CUMULATIVE-TRAUMA-DISORDERS

OCCUPATIONAL REPETITIVE STRAIN INJURIES AND GENDER IN ONTARIO, 1986 TO 1991

A study of the influence of gender on the occurrence of occupational repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) in Ontario, Canada was conducted. The files of the Ontario Workers' Compensation Board were searched to identify all lost time claims for RSIs that were compensated from 1986 through 1991. All allowed claims were analyzed to determine the gender of the claimant and whether the claimant was employed in one of five occupational categories: processing materials handling, crafts, construction, clerical work, and service jobs. A total of 15,988 RSI claims were allowed during the study period. The annual rate of claims generally increased during the period, from 1,939 in 1986 to 3,326 in 1991. By gender, 7,301 claims were made by males and 8,707 by females. The largest number of claims were made by workers employed in processing, machining, and fabricating occupations. Data for 1990 and 1991 indicated female workers lost more work time due to RSIs than males, 39 and 38 versus 33 and 31 days, respectively. The author concludes that females have a greater risk of sustaining an occupational RSI injury than males. Females receive compensation benefits for RSIs for longer periods than males. This could reflect a longer lasting effect of RSIs on females than on males.

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 37(4):479-485, 1995. (31 references)

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