Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The role of occupational activities and work environment in occupational injury and interplay of personal factors in various age groups among Indian and French coalminers

  • Original Papers
  • Published:
International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health

Abstract

Objective

The role of occupational hazards in occupational injury may be mediated by individual factors across various age groups. This study assessed the role of occupational hazards as well as contribution of individual factors to injuries among Indian and French coalminers.

Material and Methods

We conducted a case-control study on 245 injured workers and on 330 controls without any injuries from Indian coal mines using face-to-face interviews, and a retrospective study on 516 French coalminers using a self-administered questionnaire including potential occupational and personal factors. Data were analyzed using logistic models.

Results

The annual rate of injuries was 5.5% for Indian coalminers and 14.9% for the French ones. Logistic model including all occupational factors showed that major injury causes were: hand-tools, material handling, machines, and environment/work-geological/strata conditions among Indian miners (adjusted odds-ratios 2.01 to 3.30) and biomechanical exposure score among French miners (adjusted odds-ratio 3.01 for score the 1–4, 3.47 for the score 5–7, and 7.26 for score ≥ 8, vs. score 0). Personal factors among Indian and French coalminers reduced/exacerbated the roles of various occupational hazards to a different extent depending on workers’ age.

Conclusion

We conclude that injury roles of occupational hazards were reduced or exacerbated by personal factors depending on workers’ age in both populations. This knowledge is useful when designing prevention which should definitely consider workers’ age.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hämäläinen. The effect of globalization on occupational accidents. Safety Science. 2009;47:733–742, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2008.01.011.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Clarke S. Accident proneness: back in vogue. In: Cooper CL, Burke RJ, Clarke S, editors. Occupational Health and Safety. Series Psychological and behavioural of risks. Surrey, Burlington: Gower Publishing Ltd.; 2011. p. 95–118.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Chau N. Injury proneness. In: Cooper CL, Burke RJ, Clarke S, editors. Occupational Health and Safety. Series Psychological and behavioural of risks. Surrey, Burlington: Gower Publishing Ltd.; 2011. p. 119–136.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Chau N, Gauchard G, Dehaene D, Benamghar L, Touron C, Perrin P, et al. Contributions of occupational hazards and human factors in occupational injuries and their associations with job, age and type of injuries in railway workers. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2007;80:517–525, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00420-006-0158-8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Chau N, Mur JM, Benamghar L, Siegfried C, Dangelzer JL, Français M, et al. Relationships between certain individual characteristics and occupational accidents for various jobs in the construction industry: A case-control study. Am J Ind Med. 2004;45:84–92, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajim.10319.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Dembe AE, Erickson JB, Delbos RG, Banks SM. The impact of overtime and long work hours on occupational injuries and illnesses: new evidence from the United States. Occup Environ Med. 2005;62:588–597, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/oem.2004.016667.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Melamed S, Yekutieli D, Froom P, Kristal-Boneh E, Ribak J. Adverse work and environmental conditions predict occupational injuries. The Israeli cardiovascular occupational risk factors determination in Israel (CORDIS) study. Am J Epidemiol. 1999;150:18–26, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a009913.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Sprince NL, Park H, Zwerling C, Lynch CF, Whitten PA, Thu K, et al. Risk factors for machinery-related injury among Iowa farmers: a case-control study nested in the Agricultural Health Study. Int J Occup Environ Health. 2002;8:332–338.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Kunar BM, Bhattacherjee A, Chau N. A matched case-control study of occupational injury in underground coalmine workers. The Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. 2010;110:1–9.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Bhattacherjee A, Bertrand JP, Meyer JP, Benamghar L, Otero Sierra C, Michaely JP, et al. Relationships of physical job tasks and living conditions with occupational injuries in coal miners. Ind Health. 2007;45:352–358, http://dx.doi.org/10.2486/indhealth.45.352.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Khlat M, Ravaud JF, Brouard N, Chau N, Lorhandicap group. Occupational disparities in accidents and roles of lifestyle factors and disabilities. A population-based study in North-eastern France. Public Health. 2008;122:771–783, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2007.09.012.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Chau N, Wild P, Dehaene D, Benamghar L, Mur JM, Touron C. The role of age, years of employment, and job in work-related injuries: A 446,120 person-years follow up study in railway workers. Occup Environ Med. 2010;67:147–153, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/oem.2008.043281.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Legleye S, Peretti-Watel P, Baumann M, Beck F, Chau N. Gender and age disparities in the associations of occupational factors with alcohol abuse and smoking in the French working people. Rev Epidemiol Sante Publique. 2011;59:223–232, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.respe.2011.02.103.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Uehli K, Mehta AJ, Miedinger D, Hug K, Schindler C, Holsboer-Trachsler E, et al. Sleep problems and work injuries: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep Med Rev. 2013;pii: S1087-0792(13)00008-7, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2013.01.004.

  15. Chau N, Lemogne C, Legleye S, Choquet M, Falissard B, Fossati P, et al. Are occupational factors and mental difficulty associated with occupational injury? J Occup Environ Med. 2011;53:1452–1459, http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0b013e318237a14b.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Gauchard GC, Deviterne D, Guillemin F, Sanchez J, Perrin P, Mur JM, et al. Prevalence of sensorial and cognitive disabilities and falls, and their relationships: A community-based study. Neuroepidemiol. 2006;26:108–118, http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000090445.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Baumann M, Spitz E, Guillemin F, Ravaud JF, Choquet M, Falissard B, et al. Associations of social and material deprivation with tobacco, alcohol, and psychotropic drug use, and gender differentials: A population-based study. Int J Health Geogr. 2007;6:50, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1476-072X-6-50.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Niedhammer I, Bourgkard E, Chau N, Lorhandicap study group. Behavioural and occupational factors in the explanation of social inequalities in premature and total mortality: A 12.5-year follow-up study of the Lorhandicap survey. Eur J Epidemiol. 2011;26:1–12, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10654-010-9506-9.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Chau N, Choquet M, Falissard B, Lorhandicap, group. Relationship of job demands to initiating smoking in working people: A population-based study. Ind Health. 2009;47:319–325, http://dx.doi.org/10.2486/indhealth.47.319.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Caisse Nationale de L’assurance Maladie des Travailleurs Salariés (CNAMTS). [National statistics for work accidents, commuting accidents and occupational diseases — 1999 to 2011]. Paris: CNAMTS; 2000–2012. French.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Bhattacherjee A. Injury Prevention and Control in Mines through Epidemiological Approaches. J Mines Metals Fuels. 2007;55:569–575.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Paul PS. Safety in Indian Coal Mines — Where do we go from here. IAMURE Int J Ecol Conserv. 2008;2:33–55.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS). Statistics of Mines in India. 1st ed. Volume I: Coal. Dhanbad: DGMS; 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Challier B, Chau N, Predine R, Choquet M, Legras B. Associations of family environment and individual factors with tobacco, alcohol and illicit drug uses in adolescents. Eur J Epidemiol. 2000;16:33–42, http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1007644331197.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Beresford TP, Blow FC, Hill E, Singer K, Lucey MR. Comparison of CAGE questionnaire and computer-assisted laboratory profiles in screening for covert alcoholism. Lancet. 1990;336:482–485, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0140-6736(90)92022-A.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Chau N, d’Houtaud A, Gruber M, Monhoven N, Gavillot C, Pétry D, et al. Personality self-representations of patients with hand injury, and its relationship with work injury. Eur J Epidemiol. 1995;11:373–382, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01721220.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Lynch JW, Kaplan GA, Cohen RD, Tuomilehto J, Salonen JT. Do cardiovascular risk factors explain the relation between socioeconomic status, risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and acute myocardial infarction? Am J Epidemiol. 1996;144:934–942, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a008863.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Akinwale B, Lynch K, Wiggins R, Harding S, Bartley M, Blane D. Work, permanent sickness and mortality risk: A prospective cohort study of England and Wales, 1971–2006. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2011;65:786–792, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jech.2009.099325.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Bartley M. Unemployment and ill health: understanding the relationship. J Epidemiol Community Health. 1994;48:333–337, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jech.48.4.333.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Martikainen PT, Valkonen T. Excess mortality of unemployed men and women during a period of rapidly increasing unemployment. Lancet. 1996;348:909–912, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(96)03291-6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Caisse Nationale de L’assurance Maladie des Travailleurs Salariés (CNAMTS). [National statistics for work accidents, commuting accidents and occupational diseases — 2001]. Paris: CNAMTS; 2003. French.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Groves WA, Kecojevic VJ, Komi Jenovic D. Analysis of fatalities and injuries involving mining equipment. J Safetey Res. 2007;38:461–470, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2007.03.011.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Härmä M, Suvanto S, Popkin S, Pulli K, Mulder M, Hirvonen K. A dose-response study of total sleep time and the ability to maintain wakefulness. J Sleep Res. 1998;7:167–174, http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2869.1998.00115.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Khlat M, Chau N, the Lorhandicap group. Social disparities in musculoskeletal disorders and associated mental malaise: Findings from a population-based survey in France. Scand J Public Health. 2010;38:495–501, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1403494810371246.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Blom DHJ, Pokorny MLI, Van Leeuwen P. The role of age and experience in bus drivers’ accidents. Int J Epidemiol. 1987;16:35–43, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ije/16.1.35.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Cellier JM, Eyrolle H, Bertrand A. Effects of age and level of work experience on occurrence of accidents. Percept Mot Skills. 1995;80:931–940, http://dx.doi.org/10.2466/pms.1995.80.3.931.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Laflamme L, Menckel E. Aging and occupational accidents. A review of the literature of the last three decades. Saf Sci. 1995;21:145–161, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0925-7535(95)00059-3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Salminen S. Have young workers more injuries than older ones? An international literature review. J Saf Res. 2004;35:513–521, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2004.08.005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Farrow A, Reynolds F. Health and safety of the older worker. Occup Med. (Lon) 2012;62:4–11, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqr148.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Chau N, Ravaud JF, Otero Sierra C, Legras B, Macho J, Guillemin F, et al. Prevalence of impairments and social inequalities: A community-based study in Lorraine. Rev Epidemiol Sante Publique. 2005;53:614–628, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0398-7620(05)84741-8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Loos-Ayav C, Chau N, Riani C, Guillemin F, Lorhandicap group. Prevalence of functional disability in France and its relationship with health-related quality of life. A population-based prevalence study. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2007;25:701–708.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mining Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India

    Ashis Bhattacherjee

  2. Department of Mining Engineering, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, India

    Bijay Mihir Kunar

  3. Research Unit INSIDE, University of Luxembourg, Walferdange, Luxembourg

    Michele Baumann

  4. U669, INSERM, Paris, France

    Nearkasen Chau

  5. UMR-S0669, Univ Paris-Sud & Univ Paris Descartes, Paris, France

    Nearkasen Chau

  6. Department of Mining Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, 721302, India

    Ashis Bhattacherjee

Authors
  1. Ashis Bhattacherjee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bijay Mihir Kunar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Michele Baumann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Nearkasen Chau
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Consortia

The Lorhandicap Group

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ashis Bhattacherjee.

Additional information

These authors equally contributed to this work.

Nearkasen Chau, Francis Guillemin, Jean-François Ravaud, Jésus Sanchez, Sylvie Guillaume, Jean-Pierre Michaely, Carmen Otero Sierra, Bernard Legras, Alice Dazord, Marie Choquet, Luc Méjean, Nadia Tubiana-Rufi, Jean-Pierre Meyer, Yvon Schléret, Jean-Marie Mur.

About this article

Cite this article

Bhattacherjee, A., Kunar, B.M., Baumann, M. et al. The role of occupational activities and work environment in occupational injury and interplay of personal factors in various age groups among Indian and French coalminers. IJOMEH 26, 910–929 (2013). https://doi.org/10.2478/s13382-013-0165-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s13382-013-0165-4

Key words

Search

Navigation