Causes of nonfatal occupational injury in the private sector in Tunisia

Abstract

The absence of studies that investigate the causes and risk factors of nonfatal occupational injury in Tunisia inhibits the development of effective preventive strategies. The objective of this study was to identify the causes and risk factors of nonfatal occupational injury in the private sector in Tunisia. We used retrospective data derived from the occupational injury reporting forms submitted to the Caisse Nationale d’Assurance Maladie. A sample of 42,293 workers in the private sector for 2014 contains information on sociodemographic variables. Multivariable Poisson regression was used to investigate the association of cause-specific injury with demographic variables. The leading causes of nonfatal occupational injury were “falls” (employee fall and falling objects; 36%) and “struck by objects” (23%). Male employees were at higher risk of “exposure to extreme temperatures” (PR = 12 [7–45]), “asphyxia and poisoning” (PR = 4 [2.4–12]), “transport and handling” (PR = 2.4 [1.9–5]), “falling objects” (PR = 2.3 [1.4–3.7]), and “employee fall” (PR = 1.2 [1.1–1.5]). Although, rural areas were at higher risk to “asphyxia and poisoning” (PR = 3.6 [1.1–11.4]), “transport and handling” (PR = 2.5 [1.3–5.4]), and “burns” (PR = 1.3 [1.1–3]). It is important that effective interventions be developed to minimize the impact of falls and “struck by objects.” The most vulnerable categories to occupational injury are less educated men, rural residents aged between 15 years and 24 years, and elderly employees (55 years and over). Thus, our findings can contribute to the planning of prevention intervention programs that should expand to the most vulnerable categories.