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[Underreporting of occupational injuries to the Labour Inspection]
Hans Magne Gravseth1, Ebba Wergeland, Johan Lund
1Legevakten i Oslo, Storgaten 40, 0182 Oslo. hansmagne.gravseth@ulleval.no
Background:
The Labour Inspection investigates occupational accidents and publishes injury statistics annually. Information is based upon two main sources: Copies of reports to the National Insurance Service and mandatory reports from employers to the Labour Inspection.
Material And Methods:
Occupational injuries treated by Oslo Emergency Ward and Oslo Ambulance Service during a period of three months were compared with injuries recorded by the Labour Inspection.
Results:
Four months after the end of the study period, the Labour Inspection had received reports from the National Insurance Service on 150 (13%) of the 1,153 injuries recorded by Oslo Emergency Ward/Oslo Ambulance Service. Among all injuries registered, 208 were serious according to the criteria of the Labour Inspection. Only 19 (9%) of these were reported directly to the Labour Inspection from employers in accordance with the legal requirement. The study recorded 17 serious injuries caused by violence affecting employees; none of these were reported directly to the Labour Inspection.
Interpretation:
Data on occupational injuries collected by the Labour Inspection are far from complete. In Oslo alone, the Labour Inspection may annually overlook some 900-1,000 serious injuries. Data quality can be improved and delayed reporting avoided by using information from doctors and medical institutions that provide treatment.