| Summary: | Occupational accidents due to inadequate working conditions and work environment present a major problem in highly industrialised countries, as well as in developing ones. Occupational accidents are a regular and accompanying phenomenon in all human activities and one of the main health related and economic problems in modern societies.The aim of this study is the analysis of the connections of unfavourable working conditions and working environment on occupational accidents. Occurrence of occupational accidents was monitored in two groups of workers in the period of ten years. The exposed group comprised 1854 male workers occupationally exposed to harmul effects (noise, chemical noxae, unfavourable microclimate factors, poor lighting) and special work demands (work in shifts, production quota work, night work). The control group comprised 1380 male workers who had not been exposed to the same working demands and professional noxae in the given period of time.In the period of ten years the number of workers having occupational accidents was statistically significantly higher in the exposed group than in the control one. The total number of accidents in the exposed group was 382/1850 (20.6%), while in the control group it was 124/1380 (8.98%); p<0.01. Accidents while commuting to and from work were similar in both groups, but the difference in accidents at work place is significant (13.9% in the exposed) and (1.95% in unexposed) group; p<0.01.Unfavourable working conditions and working environment present significant factors that have impact on occupational accidents, thus occupational accidents can be considered as indicators of inadequate working conditions and working environment.
|
|---|