Injuries in working populations: black-white differences

Injuries appear to occur more frequently among whites than among blacks, but the latter are more likely to die as a consequence of those injuries. The injury rates are higher in younger age groups, and working adults have lower injury rates than those who do not work. Using data obtained from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) of the years 1983 through 1987, the patterns of injuries to currently working adults 18 to 64 years old were examined. Injury episodes were identified as any accidental or nonaccidental violence requiring medical attention, involving at least one half day of restricted activity or loss of work time. For the period of the study 209,576 interviews were conducted. Only 2,016 injuries were reported to have occurred in the prior two weeks, yielding an annual weighted estimate of 27,382,000 injuries in the US working population. Selected determinations based on differing demographic characteristics were estimated, and are reported. In all group comparisons, except the 45- to 64-year-old group, blacks had fewer injuries than whites. Injuries to currently working adults are common in the US, and affect approximately 25 percent of them annually. Injuries happened more often to poor and younger workers. Overall blacks had fewer injuries than whites among blue collar and service workers. Possible confounding of demographic factors other than age and ethnicity could not account for the outcomes observed. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)