Study of the Relationship Between Life Quality and Occupational Accidents in Wood Industry

Abstract

Background: Occupational accidents are a major problem in industries and work environments. Objectives: This study aimed to study the relationship between workers' life quality and occupational accidents. Materials and Methods: This historical cohort study was conducted on 114 wood industry workers (living in the North of Iran) involved in a job related accident over the past 10 years. Among those with no job-related accidents, 118 workers were randomly selected so that both groups were comparable in terms of age, work history and type of job. Standardized form of SF36 for the Iranian culture was used to determine the life quality of workers. Furthermore, demographic factors were added to the SF36 questionnaire. Data were analyzed with the two independent samples t-test, Mann-Whitney and Chi-square test using the SPSS 19 software. Results: In this survey average scores for different aspects of life quality in the case group and control group were as follows, physical functioning 67.23 ± 2.413 and 81.99 ± 2.193 and mental health 59.12 ± 16.76 and 71.52 ± 18.14, respectively. There was an obvious and significant difference (P < 0.05) between physical and mental health of injured workers' life quality compared to the uninjured group (control group). The results showed that all eight domains of life quality except limitations due to emotional problems were significantly different between the study and control groups. Conclusions:The results of this study show that unsafe work condition and high-risk behavior of workers lead to job-related accidents which affect worker's health and their life quality.

Relationship between Quality of Life and Occupational Accidents in South-East of Iran (Zahedan)

“…Also, the economic situation of majority of subjects was at an intermediate level due to the economic downturn in those industries. Regarding the results of this study, the quality of life in the physical and mental health dimensions had a significant difference in the case and control groups, which is consistent with Agh study (Agh, 2014). Also in Laurent research results showed life satisfaction and quality of life were significantly impaired in stroke patients, compared with controls and Quality of life was strongly correlated with functional independence and depressive mood (Laurent, 2011).…”

“…Basically, when the individual has the greatest adaptation with the world around him, he can have better mental health and vitality in the workplace. According to the results, in mental health dimension there was a significant difference between the two groups in all dimensions similar to results of Agh except for the limitations of role (Agh, 2014). A person suffering from the physical pain and role limitations due to physical and mental problems in the workplace cannot have a good sense of vitality or good feeling.…”

“…People believe that work can be a way to provide good financial condition, reputation, respect and economic progress. For living, every person needs to choose a job which may have potential risks for individual health and due to an increasing rate of occupational accidents in the industries; risks should be considered as a main concern in working conditions (Smith, 2012;Agh, 2014). A review of the previous studies on the condition of mental health in people aged more than 15 years old indicate that about 21 percent of people of society suffer from psychological disorders and women are more vulnerable compared to men (Zare, 2013).…”

“…According to the International Labor Organization (ILO) report, approximately 270 million workers suffer from job damages, and 2 million experience deaths annually worldwide. A research on the job injuries in Korea between 2001 and 2010, illustrated that non-fatal occupational injuries have been higher in the manufacturing sector while the fatal occupational injuries was higher in the construction sector (Agh, 2014;Trgovcevic, 2014). Deaths from diseases and occupational injuries in all countries has exceeded not only the rate of mortality from common illnesses and AIDS, but also incurs high economic, social and family costs equivalent to 4% decrease of GDP and 2.8 million USD for direct and indirect costs of disease worldwide (Gonzalez-Delgado, 2015).…”

Structural Equation Modeling Modeling (SEM) of Occupational Accidents Size Based on Risk Management Factors; A Field Study in Process Industries

“…methods, affect accidents' size (6,13,14). The latent risk assessment factor is attributed to indicator variables, such as hazard identification (HAZID), periodic risk assessment, implementing report system of incidents, accident investigation, S and H checklist, and audit and inspection.…”