Workers' Compensation injuries/illnesses: An analysis of selected Knox County government employee claims

The purpose of this study was to identity major Worker Compensation problem areas and through this analysis, develop an action plan to effectively reduce the causes of these occupational injury and illness claims through specific training.; The study design was a retrospective study of those Knox County employees that reported a Worker Compensation injury or illness during the period of 1995 through 2000. This was a Risk Management assessment of Workers' Compensation claims for Knox County Government population compared across department, age, gender and length of service for the period of 1995 through 2000. An action plan was developed to reduce Worker Compensation claims in Knox County Government.; The unanticipated discovery of excessive hand and arm injury in all departments identify the need for ergonomic engineering of the work areas as well as safety training on upper muscle skeletal disorder and their prevention. The finding that employees working less than three years and between the ages of 22 to 31 have the most injury and illness stresses the need for intensified safety training following OSHA guidelines.