Dynamics of work accidents incidence by severity, gender and lost workdays in Estonian agricultural sector and sub-sectors in 2008–2017

ArticleThe risk of dying in a work-related accident is greatest for those employed in agricultural sector. The aim of this study is to analyse the dynamics of work accidents (WA) incidence by severity, gender and lost workdays in Estonian agriculture in 2008–2017. Method: The database of accidents in agriculture (2008–2017) was obtained from the Estonian Labour Inspectorate (ELI). Work accidents statistics is based on official reports of employers. Results: In total 1,683 non-fatal work accidents (NFA) was registered in the past decade, from which 1,235 (79.3%) were minor and 448 (20.7%) severe. In total 13 fatal work accidents (FA) have occurred, which accounts 0.8% of all the WAs (n = 1,696). Although the trends of minor and severe WA cases showed steady increase, the number of FA has remained low. A major part WAs (74%) was registered in farming and horticulture, with prevalence of minor accidents. A severe WA is likely to occur in forestry or very likely in fishery. The proportion of injured male and female was 51.8% and 48.2%, accordingly. In the farming and horticulture sector there were more accidents among women – of all the minor accidents (n = 1,235) 52.1% occurred to women. Of all the severe WAs (n = 448) 61.2% and all the fatal work accidents happened to male workers. About 2/3 of severe WAs caused sick leave 31–90 days and more. Conclusion: The number of WAs in Estonian agricultural sector show steady increase in the past decade. A major part of accidents is minor and mostly occurred in farming and horticulture, and more often with females. Severe and FAs more often occurred in forestry and fishery. Mostly the severe WAs cause long sick leave – a month or more. When to increase work accidents severity level by one step (from minor to severe), the sick leave is increasing significantly

Prevalence and Dynamics of Work Accidents in Estonian Agriculture

Magistritöö Ergonoomika erialalKogu põllumajandussektoris on üle maailma hinnanguliselt umbes 1,3 miljardit töötajat – see moodustab poole maailma tööjõust. 2017. a. kulus Euroopa maades tööõnnetustele ja kutsehaigestumisele umbes 3,3% SKP-st e. 476 miljardit €. Kui võtta arvesse kõik tööga seotud surmajuhtumid, vigastused ja tervisehäired, on see üks kolmest kõige ohtlikumast tegevusvaldkonnast (koos ehitus- ja kaevandusvaldkonnaga). Rahvusvahelise Töö- organisatsiooni hinnangul sureb vähemalt 170 000 põllumajandustöötajat igal aastal. Lisaks saavad miljonid põllumajandustöötajad vigastada tööõnnetustes. Samuti on põllumajanduses laialt levinud tööõnnetustest mitte teavitamine, mis muudab olemasoleva ametliku statistika veelgi halvemaks. Antud uurimuse eesmärgiks on analüüsida toimunud tööõnnetuste esinemist demograafiliste ja tööalaste tunnuste alusel Eesti põllumajandussektoris aastatel 2008–2017. Andmed tööõnnetuste kohta on pärit Tööinspektsioonist ja tööhõive osas Eesti Statistikaametist. Viimasel kümnendil on registreeritud tööõnnetuste arv Eesti põllumajandussektoris vähehaaval, kuid stabiilselt tõusnud – madalaim oli 2012. aastal 543 ja kõrgeim 2017. a. 801 tööõnnetust saja tuhande töötaja kohta. Aastatel 2008–2017 oli keskmiselt põllumajandussektoris 678 tööõnnetust sajatuhande töötaja kohta, mis on veidi rohkem kui kõikides tegevusalades kokku (n = 673). Tööinspektsiooni tööõnnetuste andmebaasist selgub, et aastatel 2008–2017 toimus Eesti põllumajandussektoris 1696 tööõnnetust. Põllumajandussektor jaguneb omakorda kolmeks alavaldkonnaks: taime- ja loomakasvatus, mis hõlmab endas ka jahindust ja neid teenindavaid tegevusalasid; metsamajandus, mis hõlmab ka metsavarumist; kalapüük, mis hõlmab ka vesiviljelust. Suurim osa tööõnnetustest toimusid taime- ja loomakasvatuse valdkonnas, kus viimasel kümnendil sai vigastada 1465 töötajat, s.o 86,4% kõikidest selles sektoris toimunud õnnetustest. Metsanduses sai vigastada 197 töötajat (11,6%) ning kalanduses 34 töötajat (2,0%). Põllumajandussektoris tööõnnetusse sattunud meeste ja naiste osakaal jaguneb veidi meeste kasuks – 51,8% M ja 48,2% N. Raskusastme poolest on registreeritud kõige rohkem kergeid tööõnnetusi. Viimase kümne aasta jooksul toimus põllumajandussektoris 1235 kerget (72,8%), 448 rasket (26,5%) ja 13 surmaga lõppenud tööõnnetust (0,8%). Suurim osa vigastusi (40,4%) olid kerget laadi – haavad ja pindmised vigastused ning sagedamini vigastati üla- või alajäset (35,7% ja 33%). Tööõnnetuste esinemissagedus oli kõrgeim Järvamaal (n = 2260). Lähtuvalt uurimustulemustest ja kirjanduse analüüsist võib öelda, et põllumajandussektor on kõrge tööõnnetuste levimusega valdkond Eestis. Kuna tööõnnetuste arv näitab tõusutendentsi, siis tuleks suuremat tähelepanu pöörata tegevusalade riskidele ja nende ennetamisele põllumajanduses.Work accidents (WA) in agriculture are a problem all over the world. There are over 1,3 billion agricultural worker, that counts more than 50% of all the worlds’ workforce. Even if the most of work tasks become more automated, farmers, family members and farm workers are facing risks at work that are higher than in most other occupations. Many accidents involve the handling of machinery or animals. The costs of WAs are increasing, exhausting national economy as a whole. Work-related ill-health and injury is costing the European Union 3.3 % of its GDP. That’s €476 billion every year which could be saved with the right occupational safety and health strategies, policies and practices. In Estonia the estimates of the costs of WAs in 2012 showed €2,4 billion per year and due to permanent lost work ability €25 billion costs in total for society. The aim of this study is to analyse accidents at work depending on demographic and job related factors in Estonian agriculture in the past decade. Method. The database of accidents in agriculture (2008–2017) has obtained from the Estonian Labour Inspectorate. The dynamics of absolute numbers of WAs and incidence rate per 100 000 workers in agriculture have been described by the sub-sectors – horticulture and farming, forestry and fishery. Also, the statistics of WAs by gender, severity, type and body region and regional distribution of injuries. Results. The total number of WAs in agriculture in 2008–2017 was 1696, and it formed a whole 4% of all WAs in Estonia. There were 1683 non-fatal accidents from which 1235 mild and 448 severe accidents. In the past decade only 13 fatal work accidents have recorded. The number of WAs shows the tendency to increase during the observed period. The incidence rate of WAs was the lowest in 2012 – 543 and highest in 2017 – 801 cases per 100 000 workers. Most often WAs took place in the years 45–54 and mostly among the men (879 M vs 817 F). However, in crop and animal production work accidents dominated among the female (671 M vs 794 F) but in forestry and fishery vice versa − about 90% of WAs happened to men. There were 1235 mild (72,8%), 448 severe (26,5%) and 13 fatal (0,8%) Was. By the type of injury most often wounds and superficial injuries (40,4% of the total), bone fractures (25,6%) and concussion and internal injuries (16.2 %) have been registered. Upper and lower limbs (35,7% and 33%) were the most often injured body regions. The highest incidence rate of WAs was in the counties Järva, Saare and Jõgeva (n = 2260, n = 931 and n = 908). Conclusion. The agriculture is the sector with high risks of activities, where injury rate shows steady tendency to increase. It is important to pay more attention on improvement of safety culture and prevention of work accidents in agriculture in Estonia

The prevalence of work accidents in Estonian agriculture in 2008–2017

Saabunud / Received 26.10.2019 ; Aktsepteeritud / Accepted 15.11.2019 ; Avaldatud veebis / Published online 29.11.2019 ; Vastutav autor / Corresponding author: Anni Eda e-mail: [email protected] accidents in agriculture are a problem all over the world. The costs of accidents are high to the employer and to the national economy as a whole. Work-related ill-health and injury is costing the European Union 3.3% of its GDP. In Estonia, the estimates of the costs of work accidents (WA) in 2012 showed €2.4 billion per year and due to permanent lost workability €25 billion costs in total for society. Even if the most sectors become more automated, there are also self-employed farmers, who cannot always use the newest technologies. At the same time, family members and farm workers are facing risks higher than in most other occupations. Many accidents involve the handling of machinery or animals. The objective of the study was to analyse fatal and non-fatal work accidents by demographic parameters, severity, type, causes and body location of injuries in Estonian agriculture in 2008–2017. Method. The database of accidents in agriculture was obtained from the Estonian Labour Inspectorate and the data by absolute numbers, percentages and incident rates have described. Results. The total number of accidents at work in agriculture was 1696, which formed 4% from the total economic sector. The average incident rate in the past decade was 678 accidents per 100 000 workers. Predominantly minor accidents and usually among male workers have taken place. There are mainly 3 types of injuries – wounds and superficial injuries (40.4% of the total), bone fractures (25.6%) and concussion and internal injuries (16.2%). The most common causes of work accidents are lack of internal control (20.3%), poor instruction (18.5%) and other factors (18.1%). The most often locations of the injuries throughout the years were upper or lower limbs (35.7% and 33.0% respectively). The biggest number of accidents was taken place at Järva county