Fewer work accidents but increasing proportion of repetitive strain injuries
Published: 12 July 2004
The newly published Surveillance Report 2002 (in Danish) [1] from the National Working Environment Authority [2] (Arbejdstilsynet, AT ) monitors the Government’s ‘ Action programme for a clean working environment 2005 [3]’, which was adopted by the government in 1993. The action programme aims at reducing or eliminating seven of the most serious problem areas in the Danish working environment. The areas identified are:[1] http://www.at.dk/sw11057.asp[2] http://www.at.dk/[3] http://www.at.dk/sw275.asp
A new report from the National Working Environment Authority (Arbejdstilsynet, AT ) presents both positive and negative trends in the Danish working environment over the last decade. While fewer work-related accidents are reported, problems caused by repetitive work represent a growing proportion of work-related illnesses.
The newly published Surveillance Report 2002 (in Danish) from the National Working Environment Authority (Arbejdstilsynet, AT ) monitors the Government’s ‘ Action programme for a clean working environment 2005’, which was adopted by the government in 1993. The action programme aims at reducing or eliminating seven of the most serious problem areas in the Danish working environment. The areas identified are:
accidents at work;
exposure to carcinogenic chemicals, and exposure to organic solvents or heavy metals which can cause brain damage;
work-related injuries among children and young people;
injuries due to heavy lifting and illnesses due to repetitive work;
hearing impairments due to noise at work;
health problems arising from psychosocial risk factors at work;
illnesses caused by the physical environment at the workplace.
Of these seven concerns, the clearest trends can be seen in relation to accidents at work, injuries among children and young people, and injuries and illnesses caused by heavy lifting and repetitive work.
Decline in the number of accidents at work
The report shows a decline in the total number of reported accidents at work. In 1993, the incidence of reported accidents was 17 per 1,000 employed people, compared to 16 per 1,000 in 2002. Looking specifically at fatal accidents, Table 1 shows a significant decrease from 82 fatal accidents in 1997 to 52 in 2001 - the lowest number in 24 years. The increase in fatal accidents from 2001 to 2002 is explained by the rise in reported work-related traffic fatalities.
| 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fatal accidents | 63 | 76 | 86 | 75 | 82 | 80 | 69 | 68 | 52 | 61 |
| Other serious accidents | 4,877 | 5,174 | 5,362 | 5,537 | 5,490 | 5,563 | 5,579 | 5,330 | 5,077 | 4,583 |
| Other accidents | 39,990 | 43,144 | 45,014 | 45,804 | 45,613 | 44,505 | 44,356 | 42,735 | 41,615 | 39,963 |
| All accidents | 44,930 | 48,394 | 50,462 | 51,416 | 51,185 | 50,148 | 50,004 | 48,133 | 46,744 | 41,607 |
| Source: The National Working Environment Authority: Overvågningsrapport 2002 , del 1, Copenhagen, 2004. | ||||||||||
Fewer work-related accidents among young people
In general, fewer work-related accidents and illnesses are reported among young people under 18 years. This decrease is accounted for by the relatively small number of working hours per week among this category who are still primarily attending school. The figures show that, in terms of the total number of reported accidents among young people under 18 years, there has been a significant decline from 700 accidents per year in 1995 to 600 in 2000-2002. This latest figure corresponds, in fact, to the 1993 level.
Concerning young people aged between 18-24 years, the study points to a decline in the number of reported accidents from 1993-2002. Interestingly, though, the reported incidence is higher among people aged 18-24 years than among people aged over 25 years. This is most likely due to accidents arising as a result of lack of experience, and insufficient training and instruction about risk factors at the workplace.
Growing proportion of repetitive strain injuries
The report shows a significant decline during the period 1993 to 2002 in the reported incidence of illnesses and permanent injuries, as well as of acute injuries caused by heavy lifting or pushing. There is also a small decline in the rate of illnesses caused by repetitive work. However, if seen in relation to the total number of reported work-related illnesses, repetitive work is revealed as a growing problem. In 2002, 24% of all reported work-related illnesses were connected to repetitive work, compared with 19% in 1993.
| 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illnesses caused by heavy lifting | 3,456 | 3,262 | 3,036 | 3,107 | 3,278 | 2,640 | 2,285 | 2,451 | 2,308 | 2,065 |
| Acute injury caused by heavy lifting | 7,325 | 7,680 | 7,886 | 8,384 | 8,065 | 7,355 | 7,424 | 7,638 | 7,453 | 6,308 |
| Illnesses caused by repetitive work | 2,917 | 2,947 | 3,012 | 3,416 | 3,788 | 3,406 | 2,935 | 2,981 | 2,875 | 2,887 |
| Source: The National Working Environment Authority: Overvågningsrapport 2002 , del 1, Copenhagen, 2004. | ||||||||||
About the study
The Surveillance Report 2002 (in Danish) from the National Working Environment Authority (Arbejdstilsynet, AT ) is based on a variety of mainly quantitative data. The most important sources are data on reported working accidents from the National Working Environment Authority, casualty department entries from the National Institute of Public Health (Statens Institut for Folkesundhed ), the Danish Work Environment Cohort Study 2000 (DWECS) from the National Institute of Occupational Health (Arbejdsmiljøinstituttet, AMI ), as well as specific research and data collection for the Surveillance Report.
The Surveillance Report 2002 is available online in Danish from the National Working Environment Authority (Arbejdstilsynet, AT ) website.
Eurofound recommends citing this publication in the following way.
Eurofound (2004), Fewer work accidents but increasing proportion of repetitive strain injuries, article.
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