Authors
Derk SJ; Hendricks KJ; Hartley D
Source
J Occup Environ Med 2024 Jan; 66(1):e26-e31
Abstract
Objective: Home care workers (HCWs) are a critical resource contributing to the well-being of others. Presented are data on HCWs nonfatal emergency department (ED)-treated injuries. Methods: Nonfatal injuries among HCWs were extracted from the NEISS-Work data between 2015 and 2020. Results: Review of NEISS-Work data indicated 117,000 HCWs with nonfatal ED-treated injuries; female HCWs accounted for 93%. Overexertion and bodily reactions accounted for 52% of the injuries. Violence and other injuries by persons or animals accounted for 15% and falls, slips, and trips also accounted for 15% of the HCWs ED-treated injuries. Conclusions: The growing demand for home care services is increasing the number of workers at risk for injury. Future analyses should prioritize injury events among HCWs to gain a better understanding of the events contributing to injuries among HCWs.
Keywords
Home health care; Injuries; Emergency treatment; Overexertion; Violence; Slips, trips, and falls; STF; National Electronic Injury Surveillance System; NEISS;
Author Keywords: healthcare; home; health aides; personal care aides; injury; work; surveillance
Contact
Susan J. Derk, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Safety Research, 1000 Frederick Lane, MS H1808, Morgantown, WV 26508
Document Type
Journal Article
Email Address
sderk@cdc.gov
Source Name
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
