Working in law enforcement can be dangerous for people in Pennsylvania, and throughout the U.S. All too often, officers and agents suffer work-related injuries, or are killed in the line of duty. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that police and sheriff’s department officers sustained more than 27,000 occupational injuries in 2014 alone. While many of the dangers they face come with the job, a recent study found that law enforcement officers’ shifts may also contribute to their injury risk.
Common occupational hazards for law enforcement officers
In addition to responding to accident and distress calls, law enforcement agents perform a range of other duties. This includes investigating crimes and keeping the peace. Due to the nature of their …show more content…
In many cases, these conditions are the result to the psychological stresses of the job, or traumas they experience while working. With few exceptions, law enforcement agents who suffer injuries or develop occupational diseases as a result of these hazards are entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits.
Studying the link between shifts and injury risk
Researchers from the University at Buffalo conducted a study to determine if the injury risk among law enforcement officers varies based on the shifts they work. The study was published in the Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health.
In order to glean an understanding of the link, the researchers examined the records for 419 officers with the City of Buffalo Police Department. They looked at the occurrence and length of the officers’ injury leaves in comparison to the shift that the officers were working. The shifts were separated into daytime, afternoon or nighttime. In their comparisons, the researchers accounted for differences in the officers’ ages and genders.
Working the night shift increases injury
Common occupational hazards for law enforcement officers
In addition to responding to accident and distress calls, law enforcement agents perform a range of other duties. This includes investigating crimes and keeping the peace. Due to the nature of their …show more content…
In many cases, these conditions are the result to the psychological stresses of the job, or traumas they experience while working. With few exceptions, law enforcement agents who suffer injuries or develop occupational diseases as a result of these hazards are entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits.
Studying the link between shifts and injury risk
Researchers from the University at Buffalo conducted a study to determine if the injury risk among law enforcement officers varies based on the shifts they work. The study was published in the Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health.
In order to glean an understanding of the link, the researchers examined the records for 419 officers with the City of Buffalo Police Department. They looked at the occurrence and length of the officers’ injury leaves in comparison to the shift that the officers were working. The shifts were separated into daytime, afternoon or nighttime. In their comparisons, the researchers accounted for differences in the officers’ ages and genders.
Working the night shift increases injury