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