Background: Study provides update of national estimates for work-related fatal injuries and non-fatal injuries and illnesses by animals in US.
Methods: Between 2011 and 2014, injuries and illnesses were retrieved from US Department of Labor and were translated to economic losses using National Safety Council estimates.
Results: Total of 222 fatalities (36% by cattle and other bovines) and 71 460 non-fatal injuries and illnesses (38% by insects, arachnids, mites) were identified from animal sources. For non-fatal injuries and illnesses from primary animal sources, annual incidence rates were 1.5-1.6/10 000 full-time workers and annual median days lost from work were 3-4 days. Work-related costs were $222M for fatalities and $2.8B for non-fatal injuries and illnesses that resulted in at least 1 day lost from work.
Conclusions: Study provides evidence of specific animals contributing to more severe injuries and potential for more severe injuries when there is more than one source of injury.
Keywords: animal; death; economic loss; injury; worker.
© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.