Chia Wei1, Susan G Gerberich2, Andrew D Ryan3, Bruce H Alexander3, Timothy R Church3, Michael Manser4. 1. Midwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety Education and Research Center, Regional Injury Prevention Research Center, and Center for Violence Prevention and Control, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Centers for Disease Control, Epidemic Intelligence Center, Taipei, Taiwan. 2. Midwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety Education and Research Center, Regional Injury Prevention Research Center, and Center for Violence Prevention and Control, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Electronic address: gerbe001@umn.edu. 3. Midwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety Education and Research Center, Regional Injury Prevention Research Center, and Center for Violence Prevention and Control, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. 4. Texas A&M Transportation Institute, Human Factors Program, College Station, TX.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Although many studies have focused on bus operators' occupational diseases, work-related injury and associated risk factor data are limited. The purpose of this longitudinal study was to investigate unintentional injury and exposures that may affect injury risk among metropolitan bus operators. METHODS: Demographic, work-related, and injury data obtained from a metropolitan transit company for a 5-year period, enabled estimates of rates per 100 full time equivalents (FTEs) and adjusted Hazard Ratios (HRs), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), using Generalized Estimating Equations and Cox proportional hazards models, respectively. RESULTS: The 2095 bus operators, included in this study, had an unintentional injury rate (95% CI) of 17.8 (16.1-19.7) per 100 FTEs. Multivariable analysis identified increased risks for operators who were female, compared to male (HR = 2.4; 2.0-2.8); worked less than 7 versus 7 to less than 12 hours per day (HR = 4.6; 3.8-5.5); and drove less than 7 versus 7 to less than 12 hours per day (HR = 3.2; 2.7-3.8). Suggestive increased risks were identified for operators working split versus straight shifts (HR = 1.2; 1.0-1.4) and for driving limited versus regular bus routes (HR = 1.36; 1.0-1.8). CONCLUSIONS: Results serve as a basis for further studies and inform the development of targeted intervention strategies to reduce bus operators' occupational injuries.
PURPOSE: Although many studies have focused on bus operators' occupational diseases, work-related injury and associated risk factor data are limited. The purpose of this longitudinal study was to investigate unintentional injury and exposures that may affect injury risk among metropolitan bus operators. METHODS: Demographic, work-related, and injury data obtained from a metropolitan transit company for a 5-year period, enabled estimates of rates per 100 full time equivalents (FTEs) and adjusted Hazard Ratios (HRs), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), using Generalized Estimating Equations and Cox proportional hazards models, respectively. RESULTS: The 2095 bus operators, included in this study, had an unintentional injury rate (95% CI) of 17.8 (16.1-19.7) per 100 FTEs. Multivariable analysis identified increased risks for operators who were female, compared to male (HR = 2.4; 2.0-2.8); worked less than 7 versus 7 to less than 12 hours per day (HR = 4.6; 3.8-5.5); and drove less than 7 versus 7 to less than 12 hours per day (HR = 3.2; 2.7-3.8). Suggestive increased risks were identified for operators working split versus straight shifts (HR = 1.2; 1.0-1.4) and for driving limited versus regular bus routes (HR = 1.36; 1.0-1.8). CONCLUSIONS: Results serve as a basis for further studies and inform the development of targeted intervention strategies to reduce bus operators' occupational injuries.
Authors: Dagfinn Matre; Marit Skogstad; Tom Sterud; Karl-Christian Nordby; Stein Knardahl; Jan Olav Christensen; Jenny-Anne S Lie Journal: Scand J Work Environ Health Date: 2021-04-09 Impact factor: 5.024