Age and occupational accidents in the light of fluctuations on the labor market: the case of Swedish non-ferrous ore miners

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Laflamme, Lucie^{; ;} | Menckel, Ewa^;

Affiliations: Karolinska Institute, Department of International Health and Social Medicine, Unit of Social Medicine, S-172 83 Sundbyberg, Sweden | National Institute of Occupational Health, Division of Social and Organizational Psychology, S-171 84 Solna, Sweden

Note: [] Corresponding author, Tel.: + 46 8 6290596; Fax: + 46 8 986367.

Abstract: This study examines non-specific and specific age-related accident frequencies among Swedish non-ferrous are miners. Age-related accident ratios (ARs) were calculated for all accidents aggregated and for different accident types over a ten-year period, using five age categories and three time intervals. ARs tended to be lower among older workers but they varied between age groups and time periods for almost all accident types. They were higher at the end than at the start ofthe study period for the age cohort 25–34 for all accident types, and for the cohort 16–24 for two accident types. The results suggest that age-related risks are influenced by labor-market factors. In physically demanding jobs, reductions in personnel may expose middle-age and younger workers to higher risks, because of ‘basic capacities’ being exceeded or due to a lack of relevant experience.

Keywords: Age-related accident risk, Accident patterns, Multivariate analysis

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-1996-6204

Journal: Work, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 97-105, 1996