0–8.2) compared to females 4.2% (95% CI 3.7–4.8). No significant difference was observed in the proportion of crashes involving fatigue between on duty and commuting traffic crashes. Conclusions The study demonstrates the value of record linkage techniques in addressing some of the limitations of work-related data systems and in providing a more complete picture of the circumstances of occupational road crashes.

Injuries to workers and their dependents

Total workplace injuries by severity, as well as worker injuries outside of work were estimated. One in five injuries — almost 11 million annually — occurs while the victim is working. The toll includes 11,600 deaths, 614,000 hospitalizations, and 1.7 million nonhospitalized compensable lost workday injuries. Motor-vehicle crashes are a deadly cause of workplace injury. Crash injuries often are serious. Work-related crashes cause almost 30% of workplace deaths and 5% of compensable injuries, but less than 3% of minor injuries. One way for an employer to assess its highway safety record is to compare its injury, injury crash, and overall crash rates with national norms. Motor-vehicle injuries and crashes per million vehicle-miles of travel are the best measures. Most employers offer sick leave and contribute to insurance premiums. Employers who offer health insurance to dependents will pay for treating several times more injuries off than on the job. Each dependent covered under the worker's insurance averages as many injuries outside of work as the worker. Motor-vehicle crashes cost employers more than just fringe benefit payments. They create a major absenteeism problem. Crashes cause one in five time-away-from-work injuries. Employees caring for dependents injured in crashes lose additional work. The problem is crashes outside of work. Crash injuries account for only 3.3% of on-the-job lost workday injuries. Conversely, they cause 30% of off-the-job time-away-from-work injuries.