Determinants of accident proneness: a case-control study in railway workers.
BACKGROUND
Accident proneness or workers who have more frequent occupational injuries is common but the role of occupational and individual factors has rarely been studied.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the relationships of certain occupational and individual characteristics with frequency of occupational injuries.


METHODS
This case-control study included 1305 male workers with occupational injuries during 1999-2000 and 1305 controls from a railway company. A standardized questionnaire was completed by the occupational physician in the presence of the subject. The data were analysed using logistic regression.


RESULTS
Having more than one injury was associated with short service in the present job, younger age, sleep disorders, smoking, requesting a job change, physical disability and lack of physical activity. Safety training was negatively related to injury frequency. Short service in the present job was the only significant factor for single injuries.


CONCLUSIONS
This study identified a number of work and individual factors that predicted occupational injury frequency and may be useful in designing preventative measures. Occupational physicians could assist workers to be more aware of the risks and to find remedial measures.
Gauchard
G C
GC
Inserm, U420, World Health Organization Collaborative Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University Henri Poincaré, Nancy 1, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France.
Mur
J M
JM
Touron
C
C
Benamghar
L
L
Dehaene
D
D
Perrin
P
P
Chau
N
N
D000057:Accident Proneness; D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011890:Railroads; D012307:Risk Factors