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Occupational injury statistics in Korea
1Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, Incheon, Korea.
Safety and Health at Work
|September 7, 2012
Summary
Official occupational injury statistics in Korea show stagnant decreases, questioning prevention effectiveness. Re-analysis reveals a declining fatal injury rate, but underreporting of non-fatal injuries and unadjusted working hours distort the true accident situation.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health and Safety
- Public Health Surveillance
- Workplace Injury Prevention
Background:
- Official occupational accident rates in Korea showed stagnant decreases between 2001 (0.77 per 100 workers) and 2009 (0.70).
- This stagnation despite active prevention efforts raises concerns about the effectiveness of current safety interventions.
- Accurate injury data is crucial for directing effective prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To re-analyze occupational injury statistics to identify reasons for the stagnant decrease in reported accident rates.
- To provide a more accurate assessment of the occupational injury landscape in Korea.
- To inform the development of improved injury surveillance systems.
Main Methods:
- Re-analysis of compensated occupational injury cases to calculate fatal and non-fatal injury rates.
- Exclusion of injuries from commuting, sports activities, and occupational diseases.
- Adjustment of worker numbers to full-time equivalent employees.
Main Results:
- The fatal injury rate (excluding commuting, sports, and diseases) decreased from 12.59 in 2001 to 8.20 in 2009.
- Accidents involving "caught in" incidents, often machine-related, decreased since 2001, predominantly in manufacturing.
- While manufacturing saw continuous decreases in fatal and non-fatal rates, the service industry rates remained unchanged; non-fatal injuries may be underreported.
Conclusions:
- The occupational fatal injury rate has likely decreased, and the non-fatal rate may have also declined, despite official statistics showing stagnation.
- Factors such as underreporting of non-fatal injuries and unadjusted working hours in reporting systems obscure the actual accident situation.
- Korea requires an improved statistical system for more accurate calculation of occupational fatal and non-fatal injury rates.
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