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Workers' Compensation Board (workers' + compensation_board)

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Selected Abstracts

Latex-induced occupational asthma: time trend in incidence and relationship with hospital glove policies

ALLERGY, Issue 3 2009
O. Vandenplas
Background:, Natural rubber latex (NRL) has become as a major cause of occupational asthma (OA) in workers using NRL gloves. Few population-based studies have assessed the impact of changes in the patterns of glove usage on the incidence of NRL-induced OA. Objective:, To characterize the time trends in incident cases of NRL-induced OA in Belgium and examine whether incidence rates were related to the types of gloves used in hospitals. Methods:, Incident cases of NRL-induced OA were identified through a retrospective review of all claims submitted to the Workers' Compensation Board up to December 2004. Based on the results of diagnostic procedures, the diagnosis of NRL-induced OA was categorized as definite, probable, unlikely, or indeterminate. The patterns of glove usage were characterized through a questionnaire survey of Belgian hospitals. Results:, A total of 298 claims for NRL-induced OA were identified, including 127 subjects with definite OA and 68 with probable OA. Categorized by the year of asthma onset, the incident cases of definite and probable NRL-induced OA markedly decreased from 1999 onwards. The use of powdered NRL gloves fell from 80.9% in 1989 to 17.9% in 2004. Powdered NRL gloves were predominantly substituted with NRL-free gloves, especially in the case of non-sterile procedures. Conclusion:, These national compensation-based data confirm that a persistent decline in the incidence of NRL-induced OA has occurred since late 1990s. This downward trend has temporally been associated with a decreasing usage of powdered NRL, further supporting a beneficial role of changes in glove policies. [source]

Data linkage to estimate the extent and distribution of occupational disease: new onset adult asthma in Alberta, Canada

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 11 2009
Nicola Cherry MD
Abstract Background Although occupational asthma is a well recognized and preventable disease, the numbers of cases presenting for compensation may be far lower than the true incidence. Methods Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) claims for any reason 1995,2004 were linked to physician billing data. New onset adult asthma (NOAA) was defined as a billing for asthma (ICD-9 code of 493) in the 12 months prior to a WCB claim without asthma in the previous 3 years. Incidence was calculated by occupation, industry and, in a case,referent analysis, exposures estimated from an asthma specific job exposure matrix. Results There were 782,908 WCB eligible claims, with an incidence rate for NOAA of 1.6%: 23 occupations and 21 industries had a significantly increased risk. Isocyanates (OR 1.54: 95% CI 1.01,2.36) and exposure to mixed agricultural allergens (OR,=,1.59: 95% CI 1.17,2.18) were related to NOAA overall, as were exposures to cleaning chemicals in men (OR,=,1.91:95% CI 1.34,2.73). Estimates of the number of cases of occupational asthma suggested a range of 4% to about half for the proportion compensated. Conclusions Data linkage of administrative records can demonstrate under-reporting of occupational asthma and indicate areas for prevention. Am. J. Ind. Med. 52:831,840, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Under-reporting of compensable mesothelioma in Alberta

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 7 2009
Marilyn W. Cree PhD
Abstract Background When combined with a history of occupational asbestos exposure, mesothelioma is often presumed work-related. In Canada, workers diagnosed with mesothelioma caused by occupational asbestos exposure are often eligible for compensation under provincial workers' compensation boards. Although occupational asbestos exposure causes the majority of mesothelioma, Canadian research suggests less than half of workers actually apply for compensation. Alberta's mandatory reporting requirements may produce higher filing rates but this is currently unknown. This study evaluates Alberta's mesothelioma filing and compensation rates. Methods Demographic information on all mesothelioma patients diagnosed between 1980 and 2004 were extracted from the Alberta Cancer Board's Cancer Registry and linked to Workers' Compensation Board of Alberta claims data. Results Alberta recorded a total of 568 histologically confirmed mesothelioma cases between 1980 and 2004. Forty-two percent of cases filed a claim; 83% of filed claims were accepted for compensation. Conclusions Patient under-reporting of compensable mesothelioma is a problem and raises larger questions regarding under-reporting of other asbestos-related cancers in Alberta. Strategies should focus on increasing filing rates where appropriate. Am. J. Ind. Med. 52:526,533, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Are immigrants, ethnic and linguistic minorities over-represented in jobs with a high level of compensated risk?

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 9 2010
Canada study using census, Results from a montréal, workers' compensation data
Abstract Objectives Few Canadian data sources allow the examination of disparities by ethnicity, language, or immigrant status in occupational exposures or health outcomes. However, it is possible to document the mechanisms that can create disparities, such as the over-representation of population groups in high-risk jobs. We evaluated, in the Montréal context, the relationship between the social composition of jobs and their associated risk level. Methods We used data from the 2001 Statistics Canada census and from Québec's workers' compensation board for 2000,2002 to characterize job categories defined as major industrial groups crossed with three professional categories (manual, mixed, non-manual). Immigrant, visible, and linguistic minority status variables were used to describe job composition. The frequency rate of compensated health problems and the average duration of compensation determined job risk level. The relationship between the social composition and risk level of jobs was evaluated with Kendall correlations. Results The proportion of immigrants and minorities was positively and significantly linked to the risk level across job categories. Many relationships were significant for women only. In analyses done within manual jobs, relationships with the frequency rate reversed and were significant, except for the relationship with the proportion of individuals with knowledge of French only, which remained positive. Conclusions Immigrants, visible, and linguistic minorities in Montréal are more likely to work where there is an increased level of compensated risk. Reversed relationships within manual jobs may be explained by under-reporting and under-compensation in vulnerable populations compared to those with knowledge of the province's majority language. Am. J. Ind. Med. 53:875,885, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]