Relationships between some individual characteristics and occupational accidents in the construction industry:: A case-control study on 880 victims of accidents occurred during a two-year period

Relationships between Some Individual Characteristics and Occupational Accidents in the Construction Industry: A Case-Control Study on 880 Victims of Accidents Occurred during a Two-Year Period: Nearkasen CHAU, et al. National Institute for Health and Medical Research (INSERM), Unit 420, Faculte de Medecine-This case-control study assessed the relationships between certain individual characteristics (age, body mass index, training, length of time in present job, sleep disorders, certain disabilities, smoking habits, sporting activities) and occupational accidents in construction male labourers: 880 cases with at least one occupational accident in 1995-1996, 880 controls with no occupational accident during the previous five years, matched to cases on the job. A standardised questionnaire, filled in by the occupational physician, was used. The statistical analyses were made by the conditional logistic regression method for paired data. The main causes of accidents were handling or carrying objects, falls to a lower level, construction machinery and devices, falls on the same level, moving objects, hand tools. For all accidents combined, the factors with significant adjusted odds-ratios (OR) were: age<30 yr (OR 1.30, 95%Cl 1.01-1.68), sleep disorders (1.97, 1.42-2.73), and current smoker (1.27, 1.04-1.54). Sleep disorders were a significant factor in falls to a lower level (OR 2.25, 95%Cl 1.14-4.44), age<30 yr and sleep disorders for accidents caused by moving objects (4.64, 1.48-14.5 and 13.11, 2.64-65.2 respectively), and no sporting activity for injuries by handling or carrying objects (1.70, 1.11-2.60). Sleep disorders were significant for accidents with sick leave lengths of greater than or equal to15 d, whereas age<30 yr and current smoker were significant for the others (less than or equal to14 d). A relationship was observed between the severity of sleep disorders and accidents. Occupational accidents are mainly due to work conditions, but certain individual characteristics may also play a role; this should be confirmed by further studies.