Epidemiology of fatal work accidents in a metropolitan area of Southeastern Brazil from 1979 to 1989

Abstract

Campinas is an important industrial centre in the State of S. Paulo, Brazil. 476 registers filed at the Campinas agency of the Brazilian National Social-Welfore Institution, covering the Campinas, Cosmópolis, Paulínia, Sumaré and Valinhos Counties from 1979 to 1989, were analysed. The information obtained from the Notifications of Work Accidents, (C.A.T.), police reports (B.O.) and death certificates, Work accidents were studied on the basis of according to characteristics of the enterprise, concerned the worker involved and the accident itself. Using data from the Ministry of Labour on the number of registered workers by economic activity and occupation, estimates of work accident risk were obtained. The Incidence Density was greater for carpenters (94.3 deaths per 100,000 workers/year), followed by drivers of vehicle (69.6) and "bricklayers" (63.3). Compared to the technicians, the probability of death for these categories was three to five times greater (ratio of Incidence Density). The Construction (22.1%) and Transpot (14.9%) sectors, the economic sectors most affected in terms of mortality, presented high Incidence Densities: 59.8 and 57.3 deaths for 100,000 workers/year, respectively, when compared to Retail Commerce (9.4).