Table 3

Relative risks of hand injury (95% CI) for transient factors stratified by selected worker and workplace characteristics, northeastern USA, 1997–2000

Fixed characteristicsWork equipmentWork practicesWorker related factors
Unusual performing equip/materialsGlove useUnusual work methodUnusual taskDistractedRushedFeeling ill
p for χ2 test of homogeneity, *p<0.05, **p<0.01.
All subjects11.0 (9.4 to 12.8)0.4 (0.3 to 0.5)10.5 (8.7 to 12.7)6.7 (5.7 to 8.0)5.3 (4.6 to 6.1)2.4 (2.1 to 2.7)1.9 (1.3 to 2.8)
Occupational category
    Machine/assembly10.6 (18.5 to 13.3)**0.5 (0.4 to 0.6)11.8 (9.0 to 15.5)5.2 (4.0 to 6.8)**4.1 (3.3 to 5.1)**2.5 (2.0 to 3.0)**1.6 (0.9 to 2.9)
    Construction trades17.4 (9.3 to 32.3)0.3 (0.2 to 0.4)10.4 (5.3 to 20.4)4.5 (2.4 to 8.2)3.1 (2.2 to 4.4)4.5 (3.1 to 6.5)2.3 (0.8 to 6.7)
    Packaging, mmh5.1 (3.8 to 6.9)0.4 (0.3 to 0.7)9.5 (6.1 to 14.8)7.2 (4.6 to 11.2)7.5 (5.4 to 10.4)1.9 (1.5 to 2.5)1.8 (0.7 to 4.8)
    Service, prof. manag.15.7 (11.1 to 22.3)0.4 (0.3 to 0.6)9.3 (6.6 to 13.2)10.8 (8.1 to 14.4)8.9 (6.7 to 11.7)2.0 (1.6 to 2.5)2.4 (1.2 to 5.1)
Job experience
    ⩽1 y13.2 (9.1 to 19.2)**0.4 (0.3 to 0.6)*14.5 (9.7 to 21.6)**6.7 (4.8 to 9.2)7.3 (5.9 to 9.2)**2.7 (2.2 to 3.4)2.2 (1.2 to 4.1)
    1–3 y16.3 (11.4 to 23.3)0.2 (0.2 to 0.4)25.4 (15.8 to 40.6)5.7 (3.9 to 8.3)8.7 (6.6 to 11.4)2.4 (1.8 to 3.1)3.2 (1.7 to 6.4)
    >3 y9.0 (7.4 to 11.0)0.5 (0.4 to 0.6)7.5 (5.9 to 9.6)7.3 (5.7 to 9.2)3.4 (2.8 to 4.2)2.1 (1.8 to 2.6)1.2 (0.6 to 2.4)
Safety training
    Yes11.1 (8.4 to 14.7)*0.6 (0.5 to 0.8)**10.6 (7.8 to 14.6)2.7 (1.9 to 4.0)**4.6 (3.6 to 5.7)*2.5 (2.0 to 3.2)2.6 (1.3 to 5.2)
    No7.5 (5.9 to 9.7)0.3 (0.2 to 0.4)11.2 (8.1 to 15.5)8.7 (6.8 to 11.0)6.8 (5.6 to 8.2)2.3 (2.0 to 2.7)2.0 (1.2 to 3.2)