Incidence of Occupational Accidents and Contributing Factors among Male Workers in an Electrical Distribution Company in Istanbul, Turkey

ABSTRACT Background: This study aimed to determine the incidence of occupational accidents among male workers in an electric power distribution company and to analyze the contributing factors. Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted on ۱۵۸ male workers from an electricity distribution company in Istanbul (Turkey) between October ۲۰۱۴ and June ۲۰۱۵ in two phases. In the first phase, the data were collected with the face-to-face interviews based on a questionnaire related to the occupational accidents and working conditions in the past year. Then, each worker was followed-up for four months for the occupational accident incidence. The data were analyzed using SPSS software. The degree and magnitude of association between dependent and independent variables were determined by Phi (Φ) and Cramerchr('۳۹')s V coefficient. Results: The incidence rate of self-reported occupational accidents was ۴۷.۵% in the past year. The incidence was found to be higher for those aged over ۴۱ (۵۱.۷%, p=۰.۰۲), work in lighting and overhead line units (۷۱.۰% and ۴۷.۲%, p=۰.۰۴), have occupational disease (۶۶.۷%, p=۰.۰۱), and have witnessed any occupational accident in the electricity sector (۶۶.۱%, p<۰.۰۰۱). The incidence rate was moderately associated with the working unit (Cramer’sV=۰.۲۵), witnessing any occupational accident (Φ=۰.۲۹), and occupational disease (Φ=۰.۲۱). It was higher for those with shift work (۵۲.۰%; p=۰.۲۹) and with job insecurity (۵۱.۸%, p=۰.۱۱). The incidence rate of occupational accidents based on four-month follow-up was ۰.۵۳ person-year. The most frequent type of accident was explosion (۱۴.۳%), and the majority of the accidents resulted in injuries (۷۸.۶%). Conclusion: The incidence of occupational accidents among male workers in the electricity distribution company was higher than the national average. The accidents were significantly related to the working conditions.  

Keywords:

Occupational accident , Electricity worker , Working conditions , Safety , Epidemiology , Occupational Accident , Electricity Worker , Electric Distribution , Electricity Sector , Working Conditions