Work-related accidents and risks among migrant workers

Based on data from the immigrant living conditions survey in Norway for 2005–2006, occupational factors important for health and well-being have been examined among immigrants from Asia, Africa, South America and southeast Europe. In general, the incidence of injuries at work as well as exposure to physical, chemical, mechanical and psychosocial strain appear to be higher among immigrant workers in Norway compared with the entire workforce.

Employment of immigrants

An increasing number of workers in Norway are immigrants. At the beginning of 2008, this group accounted for about 9% of the economically active population. The occupational distribution among immigrants, however, differs significantly from that of the total workforce in Norway. Immigrants are more frequently employed as plant and machine operators, drivers and in sales and services professions than native Norwegian workers, and are six times more likely to be found working in low-skilled professions. At the same time, immigrants are largely underrepresented in high-skilled professions and in management positions. Significant differences between Norwegians and immigrant workers are also apparent with regard to individual experience of the working environment, even within the same profession (see Blom and Henriksen, 2009).

About the survey

The survey on Living conditions among immigrants in Norway 2005/2006, conducted by Statistics Norway (Statistisk sentralbyrå, SSB), is a public and independent survey carried out to assess living conditions among immigrants in Norway through interviews with randomly selected individuals from this group. Based on data from this survey, the occupational factors that are important for health and well-being have been closely examined among immigrants from Asia, Africa, South America and southeast Europe. The findings of this analysis, based on answers from 1,677 workers from the 10 largest groups of immigrants in Norway on the subject of ‘occupation and working environment health’, were compared with the data from the working conditions survey carried out by SSB among all workers in 2006 – the ‘Level of living survey 2006: Working conditions’ (see also EWCO survey report on Work environment continues to improve).

Key findings

The study examined the situation of immigrants in comparison with the rest of the workforce regarding exposure to physical, chemical and mechanical risks, psychosocial factors in the working environment, as well as workplace accidents.

Physical work environment

The differences between the answers given by immigrants and other workers in relation to the physical and chemical working environment seem to be less pronounced than for the other areas examined in the study. Risk factors such as loud noise and low temperature were, for example, reported by about 20% of workers in both groups. A poor indoor climate was reported by about 40% of all workers. Likewise, 35% of female immigrant workers and 28% of all female workers reported the risk of skin exposure to cleaning and disinfectant reagents at work.

While 40% of both groups reported an increased risk of strain injury, exposure to monotonous and repetitive tasks is nearly twice as high among immigrant workers compared with other workers within all professions. Concerning heavy lifting and repetitive hand and arm movements, 60% of immigrant workers reported exposure to such risks compared with 50% of the entire workforce. This difference is more prominent for professions such as craftspersons and drivers.

Psychosocial work environment

Investigating psychosocial factors, immigrants in general reported a less favorable psychosocial and organisational work environment. They also reported more frequently to have less influence over their work, which caused them emotional strain. Some 10% of the immigrants reported exposure to bullying more than once a month, compared with just 2% of the total workforce.

The proportion of workers reporting involvement in one or more occupational accidents in the past 12 months is about three times higher among immigrants than among the entire workforce. This significant difference could partly be explained by the fact that more immigrants are employed in professions associated with more risk than the rest of the workforce (see figure).

Norwegian and immigrant workers experiencing one or more work-related accidents causing absence from work, by occupation, 2005–2006 (%)

Note: Number of immigrant respondents within each profession indicated in parentheses.

Source: SSB, 2006 and 2009

Norwegian and immigrant workers experiencing one or more work accidents causing absence from work, by occupation, 2005–2006 (%)

Commentary

The results show that greater efforts are required to provide acceptable working conditions for immigrants in Norway. However, factors such as language skills, cultural differences and the absence of a social network at the workplace could also contribute to a higher incidence of strain and other problems associated with the working life among this group of workers. More research should be carried out to explore the reasons for the higher incidence of work-related accidents and strain among immigrants, taking these factors into consideration. The results of this study should therefore be interpreted with caution.

Reference

Blom, S. and Henriksen, K., Levekår blant innvandrere I Norge 2005/2006 [Living conditions among immigrants in Norway 2005/2006], Oslo, Statistics Norway, Report No. 2009/2, 2009.

Dalsgaard-Rørvik, T. D., Samordnet levekårsundersøkelse 2006 - Tversnitt tema: Arbeidsmiljø (3.6Mb PDF), Oslo, Statistics Norway, 2007.

Bjørn Tore Langeland, National Institute of Occupational Health