Gender Differences in Commuting Injuries in Spain and Their Impact on Injury Prevention

Abstract

A gender analysis of workers injured while commuting in Spain is presented, distinguishing between injury due to traffic-related accidents and injury due to other causes. Method. A total of 266,646 traffic-related injuries and 168,129 nontraffic-related injuries are studied over the period 2006–2010. Results. In Spain, the accident rate recorded in working hours is much higher among men; nevertheless, it is curious that commuting-related accident rates are higher among women than men, in both traffic-related injuries and nontraffic-related injuries. The study of the frequency distribution confirmed that many more injuries occurred in Spain while commuting to work rather than from work and that women suffered twice as many injuries as men at nine in the morning. Musculoskeletal disorders are the only injuries that registered a higher number of cases among women and falls to the same level are the most relevant cause among women. Conclusions. The analysis of these and more findings established that a great effort should go into the promotion of preventive measures in favour of women workers. These results may encourage companies to modify their accident prevention plans, so as to increase their effectiveness in the struggle against occupational accidents following the five points described in this article.

Sleep problems are related to commuting accidents rather than to workplace accidents

“…This phenomenon gets worse when there is a lack of sleep and can have effects up to 4 hours after awakening [ 36 ]. Sleep inertia would be consistent with the fact that commuting accidents occur largely in the morning rather than in the afternoon [ 5 , 10 ]. Simulated driving studies have found that sleep inertia impairs the performance of sleep-deprived drivers [ 37 ], mainly when they drive in the morning rather than in the afternoon [ 14 ].…”

“…While workplace accidents decrease yearly, commuting accidents increase [ 2 – 4 ]. By sex, more men are involved in workplace accidents while women in commuting accidents [ 2 , 5 ]. Global data indicate that commuting accidents have more severe consequences of death and permanent disability than workplace accidents and imply higher economic costs [ 6 ].…”

Sleep problems are related to Commuting Accidents rather than to Workplace Accidents

“…This phenomenon gets worse when there is a lack of sleep and can have effects up to four hours after awakening [36]. Sleep inertia would be consistent with the fact that commuting accidents occur largely in the morning rather than in the afternoon [5] [10]. Simulated driving studies have found that sleep inertia impairs the performance of sleepdeprived drivers [37], mainly when they drive in the morning rather than in the afternoon [14].…”

“…While workplace accidents decrease yearly, commuting accidents increase [2] [3] [4]. By sex, more men are involved in workplace accidents while women in commuting accidents [2] [5]. Global data indicate that commuting accidents have more severe consequences of death and permanent disability than workplace accidents and imply higher economic costs [6].…”

Winter Weather-Related Crashes during the Commute to Work: An Opportunity for Total Worker Health®

“…While drivers do choose to delay or forgo driving in poor weather conditions [ 1 , 2 ], reduced driving is less apparent during the peak driving hours of 6:00 to 9:00 a.m., the common time period for the daily commute to work [ 1 ]. The commute to work is a significant source of employee injury, with motor vehicle crashes occurring most frequently during the morning and evening hours [ 3 , 4 ]. Although injury during a commute to work is not considered a work-related injury in the United States (OSHA 29 CFR 1904.5(b)(2)), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has expanded current injury and illness prevention efforts to non-occupational sources of increased risk in order to promote overall worker wellbeing through the concept of Total Worker Health ® (TWH) [ 5 ].…”