Correlation of recorded injury and illness data with smoking, exercise, and absolute aerobic capacity

• Published in: International journal of industrial ergonomics 1999-01, Vol.24 (2), p.193-200
• Main Authors: McSweeney, Kevin P, Congleton, Jerome J, Kerk, Carter J, Omer Jenkins, Craig, Brian N
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Correlation methods; Health risks; Non-occupational risk factors; Personal risk factors; Risk assessment; Smoking and exercise; VO 2MAX
• ISSN: 0169-8141; 1872-8219
• DOI: 10.1016/S0169-8141(98)00026-2

This study investigated the correlation between reported injury and illness occurrence, estimated absolute aerobic capacity, exercise and smoking in a sample of 212 young male (average age 21.5 yr, SD=2.86) manual material handlers from the Southeastern ( n=75), Midwest ( n=77), and Western ( n=60) areas of the United States. Analysis results indicate a significant association with exercise and absolute VO 2MAX. No significance was noted with smoking and absolute VO 2MAX. Significant associations were observed with smoking and injury (RR=2.5, P=0.0082) and higher total lost workdays injuries and illnesses ( P=0.0070). Overall, this study demonstrated supporting evidence to existing literature, that data obtained via questionnaire is valid as demonstrated by the self-report of exercise and corresponding higher aerobic capacity, obtained via objective measurement. Additional support is verified by the association of smoking and injury. One deviation from the existing literature is that smoking did not appear to have an adverse impact on aerobic conditioning. Relevance to industry This article conveys important information providing more insight into the non-occupational and personal risk factors, exercise and smoking. Smoking is correlated to injury case incidence rate and lost work day case incidence rate not just employee absenteeism as reported by other researchers.