Trend of occupational injuries and diseases among insured workers in Saudi Arabia

For the rapidly growing economy of Saudi Arabia, trends analysis of occupational injuries and diseases [OID] is a major need for planning of their management, prevention and control. The aim is to study the trends of OID among insured workers in Saudi Arabia. The related morbidity and mortality data of OID of five years starting from 2003 to 2007 were collected by a structured data collection sheet from offices of injury and diseases compensation in 20 regions of Saudi Arabia. To develop national indicators, basic data were collected from Ministry of labor, Ministry of Industry and The Central Department of Statistics and Information. Morbidity and mortality indicators were calculated. The percentage of increase or decrease between 2003 and 2007 as well as trend values were also calculated. The total identified number of OID was 450841 with a mean annual incidence rate of 29.43/1000 flull time workers [FTW]. An overall significant decreasing trend by 17.93% of OID was detected. OID in construction and transforming industries showed the highest mean annual incidence rates but their trend were significantly decreasing. The highest and significant increasing trend were detected for financing and real-estates [59.50%] followed by mining and quarrying [18.60%] and agriculture and fishing economic activities [14.24%]. Trends of OID depend on nature, causes and body part or system affected. The mean annual disability and fatality rate were 10.05 and 1.25/10000 FTW respectively with an increasing trend. The mean annual incidence rate of OID was less than that mentioned in the available literature. Some economic activities showed an increasing trend in OID while the overall trend was decreasing. Fatality and disability trends were increasing. Evaluation of health and safety programs as well as further studies are recommended to explore the causes of increasing trends of the general disability and fatality rates and the increasing trend of OID in some economic activities

Occupational status and cardiovascular risk factors in primary health care setting in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Cardiovascular diseases [CVD] are major health problem in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [KSA]. Many studies in KSA were carried out to explore the distribution and determinants of this health problem. Till now there was no study tried to investigate its relation with the occupational status though the previous literature from other regions of the world proved a strong relationship. The study aims at identifying the association between CVD risk factors and main occupation among consumers of primary health care [PHC] system in Riyadh [KSA]. A representative sample of 1252 persons from the total who were registered and having a complete file in the PHC centers were subjected to a battery of: a structured questionnaire, clinical examination and laboratory investigations to explore the current status of CVD risk factors and their association with occupation. A statistically significant associations were detected between the main job title and the prevalence of: high total cholesterol level, increased fasting blood sugar, high systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body mass index and smoking. Military and police occupational group show the best biochemical and clinical profiles, while housewives show the worst. Significant associations were detected between the occupational category and CVD risk factors being better among high and physically active categories and worsen among low and less physically active occupational groups. More studies are needed to explore the details of occupational exposures and stressors for purposes of specific prevention and control

Magnitude and risk factors of occupational injuries among workers involved in petroleum and mining industries in Kingdom Saudi Arabia

While Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a rapidly growing mining and petroleum production country, a little was known about the magnitude and risk factors of occupational injuries in this field. The purpose of this study was to identify the magnitude and main risk factors of occupational injuries [OIS] among workers involved in mining and petroleum industries. Using a carefully structured format, the data were collected from files of all occupationally injured workers of one year [2007] from all offices [20] concerned with OIS compensation. OIS were classified according to ILO. The incidence rate and relative risk as well as the total cost of OIS were calculated. The total detected number of OIS were 417 injuries with total incidence rate of 56.73/10000 full-time workers [ftw] costing 11.676.000$. A significantly higher occurrence of OIS was associated with Saudi nationality, decreased duration of experience and working in oil production and transport processes. A decreasing trend on OIS along the months of the year and the days of the week was detected. Less serious injuries were the most common types [contusions and bruises] [33.09%]. The highest proportion of OIS was due to struck against objects [42.21%] and falls [20.86%]. OIS commonly occur during dealing with manual tools [31.41%] and conveying and transporting [11.51%]. Upper and lower Extremities were the most common affected -body part [34.05% and 25.90% respectively]. The incidence rate of OIS in petroleum and mining industries in Saudi Arabia were lower than that detected for many industrialized countries but still higher than that detected for other national economic activities. Less serious injuries were the most common types [contusions and bruises]. Safety education and some human and organizational modifications were recommended