Injury profile of employees at a specific beverage manufacturing company: a retrospective study

L Chetty,J Jelsma,S Maart

doi:10.4102/sajp.v63i1.125

L Chetty, J Jelsma + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4102/sajp.v63i1.125

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Abstract

This article reports on important information pertaining tothe prevalence of occupational injuries. At present very little data existson the prevalence of occupational injuries in South Africa. A retrospective study was undertaken to detail the occupational injuries sustained by employees at a specific beverage manufacturing company.The aim of this study was to determine the mechanisms, type, classification, anatomical site, frequency and time of injuries at this beverage company.The sample consisted of all employees that reported to the occupational health clinic with occupational injuries during the six-month review period i.e. July 2004-December 2004. Results of this review were computed in a self-complied injury data spreadsheet. The data was presented descriptively and the level of significance was set at 0.05. Incorrect lifting of manual materials was reported as the most common mechanism of injury. Repetitive strain injuries were the most common type of injury. The spine/trunk was the site of 48 (66.7% of regions) injuries with the most frequently injured regions being the back (43.1%) and neck (22.2%). Most of the injuries were sustained during the month of December (27.8%). It is recommended that aggressive health promotion and injury prevention strategies be implemented to reduce the burden of occupational injuries at this specific beverage manufacturing company.

Highlights

For over a decade occupational injury has been acknowledged as a major public health problem internationally
Research Setting This research was a conducted at a specific beverage manufacturing company within the greater Durban area
Demographic Data There were 72 employees who reported to the occupational health clinic during the six-month study period (July 2004December 2004) and their records were accessed and reviewed

Summary

Introduction

For over a decade occupational injury has been acknowledged as a major public health problem internationally. Increasing injury prevalence and incidence rates, escalating costs of treatment, impact of limited success in injury prevention strategies in companies have all attributed to the seriousness of the problem (Krause et al, 1996). In South Africa, very little data exists on the prevalence and incidence of occupational injuries at specific companies. Salazar (1987) has suggested that an understanding of the types and prevalence of injury will better prepare a company to increase the awareness for health promotion and injury prevention. The epidemiology of other companies with very high rates of specific and preventable injuries include the food and fishing processing companies with an estimated 17 occupational injuries per 1000 employees per annum (Harker et al, 1991)

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