Occupational Injury/Workplace Violence

PI: Carri Casteel
University of Iowa, College of Public Health
Occupational and Environmental Health

Funding Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

Workers under 25 years have an increased risk of workplace violence compared to all workers combined, given their predominant employment in high-risk retail and service industries, the lack of violence prevention programs in these industries, and the fact that youth may be uniquely affected by workplace violence due to their ongoing physical and psychological development. Our study is a national telephone survey with a sample of 1000 working youth in the US between the ages of 14 and 24. We will estimate the prevalence of workplace violence victimization among young workers, identify risk factors for workplace violence victimization, and describe the employment and educational consequences of workplace violence victimization.

PI: Marizen Ramirez
University of Minnesota, College of Public Health
Division of Environmental Health Sciences

Funding Source: Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health

Although it is well-established that agriculture is among the most dangerous industries and occupations worldwide, surveillance of agricultural injuries and their risk factors – a key strategy for prevention – is poorly conducted and wrought with methodological challenges. Study 1 of this project addresses unanswered questions about the utility of workers compensation (WC) data for the surveillance of agricultural injuries. Study 2 addresses a critical need for effective and systematic monitoring of risk factors for agricultural injuries by evaluating a newly developed Hazard Surveillance Tool. Both studies are being pursued in partnership with Nationwide Insurance, the largest insurer of farms and ranches in the United States. We will focus on agricultural workers covered by Nationwide’s WC program beginning in 2005.