Building camps and work related injuries.
OBJECTIVE
To focus on one possible predictor of reported work related injuries--the role of living in building-site camps versus daily commuting from home to construction sites.


METHODS
A cohort of construction workers was collected, based on personnel files from contractors involved in the building of the Great Belt Bridge. The files included information on employment periods and whether or not the employees lived in building-site camps. The cohort was followed up for injuries reported to the National Work Environment Authority.


RESULTS
Construction workers living in camps reported 217 accidents, of which 24 were serious or fatal. Among those not living in camps we found 262 accidents, of which 29 were serious or fatal. The relative risk for all accidents for camp versus non-camp was 0.84 (95% CI 0.69 to 1.00). The respective figure for serious or fatal accidents was RR = 0.85 (95% CI 0.47 to 1.52).


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that high accident rates at large construction sites may be reduced, if commuting is replaced by living on-site.
Tüchsen
F
F
National Institute of Occupational Health, Copenhagen, Denmark. ft@ami.dk
Hannerz
H
H
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001108:Architecture; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003252:Construction Materials; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*