Workplace injuries underestimated, says study

28 October 2004

Workplace injuries in Victoria are being underestimated due to gaps in work insurance and hospital data, Monash University researchers have warned.

A new report from the university's Victorian Injury Surveillance and Applied Research Unit (VISAR) reveals at least 20,600 adults are treated each year in Victorian hospitals for unintentional work injuries, including more than 4,000 hospital admissions.

"Hospital databases cover injured people not included in workers' compensation claims databases, such as the self-employed and workers paid cash-in-hand, so give a more complete picture of the size of the workplace injury problem than WorkCover data," said senior research fellow Ms Erin Cassell.

"However, we estimate that currently only 80 per cent of work injury cases are being recorded at the hospital level due to poor coding practices, and this weakness needs to be remedied.

"From a public health viewpoint, it is important to examine all work-related injury and not be restricted to insured cases, as a more open approach helps identify new opportunities to reduce injury."

The latest edition of VISAR's Hazard report shows there was no real change in the overall and male work injury hospitalisation rate between 1999 and 2002 and that the female rate actually increased by seven per cent.

The report also shows that the male work injury hospital admission rate was five times that for females and admission rates were highest in the youngest and oldest groups of workers -- those aged 15-24 and those aged 65 years and older.

Wrist and hand injuries accounted for 42 per cent of all work-related hospital admissions over the four-year study period, more than 7,000 admissions in all. Hand injuries were most commonly fractures, open wounds and muscle and tendon injuries.

Ms Cassell says work-related hand injuries are neglected in terms of prevention, and a comprehensive hand injury prevention program is needed.

Ms Erin Cassell is available for media interviews on +61 3 9905 1857.

The full report (edition 58) can be viewed at the Hazard website.

For further assistance, contact the Media Communications office on +61 3 9905 9201.