Etiological differences between accidental and non-accidental occupational overexertion injuries

Andersson, R., Kemmlert, K. and Kilbom, Å, 1990. Etiological differences between accidental and non-accidental occupational overexertion injuries. Journal of Occupational Accidents, 12: 177–186.

Unintentional injuries and accidents are often considered equal or corresponding terms. However, definitions are different in various countries. In Swedish official statistics overexertion injuries, which are the dominating types of occupational injuries at present, are subdivided into accidents and diseases. The former are appearing suddenly and the latter appear gradually.

In this study the relevance of this distinction is evaluated from an etiological and preventive point of view. It is shown that differences exist between the two groups in several important respects. Differences in sex, age, injured part of body, industry, load situation, etc., give support to the conclusion that overexertion accidents and diseases originate from different causal conditions. It was also found that the descriptions of the origin and countermeasures in the basic injury reports were poorer as regards accidents. These findings should be taken into consideration when preventive programmes are designed.