title: Occupational disparities in accidents and roles of lifestyle factors and disabilities: a population-based study in north-eastern France.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess occupational disparities with regard to the occurrence of occupational, traffic, domestic and sports accidents, and the role of factors such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, psychotropic drug intake and disability in mediating these disparities.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample included 3368 economically active subjects aged 18-64 years, selected at random in north-eastern France. Subjects completed a postal questionnaire about sociodemographic and lifestyle information, and recorded the occurrence of accidents by type during the previous 2 years. Data were analysed using a logistic regression model with different sets of independent variables and covariates in order to describe the disparities and investigate the role of personal factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the 2 years preceding the survey, 11.8% of men and 5.4% of women had an occupational accident, 3.7% of men and 4.5% of women had a traffic accident, 4.1% of men and 1.5% of women had a domestic accident, and 6.1% of men and 1.9% of women had a sports accident. Personal factors were strongly related to the occurrence of accidents, with different patterns in men compared with women, and according to the type of accident. Men in intermediary occupations, clerks, craftsmen and tradesmen and, to an even greater extent, manual workers and farmers had a much higher occurrence of occupational accidents than men in the upper occupations, while craftsmen and tradesmen had a much higher occurrence of traffic accidents. Manual workers had a lower occurrence of sports accidents. After adjustment for lifestyle factors and disability, estimated odds ratios were reduced slightly but remained significant. Occupational disparities in accidents were virtually non-existent among women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Occupational disparities in accidents mainly concern men and are predominantly observed in occupational and traffic accidents. Lifestyle factors do play a role in explaining these disparities, but are fairly limited. Improved work conditions, equipment, health behaviours, safe driving practices and accommodation of people with disabilities are needed to reduce the risk of accidents.
authors.affiliation: Institut National d'Etudes Demographiques, 133 Boulevard Davout, 75980Paris Cedex 20, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khlat
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Ravaud
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Brouard
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chau
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors