Fatal work accidents in Ecuador from 2014 to 2020: How the age of the deceased worker relates to the accidents’ temporal and geographical characteristics

Abstract

This article analyzes the relationship between the age of male workers deceased in work accidents and temporal (year, month, day of the week, working shifts), geographic (provinces), and economic sector characteristics in which the accidents occurred in Ecuador between 2014 and 2020. Available data on fatal accidents from the Ecuadorian Social Security Institute (IESS) were collected. The results, which report both frequencies and proportions (rates), indicate that fatal accidents have decreased in the period, although the average age of deceased workers has increased. No significant differences were found regarding the month, day of the week, and work shift, nor in the frequency of accidents or the age of the deceased workers. However, differences were found in terms of geographical areas and sectors of economic activity. This study contributes to the literature as it is the first to analyze the temporal and geographical characteristics of fatal accidents about the age of the deceased worker.

Keywords:

• Fatal accidents
• Latin America
• occupational health
• occupational injuries
• time characteristics

Acknowledgments

We thank the Directorate of General Occupational Risk Insurance (DSGRT) of the Ecuadorian Institute of Social Security (IESS) for providing microdata on work accidents.

Disclosure statement

The authors reported no potential conflict of interest.

Ethical considerations

This study used anonymous, non-identifiable secondary data of workers. Data was provided for research purposes by the DSGRT to the Ecuadorian Observatory of Safety and Health at Work (OESST), so it required no Ethical Committee approval.

Additional information

Funding

The funding support for this study was provided within the project «Evolution of the epidemiological profile of occupational accidents in the Republic of Ecuador.» Grant number: 2021-POST-003