Study module 2: Occupational Injuries and Fatalities

Definition: Occupational Injuries and Fatalities

  • OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES AND FATALITIES REFER TO ANY HARM OR DEATH THAT OCCURS AS A RESULT OF WORK-RELATED ACTIVITIES. THIS CAN INCLUDE ACCIDENTS, ILLNESSES, OR EXPOSURES TO HAZARDOUS MATERIALS OR SUBSTANCES WHILE ON THE JOB. THESE INJURIES AND FATALITIES CAN HAPPEN IN A VARIETY OF INDUSTRIES AND OCCUPATIONS, SUCH AS CONSTRUCTION, MANUFACTURING, HEALTHCARE, AND TRANSPORTATION.

Study Outcome 1: Global and Local Impact

  • Globally, two million people die due to work-related injuries and illnesses on an annual basis. 2 000 0002\,000\,000 deaths per year.

  • Over 100 000 000100\,000\,000 cases of occupational injuries are reported across the world each year.

  • Stress-related diseases, such as heart disease, have increased.

  • Increased pressure on the healthcare system of the country within which they operate.

  • In the South African context, legislating the workplace is a definite challenge in terms of available resources. There are 778778 positions available for inspectors in the Department of Labour, and only 533533 of these positions are filled.

  • As a result of the insufficient number of inspectors leading to poor compliance, the monetary value of claims processed by the Compensation Fund is rising steadily.

  • The Compensation Fund is rising, and many unresolved cases are due to the insufficient number of inspectors in the Department of Labour.

Study Outcome 2: Common Types of Occupational Injuries and Associated Risk Factors

  • Slips, trips and falls: Can lead to broken or fractured bones, damage to a muscle, ligament or tendon, or a head, neck or back injury.

  • Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD): Workers who perform repetitive and/or high intensity actions on a regular basis may have muscles, nerves and joints become painful or damaged over time. MSD can include tendonitis, back and neck pain, muscle sprains or strains, arthritis.

  • Noise exposure and hearing impairments: Repeated exposure to loud noises can lead to permanent hearing impairment or hearing loss over time. Noise-induced hearing loss and noise-induced tinnitus (a continuous ringing sound in the ears, which can only be reversed with expensive surgery).

  • Psychological or psychosocial harm: Mental health consequences such as PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) can arise from trauma and stress and can impact a person’s ability to maintain employment.

  • Occupational diseases: Caused by exposure to harmful agents, such as particles, viruses, parasites, gases and chemicals.

Study Outcome 3: Factors That May Impact an Employee’s Decision to Report an Occupational Injury or Disease

1) Fear of retaliation: Fear of termination or poor treatment upon reporting.
2) Lack of awareness: Unawareness of rights and benefits available by reporting, leading to hesitation.
3) Perception of inconvenience: Paperwork, doctor visits, time away from work.
4) Workplace culture: A culture that discourages reporting or downplays safety can deter reporting.
5) Belief in minor injury: Perception that the injury is not severe enough to warrant reporting.
6) Lack of trust: Distrust in employers or the workers' compensation system, fearing denial or mishandling of claims.
7) Peer pressure: Colleagues or supervisors pressuring not to report to protect the team or organization.

Study Outcome 4: Process of Being Diagnosed with an Occupational Injury or Disease

  • Steps (summarized as a process): Diagnose the disease or injury and assess whether it was caused directly by a workplace incident or exposure to harmful agents.

  • Complete the process to claim for compensation after diagnosis.

  • Draw a conclusion and write a report on whether the workplace was a direct cause of the injury or disease.

  • Review all available information and evidence surrounding the injury or disease.

  • Consider and compare other possible causes or explanations.

  • Investigate how the nature of the exposure or incident occurred.

  • Ascertain how the disease or injury is connected to work.

  • Diagnose the disease or condition.

  • NB: The process of diagnosing involves assessing whether the injury/disease was caused directly by a workplace incident or via exposure to harmful agents.

Study Outcome 5: Characteristics of Occupational Fatalities and High-Risk Occupations

  • Common Characteristics of Occupational Fatalities:

    • Nature of Work Environment: Often occurs in hazardous environments (e.g., construction sites, factories); exposure to extreme weather conditions.

    • Type of Work: Involves manual labour and physical tasks; high reliance on heavy machinery and equipment.

    • Safety Protocols: Inadequate safety training and protocols; poor adherence to safety regulations.

    • Demographics: Higher rates among younger and less experienced workers.

  • Occupational Fatalities (examples):

    • Falling from heights; Being buried or crushed by objects or collapsed structures; A vehicle rolling over; Impacting with objects; Being struck by falling objects; Being caught in equipment and objects; Being exposed to extreme temperatures or fire; Coming into contact with chemical substances; Being deprived of oxygen; Any explosions, implosions or bursts; Being electrocuted.

  • High-Risk Occupations (Global):

    • Construction, Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, Manufacturing, Transport and storage, Mining.

  • High-Risk Occupations (Local):

    • Agriculture, Manufacturing, Construction, Transport, Mining.

  • Occupational Risk Factors / Common Characteristics of Occupational Fatalities:
    1) Exposure to particulate matter, gasses and fumes – throat cancer, nasal passage cancer.
    2) Long working hours – stroke and heart attacks.
    3) Occupational injuries: Motor vehicle or motorcycle road accidents, falls, drowning, choking and suffocation, firearm accidents.
    4) Exposure to heavy metals and asbestos – lung cancer, and throat cancer.

Study Outcome 6: Violence in the Workplace as a Health and Safety Concern (Local and Global)

  • In South Africa, violence is widespread in everyday life; programs against gender-based violence, xenophobic violence, community security and school safety projects are ongoing.

  • The challenges experienced in society are mirrored in workplaces; ensuring a safe and healthy workplace includes addressing workplace violence.

Environmental Risk Factors for Violence

1) Low socioeconomic status: Poverty, unemployment, and lack of access to education/healthcare cause significant stressors that can lead to violent behavior.
2) Exposure to violence at home: Witnessing or experiencing home violence can normalize violence and perpetuate cycles across generations.
3) Overcrowded living conditions: High density and limited resources increase stress and tensions.
4) Weak legal and justice systems: Ineffective deterrence and perceived impunity can embolden violence.
5) Substance abuse: Alcohol and drugs impair judgment and increase aggression.
6) Social norms: Cultural attitudes that accept violence to resolve disputes.
7) Biases: Racial, ethnic, religious prejudices leading to discrimination and violence.
8) Stereotypes: Negative stereotypes dehumanizing groups, increasing conflict.
9) Gender: Gender norms contributing to violence, especially against women and gender minorities.

Workplace Violence

  • Workplace violence is a broad term for abuse, assault or intimidation within a work context, including harassment, mistreatment, verbal abuse, manipulation and blackmail, with potential physical, psychological, and emotional harm.

  • Types of workplace violence:

    • Criminal action: External perpetrator with no legitimate reason to be at the workplace; aims to commit crimes (e.g., looting, robbery).

    • External violence: Violence by a patient, client, or customer toward an employee.

    • Internal violence: Violence between employees at the same level.

    • Vertical workplace violence: Abuse between managers/supervisors and subordinates.

    • Personal life violence: Violence between an employee and someone from their personal life (outside work) that affects wellbeing at work.

NB: Workplace Violence (More Specific Categories)

  • Workplace abuse: Fear, intimidation or dehumanizing actions by a superior against subordinates (low-ranking employees).

  • Bullying: Repeated negative behavior directed at an individual; can be verbal or non-verbal, visible or hidden (sabotaging work, social exclusion, public mockery, unfair negative feedback, excessive or unpleasant workload).

  • Harassment: Repeated unwanted behavior or attention that makes the recipient uncomfortable, embarrassed, degraded or stressed.

  • Cyberbullying/Online Harassment: Using emails, chat or social media to bully, harass, threaten, or embarrass someone; may involve spreading rumors or creating fake content; can extend to electronic sabotage (viruses or malware) to damage a victim’s devices.

Mitigating Workplace Violence

  • Workplace violence can have serious physical and psychological health impacts.

  • Consequences include reduced productivity, greater absenteeism, and higher staff turnover, with long-term financial implications for an organisation.

  • Essential measures to mitigate risk:

    • Adopting and implementing a policy on workplace violence.

    • Accounting for the consequences of workplace violence.

    • Identifying risk factors for workplace violence.

    • Developing measures to prevent or control these risk factors.

    • Providing staff with training on how to recognise, understand and respond to workplace violence.

Study Outcome 7: The Importance of Prevention Strategies

  • Prevention strategies are essential in a proactive approach to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS).

  • OHS strategies commonly follow a responsive approach (design safety, hazard control, and mitigation after incidents) but prevention aims to stop incidents before they occur.

  • Global cost considerations of workplace injuries, diseases and fatalities have knock-on effects:

    • Victim’s family: long-term medical treatment or inability to return to work.

    • Emotional distress: grief, anxiety, depression in families.

    • Victim’s extended community: needs to support the victim and family.

    • Financial strain: loss of income, medical expenses, funeral costs, and potential loss of breadwinner.

    • Government: high compensation payouts.

    • Society: burden on economic and healthcare systems.

    • In SA, most costs are absorbed by government-funded medical facilities.

    • Organisations’ reputations can suffer, affecting customers, investors and shareholders.