Citation

Lilley R, Feyer AM, Langley JD, Wren J. N. Zeal. Med. J. 2004; 117(1194): U891.

Affiliation

New Zealand Environmental and Occupational Health Research Centre, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. rebecca.lilley@stonebow.otago.ac.nz

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, New Zealand Medical Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

15156209

Abstract

AIMS: To estimate the numbers and rates of work-related fatal injury for children under the age of 15 years. METHODS: Potential cases of work-related injury deaths of persons aged <15 years of age were identified from the national electronic mortality data-files for the period 1985-1998 inclusive. The circumstances of the death in each fatality incident were reviewed directly from coronial files to determine work-relatedness. RESULTS: A total of 87 workplace work-related fatalities were identified. The vast majority of children identified were fatally injured while a bystander to another person's work. Workplace bystander involvement was found to vary by age, with the majority of workers identified aged 10-14 years old. With a third of all fatalities, the agricultural industry was the most common industry for workplace work-related fatalities in children. In the period 1985-94, children <15 years of age were found to account for 46% of New Zealand's total workplace bystander deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Children contribute significantly to the overall burden of work-related fatal injury in New Zealand, especially as bystanders to other people's work. The high contribution to bystander deaths by children aged <15 years suggests that hazard control in certain work settings is lacking.