Suggestion of an inverse relationship between perception of occupational risks and work-related injuries

Abstract

Worker perception of risk influences worker behavior and consequently exposure to risks. However, an inverse relationship between perception of occupational risks and work-related injuries has not yet been clearly established. A matched case-control was performed aiming to investigate possible differences in perception of occupational risks between workers who had suffered occupational injuries and those who had not. Cases were defined as all 93 workers from a large metallurgical factory in southeastern Brazil, who had suffered occupational injuries during the year 1996. Controls were 372 workers who had not suffered occupational injuries, matched on the basis of the factory sector and jobs performed. Assessment of occupational risk perception was performed by asking the workers to fill out a questionnaire consisting of questions on specific risks related to problems in work relations, work per se, and mode of production. The findings suggest that the degree of perception that workers with occupational injuries have of some occupational risks is lower than that of their non-injured coworkers.

Occupational Injuries Among Workers in a Nitrogenous Fertilizers Company, Egypt

“…These findings were in accordance with the findings of the study of workers in metallurgical factory in the State of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil where abrasions and contusions (31.2%) were the most frequent occupational injuries followed by fractures (14%), while amputation was the least frequent (1.1%) (Cordeiro, 2002). Similarly, in Ethiopia, abrasions, fractures, burns, cuts, and punctures were the most common injury types among manufacturing industrial workers engaged in small and medium-scale industries (Tadesse and Kumie, 2007).…”

Fatores associados a acidentes de trabalho envolvendo trabalhadores informais do comércio

“…Variável também estatisticamente associada aos acidentes de trabalho, a não percepção dos fatores de risco à saúde no processo de trabalho apresenta-se como um fator de proteção para os acidentes de trabalho. Tal achado deve ser visualizado com cautela, uma vez que a literatura aponta a percepção do risco como fator importante para a adoção de comportamentos preventivos 33,34 .…”

Occupational Injuries in Automobile Repair Workers

“…Psychological stress symptoms and psychological stressors have been known as factors causing injury [31][32][33] . The characteristics of automobile repair workshops which belong to the Indian unorganized sector were being congested, having restricted work area, poor illumination, high noise levels (80-90 dB) as workplaces are situated on road-sides and extreme environmental conditions -high temperatures and humidity 34) . Automobile repair workers were exposed to poor work environment characterized by heat and noise which increased their risk to occupational injuries.…”