Temperature, precipitation linked to comp claim frequency: Report

Frequency increases modestly but consistently as temperatures climb, according to a study released Thursday by the National Council on Compensation Insurance.

NCCI said that starting around 50 degrees, there is about a 1% increase in injuries for every five-degree increase in temperature.

There are also more injuries on days when the high temperature is around freezing and frequency is lowest on days between 40-60 degrees and days when the temperature is well below 0.

At the same time, NCCI said precipitation leads to high claim frequency on freezing days but lessens the frequency increase on warm or hot days.

On wet days when the temperature is between 25 degrees and 40 degrees, there are between 7% and 10% more injuries than there are on dry days when the temperature falls between 60 degrees and 65 degrees. On dry days at the same temperature, there are about 1% to 3% more injuries.

NCCI also said the frequency effect on hot days is largest for those working outside, especially in construction, and that there is an increase in all types of injuries. On cold days, the increase in frequency is primarily driven by a large increase in slip-and-fall injuries and motor vehicle accidents.

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