Gender disparities in agricultural work accidents: Analyzing sick leave differences between men and women

BackgroundAgriculture remains one of the most high-risk sectors characterized by persistent gender disparities in accident profiles and recovery outcomes. Deciphering these divergences is crucial for designing targeted preventive and rehabilitative interventions.ObjectiveThis study examines gender-based differences in occupational accident severity within the Spanish agricultural sector, utilizing medical leave duration as a proxy to identify key personal, organizational, and material determinants.MethodsUsing official national labor records (2019-2023), the study analyzed 122,220 accidents. Severity was operationalized through lost workdays. Student's t-tests evaluated gender-based disparities across personal and material variables.ResultsWhile men exhibited higher accident frequency and overall severity, women reported significantly longer recovery periods in specific contexts. In micro-enterprises (1-5 employees), women's leave averaged 9.1 days longer than men's. While younger females record shorter recovery durations than their male counterparts, this differential reverses after age 45; specifically, the 45-54 cohort, females' absences exceed those of males by 3.76 days. Although women exhibit faster recovery across the most prevalent accident categories, they experience significantly protracted medical leave for bone fractures, exceeding the male average by 17.99 days. Finally, while migrant workers recorded shorter absences, these gender disparities remained consistent regardless of nationality.ConclusionsResults underscore the need for gender-sensitive prevention strategies addressing the ergonomic demands of female workers. Prioritizing micro-enterprises and aging populations in safety protocols is vital for mitigating disparities and reducing absences. While this study uses Spanish data, findings offer broader implications for agricultural contexts with similar labor and organizational structures.