Jobs at risk of work-related road crashes: An analysis of the casualties from the Rhone Road Trauma Registry (France)

In France and other European countries, employees injured in commuting crashes (travelling to and from work), like those injured in road crashes while actually on duty, are compensated for such occupational accidents. The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to analyse the occupational characteristics of work-related road crash victims in the Rhone administrative area, with a view to obtaining better knowledge of the types of occupational groups and industry sectors involved. This study is based on the Rhone Road Trauma Registry for the year 2001, supplemented with data obtained by a self-administered postal questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were analysed in terms of type of journey (on duty and commuting) and crash circumstances. This study confirms the elevated crash risk (compared to the reference category) for categories of workers whose work predominantly involves driving, such as (male) truck drivers and delivery drivers. Elevated risk was also highlighted for (female) health and social workers while commuting. Taking mileage into account, other categories also seemed to be at particular risk of work-related crashes: postal workers, security guards transporting funds and technicians in the computer and telecommunications sectors. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.