The true rates of injury among workers in New Zealand: comparing 1986 and 1991

This study has established true injury rates in New Zealand in 1986 and 1991 for the general and working populations. The general population grew by 3% between the two censuses, while the injury rate increased by 23%. The workforce decreased by 7% while the workforce injury rate rose by 11%. The numbers of salary earners and wage earners fell by 10% and the number of self-employed workers rose by 4%, the injury rates in the former rising by 16% and falling by 7% in the latter group. This suggests either a lower injury rate or a lower claim rate among these latter workers. Young males have the highest injury rates in the general and workforce population. Women have half the injury rate of men, suggesting that women should pay lower insurance premiums. Detailed analysis revealed 'high injury rate/high cost' groups in whom targeted intervention strategies should be cost-effective. This study gives a baseline against which changes can be measured. We recommend that this study be repeated.