RAND Research Topic: Workplace Injury Prevention 2012-05-24T14:58:05Z Copyright (c) 2012, The RAND Corporation RAND Corporation http://www.rand.org/topics/workplace-injury-prevention.html States with Low Workplace Nonfatal Injury Rates Have High Fatality Rates and Vice Versa http://www.rand.org/news/press/2012/05/07.html May 7, 2012 May 7, 2012 States with low nonfatal injury rates and high fatality rates tend to be in the South, have lower workers' compensation benefits, be less unionized, and pay lower wages&mdash;while states with high nonfatal injury rates and lower fatality rates tend to be in the West, pay higher benefits and wages, be more strongly unionized, and carry out more workplace inspections. California Workplace Safety Program Can Reduce Injuries When Inspectors Enforce It http://www.rand.org/news/press/2012/01/26.html Jan 26, 2012 Jan 26, 2012 The first evaluation of the California Injury and Illness Prevention Program found evidence that it reduces workplace injuries, but only at businesses that had been cited for not addressing the regulation's more-specific safety mandates. Higher penalties could enhance compliance but having inspectors conduct more in-depth assessments and linking the violations and injuries to the program would have more impact. California Workplace Safety Program Can Reduce Injuries When Inspectors Enforce It http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR1190.html Jan 26, 2012 Jan 26, 2012 The first evaluation of the California Injury and Illness Prevention Program found that it reduces workplace injuries, but only at businesses that had been cited for not addressing the regulation's more-specific safety mandates. Having inspectors conduct more in-depth assessments and linking the violations and injuries to the program would have more impact. The Frequency, Severity, and Economic Consequences of Musculoskeletal Injuries to Firefighters in California http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG1018.html Jun 21, 2010 Jun 21, 2010 <p>The most common work-related injuries among firefighters are musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Understanding the frequency and severity of firefighter MSDs is more important with recent changes to California workers' compensation. This book describes the effect of work-related MSDs on firefighters' earnings and employment, the reforms' impact on disability ratings, and employment outcomes since the reforms to the medical delivery system.</p> The Role of Inspection Sequence in Compliance with the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Standards: Interpretations and Implications http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20100020.html Dec 31, 2009 Dec 31, 2009 <p>The authors examined the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's inspections in the US to identify the effects of repeated inspections and the time between inspections on non-compliance.</p> Substance Use Is Not the Primary Cause of Workplace Injuries, but Is a Contributing Factor http://www.rand.org/pubs/occasional_papers/OP247.html Jun 7, 2009 Jun 7, 2009 <p>Occupational injuries are a serious public-health issue and cause significant morbidity and mortality in the United States, with direct and indirect costs extending beyond injured workers to their families, other workers, firms, and consumers. This paper explores the link between substance use and work-related accidents.</p> Demonstrating and Communicating Research Impact: Preparing NIOSH Programs for External Review http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG809.html Feb 3, 2009 Feb 3, 2009 <p>From 2005 to 2008, the National Academies conducted an external review of National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) research programs. This external review assessed programs' impact on and relevance to preventing work-related injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. This book describes the methodology that RAND researchers developed to help NIOSH programs prepare for the external review.</p> A National View of Workplace Injuries in Nursing Homes http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20090022.html Dec 31, 2008 Dec 31, 2008 <p>Data from a large sample of nursing homes were used to examine the cross-sectional association between workplace injuries and organizational factors, caregiver staffing levels, and quality.</p> Effectiveness of Safety Mandates in Preventing Injuries and Illnesses http://www.rand.org/law-business-regulation/centers/chsw/projects/effectiveness-safety-mandates.html Dec 19, 2008 Dec 19, 2008 In 1998, OSHA sought to require all workplaces to have a safety and health program but abandoned the effort. RAND explored what the existing evidence suggests about the effectiveness of a health safety program requirement and what new research would help to fill the gaps in knowledge and facilitate a more informed decision. Better Efforts Needed to Track, Prevent Career-Ending Injuries Among Public Safety Workers http://www.rand.org/news/press/2008/12/18.html Dec 18, 2008 Dec 18, 2008 Non-fatal injuries to police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and other public safety workers are common, but little is done to track these incidents in order to improve prevention efforts. Better Efforts Needed to Track, Prevent Career-Ending Injuries Among Public Safety Workers http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG792.html Dec 18, 2008 Dec 18, 2008 <p>Non-fatal injuries to police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and other public safety workers are common, but little is done to track these incidents in order to improve prevention efforts.</p> Mandatory Workplace Safety and Health Programs: Implementation, Effectiveness, and Benefit-Cost Trade-Offs http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR604.html Dec 5, 2008 Dec 5, 2008 <p>In 1998, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) began efforts to reuire all workplaces to establish a safety and health program to reduce the risk of occupational injuries and illnesses. By 1999, it had stopped pursuing these federal standards, partly due to intense criticism of their value. This report assesses the standard, concluding with recommendations should authorities revisit the initiative.</p> Do Insurance Discounts Help Firms Encourage Workplace Safety? http://www.rand.org/law-business-regulation/centers/chsw/projects/certified-safety-committees.html Oct 21, 2008 Oct 21, 2008 Some workers' compensation insurers offer discounts to firms that have safety plans. While an evaluation of the voluntary Pennsylvania Certified Safety Committee (CSC) program found that compliance did reduce injuries, most participants did not comply with CSC requirements. What is the Effect of Policy on Entrepreneurship and Small Businesses? http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG663.html Dec 11, 2007 Dec 11, 2007 <p>The regulatory environment affects small business differently from the way it affects large ones, sometimes leading to unintended negative consequences. An improved understanding of this effect will help lawmakers develop policy designed to advance entrepreneurship.</p> Protecting Emergency Responders at Large Building Collapses http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG425.html Apr 24, 2006 Apr 24, 2006 <p>In an effort to reduce the extent of injuries like those suffered by emergency responders at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, RAND has proposed guidelines to better protect responders from the chemical, biological and physical hazards that exist following the collapse of large buildings.</p> Review of Literature Related to Exposures and Health Effects at Structural Collapse Events http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR309.html Nov 7, 2005 Nov 7, 2005 <p>In an effort to help develop federal guidelines for personal protective equipment used by emergency responders, this report summarizes data on injuries among emergency responders available from incidents of structural collapse (including the World Trade Center in 2001 and Oklahoma City&rsquo;s Murrah Building in 1995), reviews the possible health effects of substances likely to be found in pulverized building materials, and describes the possible health effects of several combustion by-products.</p> Emergency Responder Injuries and Fatalities: An Analysis of Surveillance Data http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR100.html Dec 13, 2004 Dec 13, 2004 <p>Collects and synthesizes available data on casualties experienced by the emergency responder population. The authors examined data separately for firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical technicians. These data can provide a route for identifying combinations of kinds and causes of injury, body parts involved, and types of responder activity where injury reduction efforts might be most effectively applied.</p> New Approach Needed to Protect Emergency Responders http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG170.html Jun 16, 2004 Jun 16, 2004 <p>Better planning, training, coordination and management procedures are needed to protect emergency responders at the scene of terrorist attacks and disasters.</p> Protecting Emergency Responders, Volume 2: Community Views of Safety and Health Risks and Personal Protection Needs http://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/MR1646.html Jan 1, 2003 Jan 1, 2003 <p>Firefighters, law enforcement officers, and emergency medical service responders play a critical role in protecting people and property in the event of fires, medical emergencies, terrorist acts, and numerous other emergencies. The authors examine the hazards that responders face and the personal protective technology needed to contend with those hazards. The findings are based on in-depth discussions with 190 members of the emergency responder community and are intended to help define the protective technology needs of responders and develop a comprehensive personal protective technology research agenda.</p> Protecting Emergency Responders: Lessons Learned from Terrorist Attacks http://www.rand.org/pubs/conf_proceedings/CF176.html Dec 31, 2001 Dec 31, 2001 This book is intended to help managers and decisiomakers understand the unique working and safety environment associated with terrorist incidents.