Official Site of The State of New Jersey
Work-Related Hospitalizations
Summary Indicator Report Data View Options
Why Is This Important?
Individuals hospitalized with work-related injuries and illnesses have some of the most serious and costly work-related adverse health outcomes. Tracking of these significant adverse health effects can help target prevention programs and activities, and to identify previously recognized settings in which workers may continue to be at high risk. For example, analysis of these data can assist researchers to assess disparities among racial/ethnic groups and among young and older workers.
Definition
Annual number of work-related inpatient hospitalizations for persons age 16 years or older.
Data Sources
- Hospital Discharge Data Collection System (NJDDCS), Health Care Quality and Assessment, New Jersey Department of Health
(https://nj.gov/health/healthcarequality/health-care-professionals/njddcs/) - U.S. Census Bureau
(https://www.census.gov/) - Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor
(https://www.bls.gov/)
How the Measure is Calculated
| Numerator: | Number of inpatient hospital discharges with primary payer coded as workers' compensation. |
| Denominator: | Total number of employed persons age 16 years or older for the same calendar year. |
How Are We Doing?
In NJ there have been over 90,000 work-related hospitalizations between 2000 and 2022. In 2022 there were 1,945 work-related hospitalizations. Of these, 1,445 (74%) individuals were male and the average age was 51 years. Over 1,000 (57%) of the hospitalized individuals were White; 263 (14%) were Black; and 500 (26%) were of Hispanic origin. New Jersey annual rates have slightly decreased from 143 per 100,000 in 2000 to 43 per 100,000 in 2022.
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 Phone: (609) 826-4984, Fax: (609) 826-4983, [http://www.state.nj.us/health/workplacehealthandsafety/occupational-health-surveillance/]
Health Program Information
The majority of individuals with work-related illnesses and injuries do not file for workers' compensation. Individuals hospitalized for work-related injuries and illnesses represent less than 10 percent of all workers who receive 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.