학술논문
Workers' compensation claims for COVID-19 among workers in healthcare and other industries during 2020-2022, Victoria, Australia.
Document Type
Academic Journal
Author
Kelsall HL; Monash Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia helen.kelsall@monash.edu.; Di Donato MF; Healthy Working Lives Research Group, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.; McGuinness SL; School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.; The Alfred Hospital Travel Medicine Clinic, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.; Collie A; Healthy Working Lives Research Group, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.; Zhong S; School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.; Eades O; School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.; Sim MR; School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.; Leder K; School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.; Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Source
Publisher: BMJ Pub. Group Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 9422759 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1470-7926 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 13510711 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Occup Environ Med Subsets: MEDLINE
Subject
Language
English
Abstract
Objective: To identify and characterise COVID-19 workers' compensation claims in healthcare and other industries during the pandemic in Victoria, Australia.
Methods: We used workers' compensation claims identified as COVID-19 infection related from 1 January 2020 to 31 July 2022 to compare COVID-19 infection claims and rates of claims by industry and occupation, and in relation to Victorian COVID-19 epidemiology. A Cox proportional hazards model assessed risk factors for extended claim duration.
Results: Of the 3313 direct and indirect COVID-19-related claims identified, 1492 (45.0%) were classified as direct COVID-19 infection accepted time-loss claims and were included in analyses. More than half (52.9%) of COVID-19 infection claims were made by healthcare and social assistance industry workers, with claims for this group peaking in July-October 2020. The overall rate of claims was greater in the healthcare and social assistance industry compared with all other industries (16.9 vs 2.4 per 10 000 employed persons) but industry-specific rates were highest in public administration and safety (23.0 per 10 000 employed persons). Workers in healthcare and social assistance were at increased risk of longer incapacity duration (median 26 days, IQR 16-61 days) than in other industries (median 17 days, IQR 11-39.5 days).
Conclusions: COVID-19 infection claims differed by industry, occupational group, severity and timing and changes coincided with different stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Occupational surveillance for COVID-19 cases is important and monitoring of worker's compensation claims and incapacity duration can contribute to understanding the impacts of COVID-19 on work absence.
Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.
(© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)
Methods: We used workers' compensation claims identified as COVID-19 infection related from 1 January 2020 to 31 July 2022 to compare COVID-19 infection claims and rates of claims by industry and occupation, and in relation to Victorian COVID-19 epidemiology. A Cox proportional hazards model assessed risk factors for extended claim duration.
Results: Of the 3313 direct and indirect COVID-19-related claims identified, 1492 (45.0%) were classified as direct COVID-19 infection accepted time-loss claims and were included in analyses. More than half (52.9%) of COVID-19 infection claims were made by healthcare and social assistance industry workers, with claims for this group peaking in July-October 2020. The overall rate of claims was greater in the healthcare and social assistance industry compared with all other industries (16.9 vs 2.4 per 10 000 employed persons) but industry-specific rates were highest in public administration and safety (23.0 per 10 000 employed persons). Workers in healthcare and social assistance were at increased risk of longer incapacity duration (median 26 days, IQR 16-61 days) than in other industries (median 17 days, IQR 11-39.5 days).
Conclusions: COVID-19 infection claims differed by industry, occupational group, severity and timing and changes coincided with different stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Occupational surveillance for COVID-19 cases is important and monitoring of worker's compensation claims and incapacity duration can contribute to understanding the impacts of COVID-19 on work absence.
Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.
(© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)