Industry and injury related hospital contacts: a follow-up study on injuries among working men in Denmark

OBJECTIVES: To estimate proportions of injuries that are attributable to the work environment (excess fractions) among economically active men and to identify industries associated with an elevated injury risk. METHODS: A follow-up study was conducted among all economically active men in Denmark aged 20-59 yr 1 January 1999 (N=1,315,772) for first hospital contacts in the period 1999-2003 due to injury in five body regions. Age standardised hospital treatment ratios (SHR) were calculated by industry and excess fractions were estimated. RESULTS: The excess fractions by body region attributable to the work environment were: 22% (95% CI 18-26%) for lower extremities, 29% (95% CI 24-34%) for head and neck, 31% (95% CI 25-37%) for thorax, 36% (95% CI 30-43%) for upper extremities, and 39% (CI: 32-46%) for back injuries. We identified eight industries associated with significantly elevated risks for injuries to each of the five body regions. These were: "road contractors", "bricklayer, joiner, and carpentry work", "finishing (construction work)", "transport of goods", "fire service and salvage corps", "stone-works, pottery, and glass industry", "cleaning, laundries, and dry cleaners", and "slaughterhouse industry". CONCLUSIONS: There are substantial industrial inequalities in injury rates among male workers in Denmark. The size of the inequalities differs between body regions.