Non-Fatal Occupational Injuries and Safety Climate: A Cross-Sectional Study of Construction Building Workers in Mit-Ghamr City, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Construction is a dangerous industry, with high rates of fatal and non-fatal injuries. Although, safety climate has been linked with safety performance and work-related accidents, yet it is scarcely studied and considered in injury prevention programs in developing countries. So, the objectives of this study are to find out the magnitude, pattern and risk factors of non-fatal occupational injuries among a sample of construction building workers and to explore the level of safety climate and its relationship with occupational injuries. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 91 workers, who fulfilled the inclusion criteria, in 18 large construction sites in Mit-Ghamr city, Dakahlia Governorate. Data about socio-demographic and occupational characteristics, description of occupational injuries, and work-related and behavioral risk factors were collected using a structured questionnaire. Results: Occupational injuries in the past 12 months were reported by 46.2% of workers. The most common body parts injured were upper and lower limbs (31.0% and 26.2%). The majority of injuries were cuts/lacerations (30.9%) and contusions (28.6%). Falls (47.6%) and injuries by manual tools (23.8%) were the main causes of injuries. The majority of injured workers (90.5%) reported complete recovery after the most serious injury. The average of working days was lost per year due to occupational injuries (18.6 ± 7.8 days/year). None of the injured workers reported receiving sufficient first-aid treatment at worksite or filling an accident notification form. Extended working hours, poor safety climate, short duration of work, job dissatisfaction, young age, and job stress were significant risk factors of occupational injuries. Conclusion: Non-fatal occupational injuries are common among this sample of construction workers with significant relation to extended working hours and poor safety climate and other risk factors. So, it is important to build upon this research in order to help develop successful policies to prevent work-related injuries and promote safer work practices for construction building workers.

Determinants of occupational injuries among building construction workers in Kampala City, Uganda

“…These are among the fatal four as described by ILO [27] and the United States Occupational Safety & Health Administration [28]. Similar results have also been reported by many scholars including falls [10, 17, 24, 29], electrocution [10] being struck by falling objects [10, 17] being hit by machinery and hand tools [17, 20, 30]; and cutting edges [17, 19]. Majority of the respondents got injuries on their hands, feet, legs or head/neck, shoulder, chest, eye, back or abdomen.…”

“…This prevalence is not surprising since many construction sites did not have onsite hazard-communication measures, written safety and health policy, and majority did not use personal protective equipment (PPE). A higher prevalence has been reported elsewhere, 46.2% in Mit-Ghamr [24] and 38.7% in Gondar [21] cities of Egypt, as well as 38.3% [25] in Ethiopia. This study also shows that the biggest percentage of workers had suffered injury while on night duty.…”

The Attitudes of Employees Toward Health, Security, Safety and Environment During Installations of Tanks and Pipelines in a Fuel Depot in Lubumbashi Airport, DRC

“…In their research findings, 26.6% and 20.6% of the accidents happened in industries and construction works respectively (Silva, Araujo, Costa, & Melia, 2013). Abbas, Zalat, and Ghareeb (2013) argue that employees who are involved in building work especially laborers are normally involved in serious accidents up to the tune of up to 70%. This shows the severity of the problem.…”

“…It is added that the sector engages many employees, for example, in Norway, 80,000 in 2005 were in employment and safety is important. Many deadly injuries and incidents reported are witnessed in construction sites as argued by Abbas, Zalat, and Ghareeb (2013). They argue further that despite such high rates of incidents, little research has been done especially in under-developed nations of the world which DRC is one of them.…”

“…Such kind of work exposes employees to a lot of dangers. These necessitate high level of safety consciousness (Abbas, Zalat, & Ghareeb, 2013). A lot of employees are engaged in such kind of business which is a source of income to the populace.…”