See all ›
1 CitationOccupational injury and safety research in the AIHA Journal
Abstract
Theodore K. Courtney is associate director at the Liberty Mutual Research Center for Safety and Health in Hopkinton, Mass., and visiting lecturer on injury, safety, and ergonomics at the Harvard School of Public Health. His research interests include injury epidemiology, injury surveillance, musculoskeletal disorders, ergonomics, and public health policy. His recently published research includes work examining the U.S. national occupational morbidity experience in large surveillance data systems; comparative studies on fall-related injuries in the United States, United Kingdom, and Sweden; assessments of workplace and health services factors influencing work-related low back pain disability; and studies of occupational fatalities in the Peoples Republic of China. Mr. Courtney is certified in comprehensive practice and ergonomics by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals and was co-developer of the national board examination on ergonomics for safety professionals. Mr. Courtney joined the editorial board of the AIHA Journal in 1998 and has served as a guest editor for the American journal of Industrial Medicine and Ergonomics. He is presently a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers Foundation Research Committee and formerly served on the ANSI Committee on Cumulative Trauma Disorder Control and as an inaugural member of the U.S. Coast Guard's Partnership in Maritime Medicine.
- CitationsCitations1
- ReferencesReferences0
- [Show abstract] [Hide abstract] ABSTRACT: To highlight the role of occupational physician (OP) in occupational injuries (OI) prevention and management. To suggest an approach beyond traditional focus on descriptive epidemiology, engineering interventions, administrative aspects of OI prevention. To promote a person- and enterprise-tailored approach, entailing greater attention to human factors and to practical problems of the specific workplace, with a call to a leading role played by OP. Analysis of the literature on the broader topic of OI prevention revealed thousands of publications; however, only a handful of them mention or describe the participation of OP in OI prevention. While recognizing that literature search is not the proper and only way to appreciate the current role of OP in this field, therefore, it seems necessary to call OP to a stronger effort in prevention and management of OI, through the context of a comprehensive intervention in cooperation with managers, supervisors, safety personnel and workers, focusing on specific needs of each enterprise. The following areas of OP intervention were examined: risk assessment, health surveillance, management, scientific research and health education. Within each of these topics, possible contributions, methodologies, instruments available for the OP were discussed, taking into account the relevant literature. Pathways for practical applications were illustrated, e.g., OI data generation and analyses, predictors of OI, fitness for work, case management, team work, educational issues, first aid, suggestion for OP contribution in specific research questions. OI continue to take a remarkable toll from individuals and society. New multidisciplinary interventions are needed to prevent OI. Focused activities at the single worksite with a central role from OP are definite options. OP is an effective interface between workforce and management and may offer, through a proactive approach, valuable practical and cultural contributions, while respecting technical and ethical guidelines of occupational health professionals.
People who read this publication also read
Data provided are for informational purposes only. Although carefully collected, accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Publisher conditions are provided by RoMEO. Differing provisions from the publisher's actual policy or licence agreement may be applicable.
This publication is from a journal that may support self archiving.
Learn more