An accident-risk assessment study of temporary piece rated workers.
An occupational injury surveillance study (record study of five years duration) was conducted involving the workers of a fertilizer producing industry in eastern India to assess whether the risk of occupational accidents in temporary piece rated workers was higher in comparison to the permanent time rated workers. At the same time, to collect the personal details of the workers who have worked in the industry in the study period, an interview was also conducted. Mean age of temporary piece rated workers and permanent time rated workers were (35.9 +/- 12.5) and (35.3 +/- 11.4) respectively. Distribution of other variables like nature of work, level of education, experience, habits were also very similar between the two worker groups. Accident incidence rate, accident frequency rate and accident severity rate were found to be significantly higher in temporary piece rated workers. This difference was more prominent in case of time-loss accidents than in no time-loss accidents. Relative risk has varied from 2.3 to 18.0 in case of time-loss accidents. In case of no time-loss accidents, it has varied from 1.1 to 2.6. When relative risk is considered after taking both types of accidents together, it has ranged from 1.2 to 3.5. This study concluded that the temporary piece rated workers are more vulnerable to occupational accidents.
Saha
Asim
A
Occupational Medicine Division, National Institute of Occupational Health, Meghani Nagar, Ahmedabad-380 016, Gujarat, India.
Ramnath
Takiar
T
Chaudhuri
Ramendra Narayan
RN
Saiyed
Habibullah Nasrullah
HN
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D004651:Employment / Q000145:classification* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005308:Fertilizers; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012306:Risk; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*
D005308:Fertilizers