Individual-level and plant-level predictors of acute, traumatic occupational injuries in a manufacturing cohort

Abstract

ObjectivesWorkplace and contextual factors that may affect risk for worker injury are not well described. This study used results from an employee job satisfaction survey to construct aggregate indicators of the work environment and estimate the relative contribution of those factors to injury rates in a manufacturing cohort.MethodsPrincipal components analysis was used to construct four plant-level factors from responses to a 32 question survey of the entire workforce, administered in 2006. Multilevel Poisson regression was used to evaluate the relationship between injury rate, individual-level and plant-level risk factors, unionisation and plant type.ResultsPlant-level ‘work stress’ (incident rate ratio (IRR)=0.50, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.90) was significant in the multilevel model, indicating the rate of injury for an average individual in that plant was halved (conditional on plant) when job stress decreased by a tertile. ‘Overall satisfaction’, ‘work environment’ and ‘perception of supervisor’ showed the same trend but were not significant. Unionisation was protective (IRR=0.40, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.95) as was any plant type compared with smelter.ConclusionsWe demonstrated utility of data from a human resources survey to construct indicators of the work environment. Our research suggests that aspects of the work environment, particularly work stress and unionisation, may have a significant effect on risk for occupational injury, emphasising the need for further multilevel studies. Our work would suggest monitoring of employee perceptions of job stress and the possible inclusion of stress management as a component of risk reduction programmes.

Coal Mine Safety: Do Unions Make a Difference?

“…Some studies suggest that younger and less experienced miners sustain more injuries on the job (e.g., Laflamme and Blank 1996), but the scholarship is not unanimous on this point. (See, for example, Souza 2009.) Based on a careful review of 1993-1998 1999-2004 2005-2010 Notes: Significance levels: *** 1%, ** 5%, * 10%.…”

Does tinnitus, hearing asymmetry, or hearing loss predispose to occupational injury risk?

“…Many factors are recognized as contributing to occupational injury risk, including work demands, age, lifestyle and job stress (Chau et al, 2009; Pollack et al, 2007; Taiwo et al, 2009; Souza et al, 2014). Mounting evidence links ambient noise exposure to injury risk although the causal pathway for this association remains unclear (Amjad-Sardrudi et al, 2012; Moll van Charante and Mulder, 1990; Wilkins and Action, 1982; Picard et al, 2008; Girard et al, 2014).…”

Join the Union and Be Safe: The Effects of Unionization on Occupational Safety and Health in the European Union

“…As Pouliakas and Theodossiou () argue, work‐related accidents are attributed to both the individual employee characteristics and the overall economic and sociocultural climate. For example, working hours are among the most commonly met determinants of work‐related injuries (Souza et al ., ). Toward this end, information on country unemployment rates, the average annual hours worked per worker, and the annual growth rate of unit labor cost is drawn from the OECD Statistics database.…”

“…For example, working hours are among the most commonly met determinants of work-related injuries (Souza et al, 2014). Toward this end, information on country unemployment rates, the average annual hours worked per worker, and the annual growth rate of unit labor cost is drawn from the OECD Statistics database.…”