title: Application of two secondary documentary sources to identify the underreporting of fatal occupational injuries in Cape Town, South Africa.
abstract: We reviewed 8,502 deaths registered at the Salt River state mortuary, Cape Town (medical examiner records) for an 18-month period (1/1/90-6/30/91). When fatal occupational injuries located from this data source were matched with the records of the occupational safety inspectorate of the Department of Manpower, it was found that 28% had not been reported in terms of statutory regulations. Unreported deaths accounted for 25% of all fatal occupational injuries in the construction industry. None of the fatal occupational injuries in agriculture and fishing had been reported. Falls constituted 45% of the unreported fatalities. High levels of unreported fatal occupational injury indicate deficiencies in current occupational safety surveillance and enforcement in South Africa.
authors: Department of Forensic medicine and Toxicology, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
authors: L B
authors: LB
authors: Lerer
authors: J E
authors: JE
authors: Myers
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000401:mortality*; D003644:Death Certificates; D006801:Humans; D009787:Occupational Medicine / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods*; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012042:Registries / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology