Frequency Of Occupational Accidents Research Articles

TEKSTİL SEKTÖRÜNDE TERMAL ŞARTLARIN İŞ KAZASI SIKLIK ORANINA ETKİSİ

Occupational accident is an unplanned event that occurs in the workplace, resulting in death or that renders bodily integrity mentally or physically disabled. However, very few studies have investigated the effect of thermal change on occupational accident frequency. In this study, in addition to general factors, the effects of heat and humidity, which are thermal factors, on occupational accident frequency were investigated. According to the results of the analysis with fuzzy logic method, the variable of frequency of work accident after work accident; It has been concluded that the frequency of the accident increases with high humidity and temperature values, and the frequency of the accident decreases at ideal humidity and temperature values. Therefore, it is considered that taking thermal values into account in risk assessments will affect the reduction of occupational accident frequency. The textile sector has an important place in world trade and production as well as in our country. With the increase in production and competition, the dangers to the health and safety of the employees as a result of occupational accidents are increasing.

Assessing the Impact of Unmanned Aerial Systems on Project Site Safety and Accessibility: A Comprehensive Study

The construction industry, responsible for shaping the modern world through iconic structures and critical infrastructure, faces a troubling challenge – a high frequency of occupational accidents. These accidents not only imperil workers’ lives but also impose significant economic and environmental burdens. This paper delves into the multifaceted realm of construction site safety and risk management, with a particular focus on the risks associated with construction project monitoring. It explores existing literature, emphasizing the role of organizational management, worker involvement, safety systems, and cultural factors in fostering a safety-oriented environment. Additionally, it reviews studies from various countries, shedding light on diverse factors affecting construction site safety. Beyond human factors, the paper highlights risk inherent in construction projects, emphasizing the need for proactive risk management. The paper concludes by acknowledging the gravity of construction site accidents and their far-reaching consequences, underscoring the importance of holistic risk management strategies.

An integration of intelligent approaches and economic criteria for predictive analytics of occupational accidents

Occupational accidents are a significant concern, resulting in human suffering, economic crises, and social issues. Despite ongoing efforts to comprehend their causes and predict their occurrences, the use of machine learning models in this domain remains limited. This study aims to address this gap by investigating intelligent approaches that incorporate economic criteria to predict occupational accidents. Four machine learning algorithms, Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Multivariate Adaptive Regression Spline (MARS), and M5 Tree Model (M5), were employed to predict occupational accidents, considering three economic criteria: basic income (BI), inflation index (II), and price index (PI). The study focuses on identifying the most suitable model for predicting the frequency of occupational accidents (FOA) and determining the economic criteria with the greatest influence. The results reveal that the RF model accurately predicts accidents across all income levels. Additionally, among the economic criteria, II had the most significant impact on accidents. The findings suggest that a reduction in FOA is unlikely in the coming years due to the increasing growth of II and PI, coupled with a slight annual increase in BI. Implementing appropriate countermeasures to enhance workers’ economic welfare, particularly for low-income employees, is crucial for reducing occupational accidents. This research underscores the potential of machine learning models in predicting and preventing occupational accidents while highlighting the critical role of economic factors. It contributes valuable insights for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to develop effective strategies and interventions to improve workplace safety and workers’ economic well-being.

Non-Fatal Agricultural Injuries and First Aid Self-Efficacy Among Greenhouse Workers in Turkey

ABSTRACT Objective This study aimed to see if there was a link between first aid self-efficacy and the frequency of occupational accidents and non-fatal agricultural injuries in greenhouse agriculture workers. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted with 251 people in a district center. Sociodemographic, occupational accident, and injury questionnaires prepared by the researchers and the First Aid Self-Efficacy Scale were used to collect the data. SPSS 25.0 software was used to evaluate the data and descriptive statistics; the Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal Wallis analysis of variance were applied in the analysis. Results 71.4% of the participants experienced an occupational accident by falling and slipping; 41.7% were slightly injured after the accident, and 63.2% experienced injuries in fractures, sprains, and crushes. We found that most injuries were in the lower extremities (33.2%), and 66.4% were admitted to the hospital. We ascertained that male workers’ median first-aid self-efficacy scores were significantly higher than those of female workers (p < .05). We determined there was no significant difference between first-aid self-efficacy scores according to other sociodemographic variables, occupational accidents, or injury data (p > .05). Conclusion Occupational accidents and non-fatal agricultural injuries are common in greenhouse agriculture, and male workers have higher first-aid self-efficacy than female workers. Since greenhouse work is a hazardous line of work, providing simple medical first-aid training would be useful for those working in this field.

Hazard identification and risk assessment for occupational safety and health in the limestone quarries transportation

In quarries for building material, the primary transportation mode is by truck due to its high mobility that is suitable for the actual terrain conditions of the mine. The characteristic of transportation work in these mines is the large amount of cargo transportation, steep slopes, small turning radius, and therefore always potential hazards and risks for workers at the mine. The article presents a method for evaluating the points to identify and assess the level of occupational safety and health risks in transportation activities in quarries for building material, based on which control solutions are proposed to ensure safety and occupational health during the production and business process of construction material mines. From identifying and evaluating the level of risks, they are quantified into risk levels to assess the potential loss of occupational safety at each specific stage of the transportation process in the mine. This is a quantitative method that allows for the easy evaluation of occupational safety and health risk levels through quantifiable values obtained by expert scoring and surveys of worker opinions at the production site. This evaluation is based on separate assessments of factors such as estimating the consequences of injury to workers, the frequency of occupational accidents, and the ability to recognize occupational hazards. Through this assessment, a classification table is proposed for workers to understand and implement occupational safety and health procedures correctly, avoiding occupational accidents and unnecessary occupational diseases.

Developing the Vulnerability Factor Structure Affecting Injuries and Health Problems Among Migrant Seafood Processing Industry Workers

BackgroundThe vulnerability of international migrant workers is on the rise, affecting the frequency of occupational accidents at workplaces worldwide. If migrant workers are managed in the same way as native workers, the consequences on safety assurance and risk management will be significant. This study aimed to develop the vulnerability factor model for migrant workers in seafood processing industries because of significant risk-laden labor of Thailand, which could be a solution to control the risk effectively. MethodsA total of 569 migrant workers were surveyed (432 Burmese and 137 Cambodian), beginning with 40 initial vulnerability factors identified in the questionnaire established from experts. The data were analyzed through descriptive analysis; exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used to ascertain the model. ResultsThe result of content validity >0.67 and the Cronbach’s alpha of 0.957 specified the high reliability of 40 factors. The EFA indicated a total variance of 65.49%. The final CFA validated the model and had an empirical fitting; chi-square = 85.34, Adjust Goodness-of-Fit Index = 0.96, and root mean square error of approximation = 0.016. The structure concluded with three dimensions and 18 factors. Dimension 1 of the structure, “multicultural safety operation,” contained 12 factors; Dimension 2, “well-being,” contained four factors; and Dimension 3, “communication technology,” contained two factors. ConclusionThe vulnerability factor structure developed in this study included three dimensions and 18 factors that were significantly empirical. The knowledge enhanced safety management in the context of vulnerability factor structure for migrant workers at the workplace.

Evaluation of the Relationship between Occupational Accidents and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Risk among Employees of a University Hospital.

Context:Occupational accidents are still one of the important causes of morbidity and mortality. Sleep apnea is a significant risk factor for occupational accidents in hospitals.Aims:To determine the frequency of occupational accidents and their relationship with the risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSAS).Settings and Design:Cross-sectional study in a hospital setting.Methods and Material:This study was conducted on 331 hospital workers between 2019-2020. Accidents from the Social Security Institution records were used. The risk of OSAS was evaluated with Berlin Survey, daytime sleepiness with Epworth Sleepiness Scale, sleep quality with Pittsburg Sleep Quality Scale.Statistical Analysis:The Chi-square test was used for analysis; P < 0.05 was accepted as a statistical significance value.Results:Of the participants, 231 (69.8%) were female. Their ages ranged between 19 and 55; the mean age was 33.8 ± 8.0 years. The frequency of occupational accidents was 8.8%, 51.4% had a high risk of OSAS, 80.4% had high daytime sleepiness, and 53.5% had poor sleep quality.Conclusion:The study group had a high risk of sleep disorders. No relationship was found between sleep disorders and occupational accidents. More comprehensive studies are needed to clarify this relationship.

Occupational accidents of emergency medicine residents in Turkey

Objectives. Healthcare workers face many biologic, chemical, physical and psychosocial hazards and risks in their work environment. Our research aimed to examine the types and frequency of occupational accidents, their notification status and predisposing factors to which emergency medicine residents (EMRs) were exposed in the last 12 months in Turkey. Methods. This research is a national, multicenter, online descriptive survey study. Participants’ descriptive features, characteristics of occupational accidents they were exposed to in the last 12 months and their use status of personal protective equipment (PPE) were examined. Results. We found that 215 EMRs were exposed to 1919 occupational accidents in the last 12 months, and only 287 of these accidents were reported. All participants had at least one occupational accident in the previous 12 months. PPE was not used in 37.9 and 44% of biologic and chemical transmission accidents, respectively. The PPE use frequency of the EMRs in necessary situations for examination gloves, surgical masks, respirators, goggles, gowns and face shields was 60, 19, 19, 8, 15 and 4%, respectively. Conclusion. The actual number of occupational accidents was determined to be considerably higher than those reported. PPE use habits of EMRs were less than they should be.

Modern Cause and Effect Model by Factors of Root Cause for Accident Prevention in Small to Medium Sized Enterprises.

BackgroundFactors related to root causes can cause commonly occurring accidents such as falls, slips, and jammed injuries. An important means of reducing the frequency of occupational accidents in small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMSEs) of South Korea is to perform intensity analysis of the root cause factors for accident prevention in the cause and effect model like decision models, epidemiological models, system models, human factors models, LCU (life change unit) models, and the domino theory. Especially intensity analysis in a robot system and smart technology as Industry 4.0 is very important in order to minimize the occupational accidents and fatal accident because of the complexity of accident factors.MethodsWe have developed the modern cause and effect model that includes factors of root cause through statistical testing to minimize commonly occurring accidents and fatal accidents in SMSEs of South Korea and systematically proposed educational policies for accident prevention.ResultsAs a result, the consciousness factors among factors of root cause such as unconsciousness, disregard, ignorance, recklessness, and misjudgment had strong relationships with occupational accidents in South Korean SMSEs.ConclusionWe conclude that the educational policies necessary for minimizing these consciousness factors include continuous training procedures followed by periodic hands-on experience, along with perceptual and cognitive education related to occupational health and safety.

DETERMINATION OF POOR COMPLIANCE WITH OSH RULES OF CONSTRUCTION WORKERS USING ORDINAL REGRESSION MODEL

Occupational accidents in the construction industry constitute one of the major problems in Turkey. The industry alone is responsible for 32.0% of all fatal industrial accidents from 1992–2015. Beyond precautionary efforts, workers need to participate and cooperate in the construction process to reduce the high number of accidents. The objective of this study is to provide an in-depth understanding of the underlying causes and motivations that affect the compliance of workers in following occupational safety and health (OSH) rules. A total of 482 workers were surveyed in 2016–2017. Cronbach’s alpha was used to measure the reliability of the dataset. Ordinal logistic regression was conducted to determine the parameters that affect the compliance of workers in following OSH rules. Results show that most construction workers do not believe in the following findings: companies should provide OSH training before starting work; focusing on OSH would increase work efficiency and quality; OSH training is effective in preventing occupational accidents; OSH training is effective in reducing the frequency of occupational accidents; and OSH training is important for the safe use of equipment. Thus, the safety culture should be developed first in order for workers to gain awareness, adaptation and their sustainability.

Business Cycle and Occupational Accidents in Korea.

BackgroundOccupational accidents occur for a variety of reasons, such as unsafe behaviors of workers and insufficient safety equipment at the workplace, but there are also various economic and social factors that can impact working conditions and working environment. This study analyzed the relationship between changes in economic factors and the occurrence of occupational accidents in Korea.MethodsMultilinear regression analysis was used as the analysis model. The general to specific method was also used, which consecutively removes statistically insignificant variables from a general model that includes dependent variables and lagged variables of dependent variables.ResultsThe frequency of occupational accidents was found to have a statistically significant relationship to economic indicators. The monthly number of cases of occupational injury and disease and fatal occupational injuries were found to be closely related to manufacturing capacity utilization, differences in the production index in the services sector, and commencements of building construction. The increase in equipment investment indicators was found to reduce fatal occupational injuries.ConclusionThe results of this study may be used to develop occupational accident trends or leading indicators, which in turn can be used by organizations that manage and monitor occupational accidents toward taking administrative action designed to reduce occupational accidents. The results also imply that short-term and mid- to long-term economic and social changes that can impact workers, workplaces and working conditions, and workplace organizations must be taken into account if more effective government policies are to be established and implemented toward further prevention of occupational accidents.

Relationship between risk perception and occupational accidents: a study among foundry workers

BackgroundRisk perception is an effective factor in the determining of the incidence of unsafe behaviors and the occurrence of occupational accidents in the workplace.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between risk perception and occupational accidents among foundry workers in Tehran, Iran.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, all male workers in a foundry unit were initially selected (n = 245). After applying the study criteria and dismissing incomplete returned questionnaires, only 109 workers were included in the study. The General Health Questionnaire and the Flynn et al. Risk Perception Questionnaire were used to assess the mental health and risk perception of workers, respectively. Data regarding the occupational accidents of workers were also extracted from the accidents’ records of the foundry. Workers with a record of occupational accidents during 2013–2016 were compared with workers without an occupational accident record.ResultsFindings showed that a one-unit increase in the risk perception score resulted into an increase of approximately 33% in the odds of the occurrence of occupational accidents, but this rate was not significant (p = 0.695). In addition, the study found no significant relation between the risk perception score and the frequency of occupational accidents (Spearman’s r = 0.003, p = 0.977).ConclusionThere is no statistically significant relationship between risk perception and occupational accidents among foundry workers in Tehran, Iran.

The Fatalism Approaches According to The Frequency of Occupational Accidents and Other Sociodemographic Characteristics of Health Workers

Introduction: In this study, it is aimed to examine the fatalism approaches according to the frequency of occupational accidents and other sociodemographic characteristics of employees of a training and research hospital. Method: This descriptive study was conducted with healthcare personnel working in a training and research hospital. 500 healthcare personnel participated in the study. Survey method was used as data collection tool, and Fatalism Scale for the occupational accidents was used. SPSS 22 statistical program was used in the evaluation of data. Results: Of the participants, 53.2% were female, 59.6% were married, 42% were under the age of 30, 68.8% were university graduates, 34.8% had income between 3501-6000 TL, 35.2% were nurses, and 46.2% had a professional experience of over 11 years, 50.8% did not have work accidents, 39.0% had 1-3 times, 10.2% had 4 or more occupational accidents. Mean score of the Fatalism Scale for the occupational accidents of the healthcare personnel was found as (14.9±4.9). Significant differences were found in fatalism approaches according to participants’ gender and occupation (p &amp;lt; 0.05). Conclusion: The training and research hospital workers' level of fatalism approaches towards occupational accidents are found low. Employees' awareness of the importance of safety precautions to prevent occupational accidents should be increased, especially for the auxiliary staff.Giriş: Bu çalışma, ile bir eğitim ve araştırma hastanesinde çalışanların iş kazası geçirme sıklığı ve diğer sosyodemografik özelliklerine göre kadercilik yaklaşımlarının incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Yöntem: Tanımlayıcı nitelikteki bu çalışma, bir eğitim ve araştırma hastanesinde görev yapan sağlık personelleriyle gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırmaya 500 sağlık personeli katılmıştır. Araştırmada, veri toplama aracı olarak anket yöntemi kullanılmış ve iş kazalarına yönelik kadercilik ölçeğinden yararlanılmıştır. Araştırma verilerinin değerlendirilmesinde SPSS 22 istatistik programı kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Çalışmamızda, katılımcıların %53,2’sinin kadın, %59,6’sının evli, %42,0’sinin 30 yaşın altında, %68,8’inin üniversite mezunu, %34,8’inin 3501-6000 TL arası gelire sahip olduğu, %35,2’sinin hemşire, %46,2’sinin 11 yıl ve üzerinde mesleki deneyimi olduğu, %50,8’inin iş kazası geçirmediği, %39,0’unun 1-3 kez, %10,2’sinin 4 veya daha fazla iş kazası geçirdiği bulunmuştur. Sağlık çalışanlarının iş kazalarına yönelik kadercilik puan ortalaması (14,9±4,9) olarak saptanmıştır. Katılımcıların cinsiyetine ve mesleklerine göre kadercilik yaklaşımlarında anlamlı farklılık bulunmuştur (p&amp;lt;0,05). Sonuç: Sağlık çalışanlarının iş kazalarına yönelik kadercilik yaklaşım düzeyleri düşük bulunmuştur. Yardımcı personel başta olmak üzere, çalışanların iş kazalarını önlemede güvenlik tedbirlerinin önemine yönelik farkındalıkları artırılmalıdır.

An investigation of the frequency of the occupational accident in Kermanshah, Iran (2009–2013)

Background: Occupational accident is an inseparable part of every work especially in the industrialized sections where it has huge adverse economic and social impacts on individuals' lives. Objective: The present study was aimed at investigating the frequency of occupational accidents in Kermanshah, West of Iran. Material and Methods: All registered occupational accidents in the Bureau of Labor and Social Affairs of Kermanshahfrom 2009–2013 were analyzed in this cross-sectional descriptive study. Using the pre-designed checklists, the required information that included demographic information of the casualties, type of job and industry, type of the accident, the limb affected in the accident, and the consequences was gathered. The collected data were then analyzed using software such EXCEL and SPSS 16. Results: Results indicated that the total number of the accidents were 1888 cases with 358, 393, 489, 402, and 246 cases occurring between 2009 and 2013. Kermanshah had the highest number of accidents (776) and Dalahoo had the lowest number of accidents (31). In total, 1455 accidents occurred in the morning shift, 391 in the afternoon, and 42 in the evening. Most of the accidents occurred between 10 am and 13 pm, and the lowest number accidents happened between 4 and 7 am. The most frequent accidents that were 1222 out of 1888 cases were related to construction industry occurring mainly in the form of injuries, fractures, and poisoning. Hand, leg, head, and neck were the most affected limbs during the accidents. The main causes of the accidents were fall from the height, getting trapped in the equipment, crashing into the objects and machinery, and slip and fall. Conclusion: Based on the result of this study and the high frequency of accidents in the workplace, more attention needs to be paid on the training of workers and employers about safety, following the safety rules, using individual safety tools, and controling some of the procedures to reduce the occupational accidents as much as possible.

An evaluation of the occupational accidents among logging workers within the boundaries of Trabzon Forestry Directorate, Turkey

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of occupational accidents among logging workers and the risk factors involved. Data for 378 out of 2994 members of 24 cooperatives engaged in logging in the study area were gathered using face-to-face questionnaires and anthropometric data via the free measurement method. The annual logging accident frequency rate was 30.4%, and the annual incidence of occupational accidents was 2052.9. The accident risk among workers using hookaroons was 2.14 times greater than the risk among those not using them. Five to six rest breaks a day increased the accident frequency rate by 0.37 times. The foot width, which was one of the variables among the measured anthropometric data, was observed to increase the accident risk 0.68 times. The likelihood of an employee suffering from an accident during the working year correlated with the handling of chainsaws, the use of hookaroons, smoking, the number of breaks taken while working, experience, shoulder and knee height, leg and arm length and hand and foot width. Relevance to industryEven though Turkey is one of the countries in which occupational accidents are frequent, studies or records concerning occupational accidents involving logging workers are currently lacking in Turkey. In this study, the occupational accidents in the forest-wood industry were analyzed, and the methodology for obtaining the data in this industry was described. The results emphasize the magnitude of occupational accidents in forestry in Turkey.

ACIDENTES COM MAT ERIAL BIOLÓGICO ENTRE PROFISSIONAIS DE HOSPITAL UNIVERSITÁRIO EM GOIÂNIA

Health care professionals are under constant risk of biological material hazards, and one of the most concerning consequences is the transmission of infectious diseases. The key to avoid occupational accidents is to take standard precautions when in contact with the patient. This study describes accidents with biological material that occurred with health workers at Hospital das Clinicas of Federal University of Goias (HC/UFG), in the city of Goiânia, central Brazil, between January 2006 and May 2007. The characteristics of the accident were described, and the serological status of the professional was established for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, syphilis, and HIV. A total of 46 workers from different professional categories were attended at a specialized outpatient infectology clinic during this period. The accidents occurred especially among nursing personnel (50%). Percutaneous exposure occurred in the majority of cases (87%), especially through handling of needles and processing materials. There was no seroconversion during the monitored period. Almost 30% of the exposed health care workers had not received Hepatitis B vaccine previously. We conclude that there is a need for emphasizing the continued education for the adoption of preventive measures that reduce the frequency of occupational accidents.

Port safety and the container revolution: A statistical study on human factor and occupational accidents over the long period

Several factors can affect occupational accident frequency, namely economical factors, technologies used (low automation, discontinuous operating) job design, organization of work/environmental conditions and human factors. In particular, technological advances in industrial activities can give rise to improvement in productivity and in occupational health and safety, but not necessarily simultaneously. The beginning of the container transport dates back to 50 years ago, but while containerization changed everything, from ships and ports to patterns of global trade, its impact on work injuries was not explored at all. The aim of this paper is to investigate the relationship between work organization, job experience, productivity and occupational accidents, from the starting of the container expansion to nowadays, considering Genoa port (Italy), one of the largest of the Mediterranean Sea. In order to minimize possible reporting biases, such as underreporting or reclassification to a lower level of severity, injury statistics are elaborated starting from data collected directly on-site, from internal accident or medical-aid reports. An in-depth statistical analysis on occupational injuries in the years 1980–2006 is carried out, with reference to frequency indexes, mechanism of injury and material causes. The increase of container-ships traffic and, consequently, the sharp change in port infrastructure involved a rapid modification also in the work organization, with particular reference to the number and characteristics of workforce (decrease from 5783 to nearly 1000 employees and increase of low experience workers from 28% to 74%). The striking high percentage increase of young or low experienced workers in handling container (and performing correlated new tasks) caused a remarkable increase of the risk for occupational injuries. In the studied port, we recorded an increase of the frequency index (injuries per hundred thousand hours worked) from 13.0 to 29.7. It results that the increased expansion of shipping container utilization is not connected to a correspondent human factor safety implementation. Main risk factors are pointed out, revealing an increase of accidents due to transport vehicle (+8.3%) and a reduction of accidents caused by substance or materials (−4.5%). These factors show a statistical significant correlation with the new job tasks. Consideration of these findings may enable managerial solutions and workplace organization interventions for the prevention of injuries and safety performance improvement in port activities.

Risk and safety communication in small enterprises – how to support a lasting change towards work safety priority

The frequency of occupational accidents in Swedish farming is high. An intervention methodology aimed at influencing safety attitudes and behaviour was previously tested. The aims of the present study were to evaluate long‐term effects of the intervention and to assess these results in relation to a randomly selected comparison group. The intervention was based on regular group discussions, focusing on dialogue and reflection in networks for social support. Eighty‐eight farmers and farm workers, divided into nine groups, participated. Each group gathered on seven occasions during one year, assisted by a process consultant, supporting safety communication and the change process. A questionnaire was used to evaluate the effects. The long‐term results of the intervention showed that safety activity increased significantly and risk acceptance (fearlessness) and work stress decreased. Measurements were made at T1, T2 and T3, i.e., pre‐, post‐ and long‐term, in the intervention group and at T1 and T3 in the comparison group. The results of the present study showed a long‐term effect of the intervention on safety activity and risk acceptance (fearlessness) in relation to the comparison group. However, the comparison group also showed a decline in work stress, which indicates that the stress reduction may have had other causes than the intervention.

Differences in the lethality of occupational accidents in OECD countries

International comparisons of the frequency of occupational accidents are rare because figures reported by each country are influenced by factors other than differences in the occurrence of actual accidents. In this study, we performed an international comparison of occupational accidents which distinguishes between fatal cases and all reported accidents, in order to control for the effects of other factors in accident reporting. Annual data on the numbers of fatal and non-fatal occupational accidents in member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) between 1993 and 1998 were obtained from the Labour Statistics Database, which is operated by the International Labour Organization (ILO). The average incidence of all accidents across OECD countries ranged from 17 to 4608 per 100,000 persons in the labor force, whereas the incidence of fatal accidents across OECD countries ranged from 1 to 12 per 100,000 persons in the labor force. Lethality rates per 10,000 total accident cases ranged from 9 (Germany) to 3252 (Turkey). When comparing countries using the same statistical definition of accidents, three or more absence days, the difference in lethality of reported accidents within the same industrial sector is reduced to a sixfold difference (49 for the United Kingdom versus 333 for Ireland). Furthermore, the difference in lethality decreased to about twofold (18 for Spain versus 35 for Czech Republic) in the group using definitions with a criteria of one absent day. The results suggest that reported differences in lethality can reflect artificial administrative factors rather than the harmful factors that cause actual occupational accidents. To make more valid comparison of occupational accident between countries, harmonization of accident statistics is required.

Exploring the organisational preconditions for occupational accidents in food industry: A qualitative approach

The continuing high frequency of occupational accidents in the Swedish food industry calls for new approaches to better understand the underlying factors. In the present study, 54 accidents involving hand injuries were investigated from the operators’ perspective, to explore the organisational preconditions. In-depth interviews were conducted with operators and their supervisors, and 24 of these interviews were analysed using the grounded theory method. The core category ‘safety as a process’ was identified encompassing the perception of the process of the accident at operative level and organisational preconditions that increased the risk of occupational accidents. These preconditions were open factors: deficiencies in technical/physical environment and work organisation; and concealed factors: insufficient communication and learning, a high level of responsibility in combination with low control, conflicting goals and a gap between procedures and practice. These preconditions lead to risk acceptance, resignation towards improved safety and normalisation of risk. Through the analysis a five-step hypothesis was empirically generated.