Occupational injury surveillance using the Washington State Trauma Registry.

Abstract

Traumatic injuries are a leading cause of death and disability among US workers, yet state trauma registries are rarely used for occupational research. Many, including the Washington State Trauma Registry, include information about work-relatedness. The objective is to explore and document the Washington State Trauma Registry as a resource for occupational injury surveillance and research. State-designated trauma facilities report traumatic injuries meeting specific inclusion criteria to the Washington State Trauma Registry. This study included 16+ year-olds injured in Washington during 1998 to 2008. Of 125,625 injuries, 7.3% were work related. We found no evidence of downward trends in traumatic occupational injuries (2003 to 2008). Capturing industry and occupation would enhance utility for occupational injury surveillance and research. Trauma registry data could contribute to prevention planning/evaluation, improve case ascertainment for severe occupational injuries, and aid identification of high-risk populations and emerging trends.