Occupational injuries in South African game parks and nature reserves, 2007-2019

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Scientific data concerning the trends, nature, and incidence of occupational injuries (OIs) in the tourism sector specifically in the South African game parks and nature reserves is not easily available thus it is perceived that it is a safe working environment. The purpose of this study was to describe the trends and nature of occupational injuries (OIs) among employees in South African game parks and nature reserves and to investigate the risk of injuries to different body-regions for different demographic variables. METHODS: electronic records from the Department of Employment and Labour’s Compensation Fund, containing occupational injury cross sectional data of 1531 employees of game parks and nature reserves for a 13-year were analysed. Associations between occupational injuries, body-region of injury and demographic variables were assessed using the Chi-square test of independence and Bayesian analysis. RESULTS: there was gradual increase in the number of OIs over the period under study. There was a weak association between the body regions affected by OIs and the provinces ( χ2pearson(42)=91.95,p