Development of methods for using workers' compensation data for surveillance and prevention of occupational injuries among State-insured private employers in Ohio

Background Workers’ compensation (WC) claims data may be useful for identifying high‐risk industries and developing prevention strategies. Methods WC claims data from private‐industry employers insured by the Ohio state‐based workers’ compensation carrier from 2001 to 2011 were linked with the state's unemployment insurance (UI) data on the employer's industry and number of employees. National Labor Productivity and Costs survey data were used to adjust UI data and estimate full‐time equivalents (FTE). Rates of WC claims per 100 FTE were computed and Poisson regression was used to evaluate differences in rates. Results Most industries showed substantial claim count and rate reductions from 2001 to 2008, followed by a leveling or slight increase in claim count and rate from 2009 to 2011. Despite reductions, there were industry groups that had consistently higher rates. Conclusion WC claims data linked to employment data could be used to prioritize industries for injury research and prevention activities among State‐insured private employers. Am. J. Ind. Med. 59:1087–1104, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.