WOUNDING THE MESSENGER: THE NEW ECONOMY MAKES OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH INDICATORS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and workers' compensation insurers reported dramatic drops in rates of occupational injuries and illnesses during the 1990s. The authors argue that far-reaching changes in the 1980s and 1990s, including the rise of precarious employment, falling wages and opp...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of health services 2004-01, Vol.34 (2), p.271-303
Main Authors: Azaroff, Lenore S., Lax, Michael B., Levenstein, Charles, Wegman, David H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Data Collection
Documentation
Economics
Emigration and Immigration
Health
Health Benefit Plans, Employee - legislation & jurisprudence
Health Care Reform
Health services
Health Services Accessibility
Insurance
Occupational Health
Occupational safety
The New Economy and Workers' Health
United States
Work accidents
Working conditions
Wounds and Injuries - epidemiology
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Summary:The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and workers' compensation insurers reported dramatic drops in rates of occupational injuries and illnesses during the 1990s. The authors argue that far-reaching changes in the 1980s and 1990s, including the rise of precarious employment, falling wages and opportunities, and the creation of a super-vulnerable population of immigrant workers, probably helped create this apparent trend by preventing employees from reporting some injuries and illnesses. Changes in the health care system, including loss of access to health care for growing numbers of workers and increased obstacles to the use of workers' compensation, compounded these effects by preventing the diagnosis and documentation of some occupational injuries and illnesses. Researchers should examine these forces more closely to better understand trends in occupational health.
ISSN:0020-7314
1541-4469
DOI:10.2190/4H2X-XD53-GK0J-91NQ