Self-reported occupational accidents and affecting factors among the adult population

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Abstract

Abstract Introduction As official occupational accident records are insufficient in developing countries such as Turkey, self-reported numbers are a better reflection of the real scope of occupational accidents among Turkish workers. Objective This study aims to determine the factors affecting occupational accidents in Turkey. Method This cross-sectional study re-evaluated data from a total of 42,360 participants, were obtained from the ‘Occupational Accidents and Occupational Health Problems’ module of the Household Labor Force Survey conducted by TurkStat. Results The prevalence of occupational accidents in the prior 12 months was 2.1%. The probability of an occupational accident for men was 1.78 times higher than for women (95% CI: 1.38-2.30). Workers who had not completed primary education [OR=1.91 (95% CI: 1.09-3.3)] and those who were divorced [OR=2.26 (95% CI: 1.40-3.63)] were more likely to have an accident at work, when compared to university graduates and unmarried employees, respectively. Conclusion Male gender, low educational level, and divorced marital status can be considered risk factors and require more attention and a control program to prevent the loss of labor due to occupational accidents in Turkey. This is the first, most comprehensive, and up-to-date study using extensive national data to examine the factors that affect occupational accidents in Turkey.

Translated abstract

Resumo Introdução Como os registros oficiais de acidentes de trabalho são insuficientes em países em desenvolvimento, como a Turquia, os números autorrelatados refletem melhor o escopo real do acidente ocupacional entre os trabalhadores turcos. Objetivo Este estudo tem como objetivo determinar os fatores que afetam os acidentes de trabalho na Turquia. Método Estudo transversal que reavaliou dados de um total de 42.360 participantes, obtidos no módulo 'Acidentes de trabalho e problemas de saúde ocupacional' da Pesquisa da Força de Trabalho Doméstica realizada pela TurkStat. Resultados A prevalência de acidentes de trabalho nos últimos 12 meses foi de 2,1%. A probabilidade de um acidente de trabalho para homens foi 1,78 vezes maior que para mulheres (IC 95%: 1,38-2,30). Os trabalhadores que não concluíram o ensino fundamental [OR = 1,91 (IC 95%: 1,09-3,3)] e os que se divorciaram [OR = 2,26 (IC 95%: 1,40-3,63)] apresentaram maior probabilidade de sofrer um acidente de trabalho, quando comparados com graduados universitários e empregados solteiros, respectivamente. Conclusão O sexo masculino, o baixo nível educacional e o estado civil divorciado podem ser considerados fatores de risco e requerem mais atenção e um programa de controle para evitar a perda de trabalho devido a acidentes de trabalho na Turquia. Este é o primeiro, mais abrangente e atualizado estudo, a partir de extensos dados nacionais, para examinar os fatores que afetam os acidentes de trabalho na Turquia.

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Global Estimates of the Burden of Injury and Illness at Work in 2012

Jukka Takala, Päivi Hämäläinen, Kaija Saarela … (2014)

This article reviews the present indicators, trends, and recent solutions and strategies to tackle major global and country problems in safety and health at work. The article is based on the Yant Award Lecture of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) at its 2013 Congress. We reviewed employment figures, mortality rates, occupational burden of disease and injuries, reported accidents, surveys on self-reported occupational illnesses and injuries, attributable fractions, national economic cost estimates of work-related injuries and ill health, and the most recent information on the problems from published papers, documents, and electronic data sources of international and regional organizations, in particular the International Labor Organization (ILO), World Health Organization (WHO), and European Union (EU), institutions, agencies, and public websites. We identified and analyzed successful solutions, programs, and strategies to reduce the work-related negative outcomes at various levels. Work-related illnesses that have a long latency period and are linked to ageing are clearly on the increase, while the number of occupational injuries has gone down in industrialized countries thanks to both better prevention and structural changes. We have estimated that globally there are 2.3 million deaths annually for reasons attributed to work. The biggest component is linked to work-related diseases, 2.0 million, and 0.3 million linked to occupational injuries. However, the division of these two factors varies depending on the level of development. In industrialized countries the share of deaths caused by occupational injuries and work-related communicable diseases is very low while non-communicable diseases are the overwhelming causes in those countries. Economic costs of work-related injury and illness vary between 1.8 and 6.0% of GDP in country estimates, the average being 4% according to the ILO. Singapore's economic costs were estimated to be equivalent to 3.2% of GDP based on a preliminary study. If economic losses would take into account involuntary early retirement then costs may be considerably higher, for example, in Finland up to 15% of GDP, while this estimate covers various disorders where work and working conditions may be just one factor of many or where work may aggravate the disease, injury, or disorders, such as traffic injuries, mental disorders, alcoholism, and genetically induced problems. Workplace health promotion, services, and safety and health management, however, may have a major preventive impact on those as well. Leadership and management at all levels, and engagement of workers are key issues in changing the workplace culture. Vision Zero is a useful concept and philosophy in gradually eliminating any harm at work. Legal and enforcement measures that themselves support companies and organizations need to be supplemented with economic justification and convincing arguments to reduce corner-cutting in risk management, and to avoid short- and long-term disabilities, premature retirement, and corporate closures due to mismanagement and poor and unsustainable work life. We consider that a new paradigm is needed where good work is not just considered a daily activity. We need to foster stable conditions and circumstances and sustainable work life where the objective is to maintain your health and work ability beyond the legal retirement age. We need safe and healthy work, for life.