Mohsin Abbas1, Muhammad Kashif2, Mansour Balkhyour3, Ijaz Ahmad3,4, Zaki-Ul-Zaman Asam1, Rashid Saeed1. 1. Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Gujrat, Hafiz Hayat Campus, Jalalpur Road, Gujrat, Pakistan. 2. Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan. 3. Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Meteorology Environment Arid Land Agriculture, King Abdul-Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 4. Center of Excellence in Environmental Studies, King Abdul-Aaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The ongoing industrial and infrastructural development in Saudi Arabia carries a high risk of occupational injuries/diseases. AIMS: To compare trends in occupational injuries and diseases among Saudi and non-Saudi insured workers. METHODS: We used the index values method and slope (S) calculation to analyse the occupational injuries/diseases trends from data in the annual statistical reports published by the General Organization for Social Insurance between 2004 and 2014. Data for 10 565 993 (18.5%) Saudi insured workers (SIWs) and 46 402 079 (81.5%) non-Saudi insured workers (NSIWs) and 896 627 occupational injuries/diseases were analysed. RESULTS: The distribution of incidences of occupational injuries/diseases among NSIWs (93.5%) was 14 times higher than that of SIWs (6.5%). Occupational injuries/diseases were more likely to increase among NSIWs than SIWs, particularly in the construction, trade, financing and real estate economic activities, and engineering, technicians and service workers occupations. There was a general decreasing trend in occupational injuries/diseases until 2013. CONCLUSIONS: Non-Saudi insured workers were at high risk of occupational injuries/diseases, therefore, implementation of an effective injury prevention programme is required.
BACKGROUND: The ongoing industrial and infrastructural development in Saudi Arabia carries a high risk of occupational injuries/diseases. AIMS: To compare trends in occupational injuries and diseases among Saudi and non-Saudi insured workers. METHODS: We used the index values method and slope (S) calculation to analyse the occupational injuries/diseases trends from data in the annual statistical reports published by the General Organization for Social Insurance between 2004 and 2014. Data for 10 565 993 (18.5%) Saudi insured workers (SIWs) and 46 402 079 (81.5%) non-Saudi insured workers (NSIWs) and 896 627 occupational injuries/diseases were analysed. RESULTS: The distribution of incidences of occupational injuries/diseases among NSIWs (93.5%) was 14 times higher than that of SIWs (6.5%). Occupational injuries/diseases were more likely to increase among NSIWs than SIWs, particularly in the construction, trade, financing and real estate economic activities, and engineering, technicians and service workers occupations. There was a general decreasing trend in occupational injuries/diseases until 2013. CONCLUSIONS: Non-Saudi insured workers were at high risk of occupational injuries/diseases, therefore, implementation of an effective injury prevention programme is required.