Working conditions of bus drivers in the private sector and bus crashes in Kandy district, Sri Lanka: a case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effects of working conditions of private-bus drivers on bus crashes in Kandy district, Sri Lanka.


METHODS
A case-control study was carried out from August to September 2006. All private-bus drivers registered in Kandy district and involved in crashes reported to the police between November 2005 and April 2006 (n = 63) were selected as cases. Two control groups were included: private-bus drivers working on the same routes as the case drivers (n = 90) and private-bus drivers selected randomly from other routes of the district (n = 111). Data were collected using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire. Associations between working conditions and crashes were analysed using logistic regression.


RESULTS
A strong association was observed between drivers' disagreements about working hours and bus crashes (matched controls, adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 5.98, 95% CI 1.02 to 34.90; unmatched controls, AOR 18.74, 95% CI 2.00 to 175.84). A significant association was also observed between low salaries (<US$100) and private-bus crashes (matched controls, AOR 1.01, 95% CI 0.40 to 2.54; unmatched controls, AOR 3.09, 95% CI 1.26 to 7.57).


CONCLUSIONS
Drivers' disagreements about working hours and low salaries were significant risk factors for private-bus crashes in Kandy district, Sri Lanka. Therefore, new legislation for private-bus owners on the working hours and salaries of their drivers to prevent private-bus crashes is recommended.
Jayatilleke
A U
AU
Department of International Community Health, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Nakahara
S
S
Dharmaratne
S D
SD
Jayatilleke
A C
AC
Poudel
K C
KC
Jimba
M
M
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017149:Private Sector; D012307:Risk Factors; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000453:epidemiology; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance; D055815:Young Adult