Overview

Work-Related Immediate Inpatient Hospitalization Surveillance System

A work-related immediate inpatient hospitalization is a work-related injury that leads to an inpatient hospital admission within one day of the injury event (based on day, not 24 hours).

Cases are identified through a multi-step linking process using two data sources:

  • Washington workers' compensation (WC) data
  • Washington's hospital discharge data—the Comprehensive Hospital Abstract Reporting System (CHARS).

Public health importance of Work-Related Immediate Inpatient Hospitalization Surveillance

Immediate inpatient hospitalizations resulting from work-related injuries represent a small proportion of injuries, but are severe, costly, and preventable injuries that indicate a need for intervention.

Acute traumatic injuries account for a high proportion of immediate inpatient hospitalizations. Employers throughout the United States are required to report work-related hospitalizations to their state or OSHA regional office. Understanding more about these hospitalizations may be valuable both for prevention efforts and for assessing the completeness of employer reporting.

Purpose & Operations of Work-Related Immediate Inpatient Hospitalization Surveillance

Immediate Inpatient Hospitalizations data allows for:

  1. Quantifying prevalence by industry & occupation of work-related injuries and illnesses that lead to immediate inpatient hospitalizations.
  2. Identifying high-risk occupations/industries and health disparities/risks.
  3. Aiding in targeting prevention efforts.

Employers, policymakers, and health promotion practitioners can use the study findings to target and prioritize prevention efforts for injuries most likely to cause an work-related immediate hospitalization.

Publications

Technical Reports

Work-Related Immediate Inpatient Hospitalizations-Washington State, 2022

Work-Related Immediate Inpatient Hospitalizations, Washington State, 2021

Work-Related Immediate Inpatient Hospitalizations-Washington State, 2019 and 2020

Work-Related Immediate Inpatient Hospitalizations, Washington State, 2014-2018

Immediate Inpatient Hospitalizations for Work-Related Injury or Illness - Washington State, 2015

Immediate Inpatient Hospitalizations for Work-Related Injury: Washington State, 2014

Industry-Specific Reports

Immediate Work-Related Inpatient Hospitalizations in the Washington State Trucking Industry: 2003-2016

Immediate Work-Related Inpatient Hospitalizations in Crop & Animal Production Agriculture: Washington State, 2011-2015

Legislative Reports

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

Additional Resources

Top five work-related injury events by industry resulting in immediate hospitalization, 2013-2017 Washington

Prevention Resources

Sign up to receive work-related hospitalization prevention resources by email.

Hazard Alerts

Older Women are at Higher Risk of Hospitalization from Slips, Trips, and Falls at Work

Worker Hospitalization Alerts

Agriculture

Worker’s Legs Amputated in Subfloor Auger  | Spanish

Foreman’s Leg Crushed in Power Takeoff Shaft | Spanish

Worker’s Leg Caught In Overloaded Conveyor | Spanish

Cannabis Processing

Worker Amputates Finger Tip on Bud Trimmer Blade

Construction

Framer Nearly Amputates Toes with Circular Saw | Spanish

Ironworker Falls 53-feet down Elevator Shaft | Spanish | Russian

Roofer Falls From Extension Ladder | Spanish | Russian

Foreman Falls 15 Feet from Roof | Spanish | Russian

Temporary Worker Struck by Falling Scaffold Plank | Spanish | Russian

Worker Hospitalized After Fall from Mobile Scaffold | Spanish | Russian

Foreman Falls 15 Feet from Ladder | Spanish | Russian

Tire Dealers

Technician Injured when Overinflated Tire Explodes | Spanish

Transportation and Warehousing

Worker Crushed Between Two Forklifts | Spanish

Hospitalization Hazards

Agriculture

Hop Baler Injuries

Grain Auger Amputations | Spanish

ATV Rollover in Agriculture | Spanish

Orchard Tractor Rollover | Spanish

Orchard Ladder Falls | Spanish

Construction

Grading and Site Preparation Equipment | Spanish | Russian

Roofing Falls in Residential Construction | Spanish | Russian

Manufacturing

Food Manufacturing Conveyors | Spanish | Russian

Transportation and Warehousing

Falls From Elevation While Tarping | Spanish | Russian | Amharic | Punjabi