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Work-Related Burns

Summary Indicator Report Data View Options

Why Is This Important?

Work-related burns are among the most devastating injuries affecting workers. Although hospitalized burns are rare events, they are painful, disabling, and may result in significant disfigurement.

Definition

Hospitalizations of persons 16 years or older with burn injury as the primary diagnosis and primary payer coded as workers' compensation. ICD-9-CM codes: 940 - 949; ICD-10-CM codes: T20-T28, T30-T32

Data Sources

How the Measure is Calculated

Numerator:Number of hospital discharges with primary diagnosis of burn injury and primary payer coded as workers' compensation.
Denominator:Total number of employed persons aged 16 years or older for the same calendar year.

How Are We Doing?

In New Jersey, there have been over 1,200 work-related burns between 2000 and 2023. NJ annual rates ranged from 0.4-2.9 hospitalizations per 100,000 workers from 2000-2023. In 2023, there were 27 work-related burn hospitalizations in NJ. Of these, 26 (96%) were male and the average age was 44 years. Of those who reported race and ethnicity, four (15%) of the hospitalized individuals were White; three (11%) were Black; 5 (19%) were Other; and 15 (55%) were unknown race. Four (15%) indicated Hispanic origin. Of the 27 reported cases of work-related burns in 2023, 30% of the burns were to the head, face, and neck; 30% were to the shoulder and upper limb, except wrist and hand; and 15% were to the lower limb, except ankle and foot.

What Is Being Done?

New Jersey law requires the reporting of occupational diseases, injuries, and poisonings by hospitals (N.J.A.C. 8:58). [https://www.nj.gov/health/workplacehealthandsafety/occupational-health-surveillance/health-care-professionals/]

Available Services

Additional information on the prevention of work-related injuries and illnesses can be obtained from: NJ Department of Health, Occupational Health Surveillance Unit, PO Box 369, Trenton, NJ 08625-0369 [[br]] Phone: 609-826-4984, Fax: 609-826-4983, [http://www.state.nj.us/health/workplacehealthandsafety/occupational-health-surveillance/]

Health Program Information

Individuals hospitalized for work-related injuries and illnesses represent less than 10 percent of all workers who receive workers' compensation. The majority of individuals with work-related illnesses and many others with injuries do not file for workers' compensation. Additionally, self-employed individuals such as farmers and independent contractors, federal employees, railroad or longshore and maritime workers are not covered by state workers' compensation systems. Workers' compensation eligibility criteria and availability of data from workers' compensation programs varies among states so caution should be taken when making comparisons state-to-state or nationally. Attribution of payer in hospital discharge may not be accurate.