Skip to main content
Log in

Work-related injuries of the hand: Data from an occupational injury/illness surveillance system

  • Articles
  • Published:
Journal of Community Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Administrative and clinical data from a network of occupational medicine clinics were combined to evaluate the utility of these data in the surveillance of non-fatal occupational injuries. Incident cases of work-related hand injuries were characterized to evaluate that process. In 1988, hand and finger injuries were found to be among the most common (n=4,120) of all occupational injuries recorded in the system. Hand/finger injuries accounted for 30.0 percent of all episodes of work-related injuries treated, with the incidence of these decreasing with increasing company size. Hand injuries were found to be potentially severe with nearly 20 percent resulting from a crushing motion and nearly 10 percent being fractures or amputations. Hands being caught in machines or struck by metal items or hand tools accounted for 36.2 percent of the injuries. A surveillance system based upon ambulatory care data can be a feasible method for identifying priority areas for the prevention of work-related injuries.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. US Dept of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics:Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, 1989. Summary 91-1. Washington, DC: Govt Printing Office, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  2. CDC, leading work-related diseases and injuries—United States:MMWR 33:213–215, 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  3. US Dept of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics:Occupational Injuries and Illnesses in the United States by Industry, 1983. Washington DC: US Govt Printing Office, 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Robinson JC, The rising long-term trend in occupational injury rates.Am J Public Health 78:276–281, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  5. National Academy of Sciences:Counting Illness and Injury in the Workplace. Washington DC: National Academy Press, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Committee on Trauma Research:Injury in America. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Sass R, Workplace health and safety: A report from Canada.Int J Health Serv 16:565–82, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Kraus, JF, Fatal and nonfatal injuries in occupational settings: A review.Annual Reviews of Public Health 6:403–418, 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Welch L, The role of occupational health clinics in surveillance of occupational disease.American Journal of Public Health 79(S):58–60, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Baker EL, Melius JM, and Millar JD, Surveillance of occupational illness and injury in the United States: Current perspectives and future directions.J of Public Health Policy 9:198–221, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Graitcer PL, The development of state and local injury surveillance systems.Journal of Safety Research 18:191–198, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Froines JR, Dellenbaugh CA, and Wegman DH, Occupational health surveillance: A means to identify work-related risks.American Journal Public Health 76:1089–1096, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Oleske DM, Brewer R, Doan P, and Hahn J, An epidemiologic evaluation of the injury experience of a cohort of automotive parts workers.J Occup Accidents 10:239–253, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Brewer RD, Oleske DM, Hahn J, Doan P, and Leibold M, Work-related injuries and illnesses in an automotive parts manufacturing company—Chicago.Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Rev 38:413–416, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Brewer R, Oleske DM, Hahn, J and Leibold M, A model for occupational injury surveillance by occupational health centers.J Occup Med 32:698–702, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Taylor W, Biological effects of the hand-arm vibration syndrome: historical perspective and current research.J Acoust Soc Am. 83:415–22, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  17. CDC, Musculoskeletal injuries.MMWR 32(4), April 15, 1983.

  18. McDermott FT, Repetition strain injury: a review of current understanding.Medical Journal of Australia 144:196–200, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Anderson WJ, and Anderson WJ, Hydrofluoric acid burns of the hand: mechanism of injury and treatment.J Hand Surg [AM] 13:52–7, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Justis EJ, Moore SV, and LaVelle DG, Woodworking injuries: An epidemiologic survey of injuries sustained using woodworking machinery and hand tools.J Hand Surg [AM] 12:890–5, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Ong SG, Fung SC, Chow SP, and Kleevens JWL, A study of major factors associated with severe occupational hand injury in Hong Kong Island.J Soc Occup Med 32:82–88, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Hertz RP, and Emmett, EA, Risk factors for occupational hand injury.J Occup Med 28:36–41, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  23. NIOSH, Injuries and amputations resulting from mechanical power presses.Current Intelligence Bulletin 49. DHHS(NIOSH) Pub. No.87–107, 1987.

  24. Meagher SW, Tool design for prevention of hand and wrist injuries.J Hand Surg., 12[A]: 855–7, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Brown TD, Blair WF, Gabel RH, and Morecraft RJ, Effects of episodic air hammer usage on digital artery hemodynamics of foundry workers with vibration white finger disease.J Occup Med 30:853–62, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Silverstein B, Fine L, Stetson D, Hand-wrist disorders among investment casting plant workers.J Hand Surg [AM] 12:838–44, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Gorshe TS, and Wood MB, Mutilating corn-picking injuries of the hand.J Hand Surg. [AM] 13:423–7, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Waller JA, Payne SR, and Skelly JM, Injuries to carpenters.J Occup Med. 31:687–693, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  29. US Dept of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics:Work-related hand injuries and upper extremity amputations. Bull. 2160 Washington, D.C. US Govt. Printing Office, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Myles SM, and Roberts AHN, Hand injuries in the textile industry.J Hand Surg 10[B]: 293–296, 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Ekenvall L, and Lindblad L, Effect of tobacco use on vibration white finger disease.J of Occup Med 31:13–16, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Arndt R, Work pace, stress, and cumulative trauma disorders.J Hand Surg 12[A]:866–9, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Absoud EM, and Harrop SN, Hand injuries at work.J Hand Surg 9[B]:211–215, 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Olson D. and Gerberich S, Traumatic Amputations in the workplace.J Occup Med 28:480–485, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  35. American National Standards Institute: Method of Recording Basic Facts Relating to the Occurrence of Work Injuries. New York, NY. The Institute, 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Supplementary Data System: Microdata Files, Users Guide. Washington, DC: US Bureau of the Census, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  37. U.S. Bureau of the Census:1980 Census of the Population: Alphabetical Index of Industries and Occupations. (PHS 80-R3). Washington, DC: U.S Govt. Printing Office, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  38. U.S. Office of Management and Budget,Standard Industrial Classification System. Washington, DC: U.S. Govt. Printing Office, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Leigh JP, Firm size and occupational injury and illness incidence rates in manufacturing industries.J Com Health 14:44–52, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  40. US Bureau of the Census: County Business Patterns, 1986, Illinois. Washington, DC: US Govt Printing Office, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Denise M. Oleske, PhD, is Assistnat Professor in the Department of Health Systems Management and the Department of Preventive Medicine, Rush University, Chicago, IL; Jerome J. Hahn, MD, is Medical Director, Rush Occupational Health Centers, Chicago, IL.

The research described herein was supported by a grant from the Centers for Disease Control #R49CCR502360 “Occupational Injury Surveillance by Health Centers.”

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Oleske, D.M., Hahn, J.J. Work-related injuries of the hand: Data from an occupational injury/illness surveillance system. J Community Health 17, 205–219 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01321653

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01321653

Keywords

Navigation