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Inj Prev. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2015 August 13. Published in final edited form as: Inj Prev. 2015 April ; 21(2): 115–120. doi:10.1136/injuryprev-2014-041323.

Non-fatal work-related traumatic brain injuries treated in US hospital emergency departments, 1998–2007 Srinivas Konda1, Audrey Reichard2, Hope M Tiesman1, and Scott Hendricks1 1Division

of Safety Research, Analysis and Field Evaluations Branch, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA

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2Division

of Safety Research, Surveillance and Field Investigations Branch, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA

Abstract Purpose—Little is known about work-related traumatic brain injuries (WRTBI). This study describes non-fatal WRTBIs treated in US emergency departments (ED) from 1998 through 2007. Methods—Non-fatal WRTBIs were identified from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System occupational supplement (NEISS-Work) using the diagnoses of concussion, internal organ injury to the head and skull fracture. WRTBI rates and rate ratios were calculated, and the trend in rates was assessed.

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Results—An estimated 586 600 (95% CI=±150 000) WRTBIs were reported during the 10-year period at a rate of 4.3 (CI=±1.1) per 10 000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers (1 FTE=2000 h per year). From 1998 through 2007, the rate of WRTBIs increased at an average of 0.21 per 10 000 FTE per year (p