Tiring job and work related injury road crashes in the GAZEL cohort

Chiron, Mireille; Bernard, Marlène; Lafont, Sylviane; Lagarde, Emmanuel · 2008 · Crossref

DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2007.12.001

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Summary

This study investigates the relationship between occupational stressors and work-related road crashes, specifically distinguishing between crashes occurring during work duties and those occurring while commuting. The research addresses a gap in literature regarding non-professional drivers, aiming to determine if specific work conditions, such as fatigue or physical strain, increase the risk of injury crashes in these contexts. The study utilizes data from the GAZEL cohort, comprising employees of the French national electricity and gas companies (EDF-GDF). The methodology involved a prospective analysis of 20,625 participants enrolled in 1989, with data collected through annual questionnaires and company databases until 2001. The study focused on injury crashes, recording details such as journey type, road-user status, and injuries sustained. Statistical analysis employed Cox proportional hazards regression models with time-dependent covariates to assess occupational risk factors, adjusting for confounders including age, health status, alcohol consumption, residence location, family type, and mileage. The analysis separated men and women and distinguished between at-work and commuting crashes, excluding private trips from the primary risk factor assessment. The results indicated that 146,285 person-years were observed, yielding 27.0 work-related injury crashes per 10,000 person-years. For at-work crashes, "nervously tiring work" was a significant risk factor for men (Relative Risk [RR] = 1.6), while sustained standing was associated with increased risk for women (RR = 3.0). Regarding commuting crashes, an uncomfortable position at work was a significant risk factor for women (RR = 1.9). These occupational factors showed no association with crashes during private trips. Additionally, commuting crashes were more frequent among women aged 45–54 and clerical staff, whereas at-work crashes were more common among male blue-collar workers and middle managers. Injury severity was generally lower for at-work crashes compared to commuting crashes. The study concludes that work-related road crashes are influenced by specific occupational exposures, particularly mental and physical fatigue, rather than general lifestyle factors. The findings suggest that prevention strategies should target workplace exhaustion and ergonomic stressors to reduce crash risks. The authors emphasize that preventing employee exhaustion is a critical first step in initiating specific prevention measures for work-related traffic injuries, distinguishing these risks from those associated with private driving.

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Topics

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• shift work driving
• sex gender
• incidence prevalence
• demographic disparities
• induced exposure
• fatality injury trends

Information type

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• Empirical Findings: crash risk outcomes, observational prevalence