Work injuries

This article compares work injury occurrence by occupational category, and examines its relationship with selected factors reflecting work organization and environment. Associations between work injury and socio-demographic and other health-related variables are also considered.

Data are from the 2003 Canadian Community Health Survey (cycle 2.1).

Cross-sectional estimates of the proportion of workers injured on the job were calculated by occupational category, and by selected work-related, personal and socio-demographic characteristics. Multivariate analyses were used to study associations between work injury and job-related factors, while controlling for other influences.

In 2003, an estimated 630,000 Canadian workers experienced at least one activity-limiting occupational injury. Of people in trades, transport and equipment operation, 9% sustained an on-the-job injury, compared with 2% of workers in the "white-collar" sector. Work injury was more common in male (5%) than in female workers (2%). In multivariate analysis, some work-related variables were associated with occupational injury for both sexes: employment in trades, transport and equipment operation, primary industries, and processing, manufacturing and utilities; shift work; and heavy labour. Income under $60,000 and working long hours were associated with injury in men, but not in women. Women reporting their jobs as stressful had higher odds of injury; in men, no association with work stress emerged.