title: Absence from work due to occupational and non-occupational accidents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to investigate absence from work in Denmark due to occupational and non-occupational accidents.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Since the beginning of the last decade, political focus has been placed on the population's working capacity and the scope of absence due to illness. Absence from work is estimated at between 3% and 6% of working hours in the EU and costs are estimated at approximately 2.5% of GNP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Victims of accidents treated at two emergency departments were interviewed regarding absence for the injured, the family and others. All answers were linked to the hospital information on the injury, so that it was possible to examine the relation between absence and injury type, and cause of the accident.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 1,479 injured persons were interviewed. 36% of these reported absence from work by themselves or others. In mean, an injury caused 3.21 days of absence. Based on this the total absence due to injuries in Denmark was estimated to 1,822,000 workdays, corresponding to approximately 6% of the total absence from work due to all types of illness. Non-occupational injuries resulted in more absence than did occupational injuries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Absence due to accidents contributed to a considerable part of the total absence from work, and non-occupational accidents caused more absence than did occupational accidents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Management Engineering, The Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark. kirj@man.dtu.dk
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.forename: Bjarne
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Laursen
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000059:Accidents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003718:Denmark; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012042:Registries; D055815:Young Adult