Occupational injury risk among ambulance officers and paramedics compared with other healthcare workers in Victoria, Australia: analysis of workers’ compensation claims from 2003 to 2012
Open accessAbstract
Objective To investigate occupational risk of musculoskeletal (MSK) and mental injury among ambulance officers and paramedics, and compare with nurse professionals, social and welfare professionals, and carers and aides in Victoria, Australia, using workers' compensation (WC) claims statistics. Methods Data were retrieved from the Victorian Compensation Research Database (CRD). Analysis was restricted to claims received between 1 July 2003 and 30 June 2012. WC claim rates were calculated using labour force statistics, and expressed per 1000 full-time equivalent workers. Adjusted HRs with 95% CIs for injury risk were estimated using multivariable regression modelling. Results Ambulance officers and paramedics had an upward trend in WC claim rates for all injuries and the highest rates for MSK and mental injury, in comparison with other healthcare workers during the study period. In the 2009-2012 time period, ambulance officers and paramedics' risk of lower back MSK and mental injury was approximately 13 times higher than nurse professionals, HRs 57.6 vs 4.4 and 17.77 vs 1.29, respectively. Social and welfare professionals had the second highest risk of mental injury, which was up to threefold greater than in nurses. Carers and aides and nurse professionals had similar HRs overall for all injury categories. Conclusions Differential patterns of MSK and mental injury exist among healthcare occupational groups in Victoria, Australia. Given the significant findings, especially the…
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Paramedics have the highest rates of mental injury compared with other healthcare workers, approximately 13 times higher than nurses.
“Roberts et al. identified that paramedics have the highest rates of mental injury in comparison with other healthcare workers. This was approximately 13 times higher than nurses ( Roberts et al., 2015).”
From Understanding the Occupational Factors that Influence Paramedic Health and Wellbeing (2024) · cites this paper as Roberts et al., 2015
Paramedics had the highest workers' compensation claim rates for musculoskeletal and mental injury.
“and the highest for musculo- skeletal and mental injury.”
From Understanding the Occupational Factors that Influence Paramedic Health and Wellbeing (2024) · cites this paper as Roberts, M., Sim, M., Black, O. & Smith, P. 2015
Paramedics had higher workers' compensation claim rates for injuries overall than other professionals.
“Paramedics had higher workers compensation claim rates for injuries overall”
From Understanding the Occupational Factors that Influence Paramedic Health and Wellbeing (2024) · cites this paper as Roberts, M., Sim, M., Black, O. & Smith, P. 2015
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References 29 · Cited by 75
- Authors
- Roberts, M. H., Sim, M. R., Black, O., & Smith, P.
- Affiliations
- Monash University (AU)
- University of Toronto (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Smith, Peter
- Venue
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine
- Publisher
- BMJ
- Published
- 2015-03-16
- Volume
- 72
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 489-495
- ISSN
- 0007-1072 (ISSN-L)
- 1351-0711
- 1470-7926
- OpenAlex
- W2117907080
- Cited by
- 75
- References
- 29
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 3
- FWCI
- 15.91
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- figshare.com
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Occupational Health and Performance
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Occupational Health and Safety in Workplaces
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Workplace Health and Well-being
- Keywords
- occupational injuries, ambulance personnel, paramedics, musculoskeletal injuries, psychiatric injury, workers' compensation claims, healthcare workers, nurses, low back injury, Victoria, Australia
- MeSH terms
- Accidents, Occupational, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Ambulances, Mental Disorders, Emergency Medical Technicians, Health Personnel, Humans, Middle Aged, Nurses, Risk Factors, Social Work, Victoria, Workers' Compensation, Prevalence, Caregivers, Back Injuries, Young Adult, Occupational Injuries
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