Nonfatal work-related motor vehicle injuries treated in emergency departments in the United States, 1998-2002

Background Current data on nonfatal work‐related motor vehicle injuries are limited and fragmented, often excluding government workers, self‐employed workers, and workers on small farms. This study seeks to bridge the present data gap by providing a national profile of nonfatal work‐related motor vehicle injuries across all industries and occupations. Methods Study subjects were people who suffered nonfatal work‐related motor vehicle injuries and were treated in a hospital emergency department in the United States. Subjects were identified from a stratified probability sample of emergency departments. National estimates and rates were computed. Results From 1998 to 2002, the average annual rate of nonfatal work‐related motor vehicle injuries was 7 injuries per 10,000 full‐time equivalents. The rate was three times higher in men than in women. The rates were higher in workers 15–19 years of age and in workers 70 years or older. Justice, public order, and safety workers had the largest number of injuries, and taxicab service employees had the highest injury rate of all industries. Truck drivers had the largest number of injuries, and police and detectives, public service employees had the highest injury rate of all occupations. Conclusion Future efforts need to develop and enhance the use of surveillance information at the federal and state level for work‐related nonfatal motor vehicle injuries. Prevention efforts need to address occupational motor vehicle safety for both commercial truck/bus drivers and workers who are not commercial drivers but who drive light motor vehicles on the job. Am. J. Ind. Med. 52:698–706, 2009.